For over 30 years, Friends of the Children has empowered youth and families impacted by foster care. Our enrollment focuses on youth highest at risk of entering — or already involved in — the child welfare system.
At least 30% of youth have experienced out-of-home placement and 30% of caregivers have experienced foster care themselves.
Promote safe, well-supported children in families
Provide hope-inspiring services that mitigate trauma
Prevent further involvement with the child welfare system
Since 2019, Friends Austin has worked closely with partner organizations to enroll and serve child welfare-involved youth. Our referral partnerships with CASA of Travis County, Casey Family Programs, and the Center for Child Protection help us reach kindergarten-age children at a pivotal moment — reunification with their families — after they have experienced foster care.
In Travis County, 45% of children under 12 reenter foster care within five years of reunifying with their families. Due to the stability provided to children and their families through the consistent presence of a Friend, not a single child enrolled in our program has re-entered foster care.
Read the full story below.
Deepening Our Roots in TexasIn partnership with child welfare systems, schools and community-based organizations, Friends of the Children invites children ages 4-6 and pairs them with a salaried, professional mentor - called a Friend - who stays with them from pre-kindergarten through graduation – 12+ years, no matter what.
We work with partners to identify families along the child and family well-being continuum to ensure that our model is serving the children and families who need us most. Ultimately we want all parents to have the supports they need to be the parents they want to be, and for all kids to get to be kids – living safely at home with their families.
Data from a 6-year pilot project show that when families at highest risk of foster care entry have a Friend, children don't go into care: Not a single child with a Friend has entered the system.
Preliminary data from our multi-site randomized controlled trial are showing shorter lengths of stay and fewer foster home placements for children in the program.
Data from a 5-year pilot project show that in families that are reunified, no child with a Friend has re-entered the foster care system.
The work Friends do with youth and caregivers is highly individualized and intentional. About 30% of our caregivers were in foster care as a child and 60% of those who had been in care, aged out of care as adults. Our two-generation approach works with caregivers to build parenting skills, empower systems navigation and self-advocacy, and meet concrete needs. Here's what caregivers have to say about Friend's impact:
