Newsletter
An Incredible Opportunity
From Interim Executive Director Sarah Tanner Change within organizations is inevitable. And yet change can be difficult, stressful, and messy–and it can create distractions that limit productivity. Having served in…
Read MoreFrom West to East, Dynamic Managers Robbie Rubet and Mukesh Baral Lead Expanded FOCUS Program Across Massachusetts
In the seven years since Friends of Children launched its award-winning FOCUS program for young adults aging out of foster care at our headquarters in Western, Massachusetts, word of the…
Read MoreNew Financial Fitness Curriculum Paves the Road to Financial Stability For Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
Since its inception seven years ago, the FOCUS program at Friends of Children has been connecting youth aged 18-26 who are transitioning out of foster care to resources, peers, and…
Read MoreQuilts from the Heart
For several years, members of the Edwards Church of Northampton Quilting Team have been making quilts for our FOCUS young adults. This year, the team added a blessing to be…
Read MoreFriends of Children Seeks Board Members
As a leading advocacy agency serving children and families involved with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, we rely on a strong and dynamic board, and we’re currently seeking…
Read MoreVolunteers Urgently Needed
We are in immediate need of volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and FOCUS Mentors. CASA provides a four-day in person training, asks volunteers to make a…
Read MoreFor the Sake of Our Children, the Call for Truth, Action, and Change Endures
From Executive Director Jane Lyons Dear Friends, It’s impossible to advocate on behalf of individual children and youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems and not look for…
Read MoreAs the Push to Establish Independent Foster Care Review Intensifies, Friends of Children Introduces Voices from the Inside
Our Advocacy Efforts for a More Effective Child Welfare System At Friends of Children, our policy work focuses on transparency, accountability, and oversight of the Commonwealth’s child welfare system. We…
Read MoreIntroducing Voices from the Inside
As advocates across the state urge leaders to support the establishment of independent foster care review, Friends of Children recognizes a need to amplify the voices of those involved in…
Read MoreSpecial Education CASA Alison Greene: An Extra-Special Resource and Advocate
With a Master’s degree, specialized CASA training as a special education advocate, and rich professional practical experience throughout Massachusetts, Alison Greene was first motivated to become a CASA after her…
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