Biographical Info

Friends of the Children – Western Montana is part of a national network of Friends of the Children chapters across the United States. Friends of the Children connects children – who have big hopes and dreams and unique talents – to a paid, professional mentor called a Friend. We hire and train Friends whose full-time jobs are to support our youth to succeed, despite the extremely challenging situations most experience, from as early as age 4 through high school graduation – 12+ years, no matter what.

Our model is distinct, courageous, and proven. We redefined youth mentoring by creating the first and only long-term professional mentoring program in the country. Friends are experts in building sustained and nurturing relationships with youth. Our model is evidence-informed and research-based, and we have proven long-term outcomes to show it works.

We take a two-generation approach to our work, meaning we partner with parents and caregivers to build social capital, improve family stability, and empower families with critical parenting skills. We support families in developing deeper relationships in the community through culturally responsive programming. Each day, our Friends advocate and help amplify the voices of our youth and their families. By challenging the status quo, we help shift the way institutions and systems view and treat our youth and their families. Friends also create meaningful experiences that teach youth to build life skills and make informed decisions while exploring the child’s diverse talents and interests.

Our model is real, and it works.