[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 83 (Wednesday, June 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1137-E1138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 16, 2004

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing the ``Friends of the 
Children National Demonstration Act'' that would authorize $7 million 
for Friends of the Children to support local program operations at 
existing sites and dissemination of findings to policymakers and other 
youth-serving programs. Friends of the Children is the only program in 
the nation that provides carefully screened full-time professional 
mentors to at-risk children for 12 years starting at five years of age. 
The Portland program started in 1993 with 3 ``Friends'' mentors serving 
24 children. Today, Friends of the Children serves over 600 children in 
11 communities across the nation. The children served by this 
innovative program are truly the most defenseless--they are children of 
poverty; they have been in foster care, on welfare, and have parents 
who are incarcerated or are homeless. Friends of the Children's first 
class is now graduating from the Portland program; and the graduates 
are outperforming their peer group of at-risk children.
  Here is a real-life example of the impact this program has: Natasha 
joined the Friends of the Children Portland program in 1993 and has 
overcome a family history of drug abuse and prostitution. Natasha has 
developed a strong relationship with her mentor, Jennifer. When she 
first enrolled in the Friends program, Natasha was unmotivated and did 
not enjoy her school work. With Jennifer's guidance, Natasha has found 
the determination to become a leader and maintain a positive attitude. 
She follows this philosophy in other aspects of her life, refusing to 
bow to peer pressure and confronting her friends when they are 
considering risky behaviors such as smoking. Now 17, Natasha has 
excelled as a member of her high school softball team and has become an 
avid photographer. She plans to study photography in college and will 
begin the college application process this fall by visiting college 
campuses with Jennifer. Natasha is a wonderful role model for the 
children and has benefited in a unique way from the Friends program. 
Natasha lived with her great-grandmother until she passed away in 2000. 
She is now living with a former Friends of the Children mentor who 
serves as her legal guardian.

[[Page E1138]]

  In Portland tomorrow, the first class of Friends of the Children, 
including Natasha, will graduate from the program. These were children 
who were identified 12 years ago by their elementary schools as most 
likely to fail. They now show great progress in leading successful 
lives.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this bill and 
make a commitment to improving the lives of at-risk children.

                          ____________________