Friends of the Children NY is a unique early intervention program dedicated to helping New York City´s most at-risk children become productive, contributing members of their community. We accomplish this by employing full-time mentors, called Friends, to work one-on-one with these children, beginning in kindergarten or first grade and maintaining that relationship through high school graduation.

Description and/or History:
Through an extensive selection process, we seek out the children that are most vulnerable to school failure, abuse, neglect, juvenile delinquency, gang and drug involvement, and teen pregnancy. Friends NY gender matches 8 children with one carefully screened, stable, paid professional mentor, called a Friend. Friends spend 2 to 3 hours with each child at least twice a week, in and outside of the school setting.
Friends of the Children NY is unique because we:
Employ carefully screened, full-time, paid professional mentors
Match each Friend with 8 children
Provide our mentors with continuous support and training
Maintain high retention rates among both staff and children
Establish and maintain working relationships with schools and families
Select severely at-risk children through an intensive 8-week assessment process
Intervene early at ages 5-7 and continue through high school graduation
Commit to a long-term unconditional relationship with each child
Spend extensive time in a one-on-one nurturing role modeling relationship

Established in 2001, Friends of the Children NY serves NYC´s most at-risk youth. We have expanded the program from our start employing three Friends, serving 24 children in one school in Harlem. We now have nine Friends, serving over 60 and aiming toward 70 children in more than 20 schools in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Having virtually tripled since we began in 2001, we hope to hire more Friends and serve more of our most at risk children throughout the City in years to come.
In the News...

Contact people:

Daniel Felder, Sr. Friend, Resource And Community Liaison, (212) 865-8120, (email) Kareem Wright, Program Manager, (212) 865-6942, (email) Dr. Robert Houck, Executive Director, (212) 865-6942, (email)

Address:

218 West 113th Street New York, NY 10026 (See a map)

Directions:

Take the West Side Highway to the 96th Street exit. Take 96th Street to Central Park West. Take C.P.W. to 110th Street and make a right. Take 110th Street to 7th Ave. and make a left.. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: #2, #3, B, C: 110th Street,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5   Nearest Bus Stop: M2, M3, M10, M7 & M116: W. 113th Street Stop, 2 minute walk