The benefits to society are great
We serve only the most vulnerable children whose instability renders them outside the bounds of less comprehensive mentoring programs. See Return on Investment analysis of Friends of the Children model.
Currently:
- 82% come from low-income families
- 73% do not live with both of their parents
- 60% have been effected by gang violence
- 46% were born to a teen mother
- 38% have parents that are or have been incarcerated
- 33% have or currently live in foster or kinship care
The cost to society is great
Starting early, and continuing for the long-term, equals great savings for our society.
The cost comparison:
- $9,000 = Cost of one Friends-KC child per year
- $84,000+ = Cost of incarceration for one juvenile per year
- $15,000+ = 90 day inpatient drug treatment
- $15,000+ = Average childbearing cost per child for women on Medicaid
Learn more about both our short-term and long-term results and impacts or see our top ten reasons why Friends of the Children KC works.
See our program in action