Friends of the Children - Portland
Run by Friends of the Children
Program Details
Recruitment Status
- Accepting Male Mentors: No
- Accepting Female Mentors: No
- Accepting Male Mentees: No
- Accepting Female Mentees: No
Program Description
Friends of the Children-Portland is a not-for-profit organization that provides our community's most vulnerable children an opportunity to realize and act upon their unique potential and inherent worth. The organization works with those children who are the most in danger of school failure, abuse, neglect, juvenile delinquency, gang and drug involvement, and teenage pregnancy. We provide full-time, paid adult mentors (called Friends) to ensure that each child has at least one positive, consistent and supportive adult in his or her life.
Ages of Youth in the Program
6 to 18
Description of Youth in the Program
Program children are selected as kindergarteners from our partner schools located in N/NE and SE Portland. In 2011, we will select children from King, Humbolt, Rigler and Lent Schools in the Portland Public School District as well as Mill Park and Lincoln Park Schools in the David Douglas School District.
Each spring, we identify the most vulnerable children at partner schools during a six week process that involves classroom observation by veteran Friends and input from teachers and other school staff. Ultimately, children with an accumulation of risk factors present in their lives are selected for our program and we make a commitment to provide intensive, professional mentoring to these children for 12 1/2 years -- from kindergarten through high school --even as they move within a 30 mile radius of Portland.
In 2011, we will grow to serve nearly 375 children living throughout the Portland metropolitan area.
Quality Standards of Program
Passing a fingerprint-based background check, DMV check, and drug screening are conditions for hire of every staff member at Friends of the Children, including Friends.
Newly hired Friends receive two weeks of training and orientation.
All Friends recieve a minimum of 16 hours of ongoing training on an annual basis.
Youth Goals and Outcomes
The primary goal of the program is that our community's most vulnerable children have the opportunity to develop consistent, trusting relationships with a caring adult. Through the development of this ongoing relationship, it is the program's long-term objective that each child will:
1. Succeed in school with a minimum of a High School diploma or GED
2. Avoid the juvenile justice system
3. Avoid early parenting
In order to build towards these long-term goals, Friends set short-term goals with each child, teach life skills, model healthy behavior and problem solving skills, instill positive attitudes, nurture interests and talents, and expose their children to a wide variety of new places and experiences.
Mentor Profile
Our mentors (Friends) are not volunteers; they are full-time, PAID professional adult mentors. A degree (Bachelor's preferred) and 2 years experience working/volunteering with at-risk children is required. Mentoring experience preferred.
Please refer to our website for available openings:
http://www.friendsofthechildren.org/portland/employment.html
Types of Mentoring
- Full-time paid mentor
- Other: Each mentor works with 8 children
Place Where Mentoring Occurs
- Community-based (community activities might include, sports, meals, museums, concerts, etc.)
Hours Needed
- Weekday Mornings: 8 am to Noon
- Weekday Afternoon: Noon to 3 pm
- Weekday After School: 3 pm to 5 pm
- Weekday Evenings: 5 pm to 9 pm
- Weekend
Contact Information
Web: www.friendsofthechildren.com
Contact: Julie Larson
Phone: (503) 281-6633
Email: jlarson@friendsofthechildren.org
