Where It Begins

Friends of the Children focuses on children between the ages of 4 and 6, typically entering kindergarten. As Cecelia Paniagua, our Program Director, explains, "At the 4 to 6 year old range, family relationships are one of the most important influences on child development. We start building the mentor-youth relationship foundation at this crucial age."

Starting here means a Friend can be part of a child's life through its most formative chapters, all the way through young adulthood.

Finding the right children begins with the people who know them best. We partner with Coachella Valley Unified School District and Desert Sands Unified School District, working closely with educators, counselors, and family liaisons to identify youth who would benefit from consistent, long-term mentorship. Those referrals come through a Risk and Protective Factors assessment, which helps us understand the specific challenges a child may be facing both inside and outside the classroom.

From the beginning, our focus has been on reaching the children who could benefit most from a long-term mentor. We prioritize youth facing significant barriers, including poverty, housing instability, and exposure to trauma, and those in communities where support can feel out of reach or difficult to seek.

Once we've identified youth through our school partners, the real getting-to-know-you begins. Read about what we look for during classroom observations.