DONATED TO:
ADDRESS: 12011 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035
PHONE: (703) 324-7500
A volunteer mentoring program for 34 years, BeFriend-A-Child provides opportunities for companionship, guidance and support to children who are at risk of abuse and neglect or who have been abused and neglected.
“This is one of the best things I’ve seen from the County!” Shared by a father about how a BeFriend-A-Child mentor has positively impacted his child’s life.
Through mentoring, BeFriend-A-Child hopes to reduce some of the child abuse and neglect “risk factors” – social isolation, lack of support, and family stress; and to enhance various “protective factors” – positive self-esteem, good social skills, hobbies, interests, and good peer relationships. BeFriend-A-Child can also help encourage youth (with strong parental involvement) to make healthy life decisions and to achieve their potential.
Children from ages 5 – 12 whose families are involved with Fairfax County’s Children, Youth and Families Division are referred by their family’s CYF worker. Children are matched one-on-one with trained volunteer mentors. In addition to spending one-on-one time together, the mentors and mentees participate in monthly group outings throughout the year, such as ice skating, hiking, Celebrate Fairfax!, community service, and the annual holiday party
BeFriend-A-Child Program connects at-risk youth with professionally supported, caring adult mentors, BeFriend-A-Child creates a community where children feel more confident and motivated to make informed, responsible life choices and become productive, involved members of the community.
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