[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 93 (Thursday, July 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7838-S7839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SMITH (for himself and Mr. Wyden):
  S. 2625. A bill to establish a national demonstration project to 
improve intervention programs for the most disadvantaged children and 
youth, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague, Mr. Wyden, 
to introduce the ``Friends of the Children National Demonstration Act'' 
to authorize funding for Friends of the Children.
  Friends of the Children is a promising early intervention program 
established in Portland, Oregon, in 1993. The program identifies the 
most disadvantaged children at the kindergarten or first grade level 
and matches those children with ``professional mentors'' (also known as 
``Friends''). Once matched, professional mentors work with children for 
a period of up to 12 years.
  Started over a decade ago with just three Friends serving as mentors 
to 24 children, Friends of the Children has grown to serve over 600 
children in 11 communities throughout the United States. The mission of 
Friends of the Children is to help our Nation's most disadvantaged 
children to develop the relationships, goals, and skills necessary to 
break the cycles of poverty, abuse, and violence in order to become a 
contributing member of society.
  Extensive research has shown that the single most important factor 
that fosters resiliency in children is having a long-term relationship 
with a caring, supportive adult. Friends of the Children is a unique 
program that provides just such a relationship for disadvantaged 
children.
  In 1993, Friends of the Children welcomed T.R., a first grader, into 
the Portland program. At home, T.R. was routinely exposed to drug use, 
gang activity, and violence. Through the program, T.R. was matched with 
his mentor, Jerrell, to help maintain a support system in T.R.'s life. 
Jerrell tutors, counsels, advises and is a companion to T.R. whether it 
is discussing T.R.'s plans for the future or dealing with his family 
relationships. Without the help of someone like Jerrell, T.R. believes 
that he would probably have dropped out of school or joined a gang. 
Now, T.R. is giving back to his community by working for Self 
Enhancement, Inc., an organization that teaches leadership skills to 
middle school students. T.R. has overcome great adversity to mature 
into a responsible young adult. T.R. aspires to pursue a career in 
business and would like to run his own company one day.
  Last week, T.R. became one of the first students to graduate from the 
Friends of the Children program. Along with his classmates, T.R. was 
identified by the program over a decade ago. He was part of a group of 
children identified as the most in danger of abuse, neglect, juvenile 
delinquency, gang and drug involvement, school failure, and teenage 
pregnancy. Today, these children have grown into young adults. They 
have positive values and show great potential to become healthy, 
productive members of their communities.
  ``The Friends of the Children National Demonstration Act'' will 
establish a national demonstration project to promote learning about 
successful early and sustained childhood intervention programs. This 
bill would authorize funding for Friends of the Children activities and 
local program operations at existing sites including ongoing 
evaluation, and dissemination of findings for the benefit of policy 
makers and other youth programs.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this bill and 
make a commitment to improving the lives of disadvantaged children and 
youth.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I am introducing today, along with my 
colleague, Senator Smith, the ``Friends of the Children National 
Demonstration Act'' to authorize funding for Friends of the Children. 
The companion of this bill is being introduced in the House today by 
Congressman Earl Blumenauer.
  This innovative program is truly a best practice in the field of 
youth development. Friends of the Children was started in Portland, OR, 
and was modeled on extensive research indicating that the strongest 
protective factor for highly disadvantaged children is an on-going 
relationship with a supportive, caring adult. Today, Friends of the 
Children is the only program in the Nation that provides carefully 
screened full-time professional mentors to disadvantaged youth for 12 
years starting in kindergarten or first grade. Friends of the 
Children's first class of students is now graduating. These young 
people have outperformed their peer group of disadvantaged youth in 
every respect. They are in school, have passing grades, have not been 
incarcerated, do not abuse drugs or alcohol, and have not become 
involved in gang violence.
  Let me share the story of one of these friends. In 1993, a first 
grader named Demarcus joined the Friends of the Children-Portland 
program in an attempt to overcome a family history of substance abuse 
and violence. His mother was raising three children as a single parent 
and she was overwhelmed. As a participant in the Friends of the 
Children program, Demarcus was matched with a ``Friend,'' Ruben, who 
has been his mentor for the past eight years. Ruben and Demarcus have 
developed a strong relationship through activities ranging from playing 
basketball to having serious conversations about life and preparing for 
the future. Ruben has helped

[[Page S7839]]

Demarcus develop anger management skills and maturity. While many of 
Demarcus's friends and family have been incarcerated or have been 
victims of gun violence, Demarcus is a success story. Now 17 years old, 
he is a responsible young man who makes good choices and knows that 
actions have consequences. When he graduates from high school, he hopes 
to work toward becoming a pilot, either by joining the military or 
attending college. Friends of the Children mentors have been major 
supporters of Demarcus and his goal to attain higher education. The 
mentors have helped him grow into the focused young adult he is today.
  Last week in Portland, the first class of Friends of the Children, 
including Demarcus, graduated from the program. By all accounts these 
children have beaten the odds and are success stories. Twelve years ago 
these young people were identified by their elementary schools as most 
likely to fail. Today, they are soon-to-be high school graduates.
  Currently, Friends of the Children serves over 600 children in 11 
communities across the United States. ``The Friends of the Children 
National Demonstration Act'' will establish a national demonstration 
project to promote learning about successful early and sustained 
childhood interventions. This bill would authorize funding for Friends 
of the Children activities and local program operations at existing 
sites, ongoing evaluation, and dissemination of findings for the 
benefit of policy makers and other youth-serving programs.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this bill and 
make a commitment to improving the lives of disadvantaged children and 
youth.
                                 ______