Friends of the Children - Los Angeles

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Friends of the Children - Los Angeles

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Our mentors, who we call Friends, become their families’ advocate in multiple settings, ensuring the needs of the whole family are met.

Friends of the Children – Los Angeles’ mission is to impact generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with professional mentors – 12+ years, no matter what. Three years ago, Friends of the Children -- Los Angeles (Friends LA) launched as part of a national network of 22 Friends of the Children sites dedicated to impacting generational change by empowering youth facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with professional mentors – 12+ years, no matter what. A Friend walks along side each child to develop socio-emotional skills, school success, coping strategies for stress and more, while also supporting caregivers in accessing housing, gainful employment, post-secondary education, and/or therapeutic resources. Our Friends are paid, professional mentors with training in trauma-informed care and are empathetic to the challenges our families face. Network-wide, we have a positive impact on the life-course trajectories of the children with whom we work:
· 83% of our youth earn a high school diploma or GED; while 60% have parents who did not.
· 93% avoid the juvenile justice system; though at least half have parents who have been incarcerated.
· 98% avoid early parenting; despite 85% having been born to a teen parent. Friends LA is leading our national network by providing support to parents, as well. Our two-generation (2Gen) framework supports both child and parent(s) to ensure whole family success. This means our caregivers have access to resources provided by Friends. Our work also entails creating a community amongst our families, ensuring that they also have peer-to-peer support to lean on.

10/14/2026

12 years. No. Matter. What. 💙

We believe the power of showing up isn’t measured in days or months, but in years of unwavering support.

10/12/2026

A big thank you to the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation for their generous $5,000 grant in support of Friends of the Children – Los Angeles! 💚

Our Antelope Valley Program Director, Joaquin, and Family Engagement Director, Kimberly, visited the Sprouts Lancaster location to accept this incredible gift.

We are so grateful to for believing in our mission and investing in the power of community! 🌱

10/08/2026

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, our Friends LA youth took time to explore the voices, stories, and contributions that have shaped generations. Moments like these spark curiosity, open conversations, and remind our youth that understanding the world around them starts with learning from one another. 🌎✨

10/01/2026

At Friends of the Children – Los Angeles, the bond between a Friend, a child, and their family is built over time — through trust, consistency, celebrations, hard days, and all the moments in between.

Every conversation, celebration, and shared moment helps build a deeper connection — one that reminds families they don’t have to navigate every chapter alone🤗🫂

09/29/2026

Shared hobbies can create some of the strongest connections!

From trying a new recipe to discovering a new favorite activity, our Friends create opportunities for youth to explore their interests, express themselves, and make meaningful memories along the way. 🍳✨

09/22/2026

FUN FACT: 91% of youth made progress in social and emotional development, including asking trusted adults for help and practicing healthy ways to cope with stress. 🧡

09/17/2026

September is Attendance Awareness Month, a reminder that showing up to school every day can depend on so much more than a morning routine.🚌📚

For many children and families, things like transportation challenges, work schedules, caregiving responsibilities, and instability at home can create real barriers to consistent attendance.

At Friends of the Children – Los Angeles, our professional mentors commit to being a consistent presence not only for the child, but also for the families and caregivers supporting them along the way in every aspect of the day.

When families have someone dependable in their corner, everyday challenges can feel a little more manageable 🤗🩵

09/15/2026

What an incredible moment for Friends of the Children – Los Angeles! 💙

We’re so thankful to CBS and to Lauren Pozen for recognizing and capturing the impact of Friends LA and the importance of showing up for our youth with consistency, care, and support.

We’re proud to continue sharing the stories of our youth, our Friends, and the community that makes this work possible. Thank you for helping us bring even more awareness to a mission that means so much to us.

Link to full story in our bio

09/09/2026

Seriously… what would we do without our team?

We’re so grateful for the incredible Friends LA team and community who continue to show up with love, consistency, and commitment. The difference you make is bigger than you know. ✨

09/02/2026

Friends LA’s impact speaks for itself:
⭐ 92% of youth go on to college, military service, or the workforce
🎓 90% earn a high school diploma or GED
💛 96% remain free from juvenile justice system involvement
🌱 95% wait to parent until after their teen years

Address

672 S. Lafayette Park Place, Suite 33
Los Angeles, CA
90057

Telephone

+12133780704

Website

http://www.friendsla.org/

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