Inspiring Greatness: An Evening to Benefit Friends of the Children – October 6, 2012

Mark your calendars because we are excited to announce

Inspiring Greatness:
An Evening to Benefit Friends of the Children
October 6, 2012
at the Hyatt Olive8

For information on purchasing a table, corporate sponsorships, or auction item donation, please contact Mary Vegas at mary@friendskc.org.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Come to Our Ambassador Board Kick-Off Party

Join us to learn more about our Ambassador Board

January, 25th 2012, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
at Via Tribunali on Queen Anne
317 West Galer Street, Seattle, WA 98119

Come and learn more about Friends of the Children and the Ambassador Board – a unique opportunity to network, be mentored on learning how to take on future Board positions, and make a real and permanent difference in our community.

Our goal is to create group of young, motivated circle of friends who care about the children in our community and will raise awareness and ultimately funds through fun events that appeal to our peers.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Mary Vegas, Development Manager at Friends – KC, at mary@friendskc.org.

We look forward to seeing you!

National Institute of Health Study Preliminary Findings

Background

Between 2007 – 2010, approximately 280 children & their families were recruited for the NIH Child Study. Children were identified through an intensive, six week child selection process with partner public schools.

• Over 2000 children were observed during this stage. Top 25% of those with risk for future problems were identified as appropriate for Friends of the Children.

• Children randomly assigned to either Friends or control group. Parents contacted by the schools and invited to speak with research team. 94% of parents contacted agreed to participate in the study.

• Those parents completed a “baseline” interview. Data is currently available on 136 children whose parents completed baseline interviews & completed an interview one year later.

Findings

• At one year interview, average child in Friends had been meeting with their mentor for 9 months. In an average month, the average child saw their mentor for 13.4 hours. Mentor spent another hour talking with parents, teachers, or engaging in other discussions or work relevant to the child.

• At one year, based on parent ratings using standard scales on Child Behavior Checklist, the following findings were noted:

Anxiety/Depression: Friends’ children were less anxious and depressed (significant). Largest differences between the groups were for children who were most at risk at baseline (significant).

Aggression: Children in Friends were less aggressive (trend). The largest differences between the groups were for the children who were most at risk at baseline (significant).

Rule Breaking: Friends’ children were less likely to rule break (significant). This was due to a difference between girls in Friends and control groups (significant). There was no difference for boys.

Withdrawn: Children in Friends tended to be more withdrawn than children in control group (trend). This was due to difference between girls in Friends and control groups (significant). There was no difference for boys.

To learn more about the study or be included in updates on the findings as it progresses, contact us.

Raikes Foundation selects Friends to Participate in Youth Program Quality Initiative

Raikes Foundation selected us to participate in their Youth Program Quality Initiative, including professional development, assessment, and a $25,000 grant to enhance our program for teens. Research has found that participation in high quality programs can positively influence outcomes for youth. While many factors contribute to quality, skilled staff is essential to creating safe, engaging, youth-centered programs. The Youth Program Quality Initiative engages staff of youth-serving organizations in an intensive professional development process that reflects best practices in the field of youth development.

Friends Wins $10,000 Education Initiative Grant from Safeco Insurance Foundation

We received a $10,000 Education Initiative grant from the Safeco Insurance Foundation. This is a competitive grant that is a testament to our results related to academic achievement, demonstrating we are helping our kids succeed in school and prepare for their future.

Thank You to Everyone for a Successful Barnes and Noble Book Fair

Thanks to Ray Roberts for sharing his story about the power of mentoring in his own life at the Barnes and Noble Book Fair and for all of those who attended, purchased books or bought online. Your support is appreciated!

Our Annual Winter Celebration

160 of our children and their family members came to our winter celebration, including home-cooked turkey and goodies, raffle prizes, games, and youth performances. Many of the families had their “family photo” taken by a professional volunteer photographer to remember the occasion.