Friends of the Children aims to prepare the city's most vulnerable kids for long-term success.
Executive Director of the Chicago division Taal Hasak-Lowy and Program Director Seth El-Jamal joined ABC 7 Chicago in the studio to tell us more.
Chicago's early-prevention group, along with new studies, confirm the earlier at-risk youth receive needed attention, their graduation and employment odds increase.
Friends of the Children - Chicago, works directly with Chicago's most vulnerable youth to ensure each child gets the education and interpersonal attention needed for long-term success.
The program pairs youth one-on-one with a professional, full-time salaried "Friend" with a commitment of mentorship from kindergarten through high school.
Over the summer, Friends of the Children - Chicago started the long-term intervention with 30 new first-graders in Chicago's most vulnerable neighborhoods.
Friends of the Children also serves 25 Chicago second-graders and plans to recruit another 30 first-graders next year.
Nationally, Friends of the Children reaches thousands of children in over 250 schools in communities and said they have successful models in 18 locations.