About the Nonprofit
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Friends for Youth was established in 1979 by local community leaders and service providers who recognized that many at-risk children did not fit the focus of other available services. Since our inception, our purpose has been to support children who would otherwise go unserved, with an emphasis on positive youth development; academic achievement; health and wellness; prevention services; and, critical skills for future success, thriving, and self-sufficiency.
Friends for Youth's mission is to provide adult mentoring support and guidance through high quality 1:1 and school-based group services to impoverished youth who are identified as lacking opportunities and adult support, and are at risk of dropping out, abuse, gangs/violence, substance abuse, neglect, and mental and behavioral health issues such as depression. Youth ages 8-17 in San Mateo and northern Santa Clara Counties are identified by schools, probation officers, and other youth professionals.
Friends for Youth accomplishes life changing outcomes for youth by following evidence- and research-based standards for recruitment, screening, mentor training, monitoring, support, matching, closure, working with parents, and relationship development. Staff provide extensive ongoing guidance and resource connection to support each relationship. Additional services include contact with teachers and parents, ongoing group activities (educational, cultural, community service, recreational, life skills), formal match meetings to celebrate milestones, and tools, such as our Mentoring Journal.
We consistently achieve a 90% average success rate of creating long-term 1:1 friendships, a percentage significantly higher than the 33-67% rate cited in Marc Freedman’s The Kindness of Strangers for similar programs nationwide. According to researcher Dr. William Lapp, our mentees have attained “school attendance goals, increased academic engagement and achieving good grades. All quantitative goals were exceeded for risk behaviors. Opportunities to direct mentees toward positive futures are an integral part of Friends for Youth… Each of the goals surrounding the opportunities were met or exceeded.”
