Special Friends
Program Overview
The Special Friends program serves to match youth in foster care with committed adults who can serve as role models, advocates, mentors, and friends. As a Special Friend, you have the opportunity to assist youth in learning important life skills such as decision-making, relationship building, and living successfully within a community.
There are four kinds of Special Friends. Mentors support the youth with whom they are matched by joining them in activities they enjoy, such as going for a hike, playing a sport, doing arts and crafts, watching a movie, baking cookies, or eating at a favorite restaurant. Tutors give youth the extra help with their schoolwork that many foster kids need in order to catch up to their grade level and succeed academically. Lifebook Volunteers create a scrapbook for the youth which tells and preserves the often fragmented story of his or her life. Community Advisors serve as guides for youth 17 years and older as they begin to take on the responsibilities of independent living.
See the Youth Profile below to meet just one of the many youths waiting for a Special Friend. Each has his or her own interests, personality, and needs, but all are eagerly awaiting the presence of someone special in their life.
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Youth Profile
Meet Estephan
Estephan is 17 and loves History, Literature, and the color red. In his free time he enjoys drawing and writing poetry. He likes to go to church and talks a lot about his faith, which is very important to him. He is a compassionate boy who yearns to connect with and be accepted by others. He has a great sense of humor, and says he is open to doing any sort of activity with his mentor, as long as he gets one. He says he just wants someone he can talk to.
Meet Michael
Michael loves to play games. Some of his favorites are video games, computer games, and a strategic game called Gurps. He's a smart 15 year old, and a quick learner. When asked his favorite color, he answers, "Green, because it's calm, the color of the forest." His dream vacation would be to visit Japan, the origin of Anime animation. One of his goals is to someday create his own Anime and have it produced. At school, Michael enjoys science and business class the most. Since his grandfather died last year, he has suffered from depression. He's a really nice kid, and just needs someone to give him some attention, support and guidance through his teenage years.
