Uh-oh - you don't have JavaScript installed. Some parts of this site won't work without it. Better turn it on! Hiring efforts for a regional executive director are also underway. The new Eastern Idaho location will initially serve American Falls, while working to understand the needs of other neighboring communities, including Pocatello, Idaho Falls and other outlying rural and Tribal communities for expansion in the coming years. Each child selected will be paired with a Friend whose full-time job is to spend four hours a week one on one with youth at school, at home and in the community.
In Idaho, the number of children experiencing foster care is increasing. In addition, This is the third-highest prevalence in the country and is significantly higher than the national average of 7. We are excited to have this successful organization join the important work in our region to support children facing the greatest obstacles.
Key state and local stakeholders and community leaders working to improve child well-being have supported bringing the Friends of the Children model to Idaho.
Those leaders have identified serving children and families who are experiencing systemic poverty and who are at the highest risk of neglect and abuse as the top priority for the new chapter. One million dollars in seed capital funding has been raised to launch the regional chapter. Friends of the Children was founded in Oregon by entrepreneur Duncan Campbell over 30 years ago.
His challenging childhood experience was the inspiration for the unique mentoring model. In recent years, the organization has expanded to support caregivers through an innovative Two-Generation 2Gen approach aimed at supporting families in achieving overall health and well-being. Research funded by the Annie E. A third-party evaluation of Friends of the Children program graduates showed that:.
