About Us
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What We Do
We match volunteer individuals, couples, or families as mentors to kids ages 6 through 9.
The mentor/mentee matches meet 3-4 times each month and commit to at least 1 year.
Over 70% of our matches continue into a second year and nearly 50% into a third.
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Who We Serve
Of the children we serve:
87% of kids qualify for free/reduced lunch program
72% of kids live with only one parent/guardian
35% of kids have one or more parents or guardians who are or have been in prison
18% of kids have experienced some form of homelessness
23% of kids are or have been in foster care and/or have been adopted
19% of kids are from immigrant/refugee families
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Church Partners
We partner with local churches throughout the Portland metro area to find mentors. We have matches from Vancouver to Wilsonville and from Beaverton to Boring.
Each mentor is required to complete 6 hours of training and an extensive vetting process that takes an average of 10-12 hours to complete.
Mentors enthusiastically and patiently include a child in every day activities, building trust between true friends.
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Community Partners
We partner with schools and community organizations to identify kids in need of a mentor. These partners work with the parent or guardian to refer their child.
Our families are engaged throughout the matching process, hosting our staff for a home visit where our team discerns the needs of the family and best fit for the child.
Taking into account the story, interests, and personality of both the mentor and mentee, we then make matches between those who live within 5 miles. Our staff introduces the mentor to their mentee and family at what we call a “match visit” at the mentees home. A friendship begins!
Each match is assigned under the care of a Program Coordinator who supports them throughout the entire match process and for the duration of their match. This coordinator is regularly in touch with both the family and the mentor to ensure the relationship thrives. We nurture and support each match in every way possible.
History.
In 1991, Duncan Campbell set out to determine the best way to transform the most vulnerable children’s lives.
He was determined to find a way to help children that was grounded in solid research, was focused on quantifiable results and considered the return on investment. A two-year research project identified that the best way to create real change is to start working with children early and provide each of them with a long-term, consistent relationships with caring adults. Based on these findings, Duncan founded Friends of the Children in 1993. Duncan wasn’t finished!
Duncan Campbell founded Friends of the Children in 1993 and Faithful Friends in 2013.
For over 30 years, he has hoped to see the Christian faith community serve vulnerable children through mentoring. In January 2013, Duncan Campbell was introduced to Josh White, the lead pastor of Door of Hope Church in Portland. Duncan shared his vision for the church to be an active participant in serving the needs of vulnerable children in the city. Together with Josh, they formed a vision to birth a faith-based mentoring program out of Door of Hope. This program would become Faithful Friends Mentoring Program.
Faithful Friends began in March 2013 and now has 20 church partnerships and over 70 active mentor/mentee matches.
