Friends are full-time, paid professionals who bring both experience and heartfelt commitment to working with at-risk children. Friends recieve extensive training, supervision, and support from program staff. Friends are diverse: 49% are women, ages range from twenties to fifties, and they come from all walks of life. Each Friend works with an average of 8 children, spending at least 4 hours with each child every week. Friends maintain regular contact with each child's family. Each Friend has a Bachelor's Degree. Friends are professionally trained and all have previous experience working with youth. Friends make a caring commitment to the children in our program and stay an average of 7 years.