PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Reversing generational poverty through one-on-one professional mentoring is the primary goal of national nonprofit Friends of the Children, which now has a fully operational chapter in Philadelphia.
Through the program, kids between ages four and six who are at risk or who have experienced trauma are paired with a mentor, known as a friend, who supports them, as well as their family, for 12 years.
Executive Director Dr. Betty Handy says the mentors are not volunteers. They are professionals with experience in case management and child welfare services.
“They represent the community in which we serve in the areas of North Philadelphia and Kensington. That's important to us. They have a passion for young people.”
Handy says the pairs will spend four hours together a week at school, home and in the community.
“We might be going to the park on a nice day, we might go and get ice cream because they did really well on a spelling test, or whatever the case may be,” Handy said. “We could just sit and listen and talk about what great things are going on, or whatever is on the mind of the child.”
Handy says one-on-one long term relationships can make a huge difference in a child’s life and lead them down a road to success. And the key to achieving success? Addressing trauma at an early age and staying consistent to stop the cycle, Handy says.
“That comes about through relationships, through mentors, people who can teach you the unwritten rules of certain ways to be and how to maneuver and navigate in certain situations. And so we want to be able to provide that.”
Research funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that 92% of program graduates go on to enroll in post-secondary education, enter the military or the workforce. Ninety-three percent remain free from juvenile justice system involvement.
Friends of the Children was established in Portland, Oregon, in 1993. Now, there are 41 chapters across the country. Philly’s chapter, which opened in December, will focus on serving students at WD Kelley Elementary School in North Philadelphia, Bayard Taylor Elementary School and the North 10 Lenfest Center in Kensington.
Handy says at the Philly chapter, three mentors are paired with eight children each.
“One of our youth that we were considering had a parent who committed suicide. Any youth who are in the foster care system, those for whom there are risk factors that we want to mitigate early on.”
The Philly chapter hopes to expand.