FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN
UPDATES LONG-TERM PROGRAM OUTCOMES
A multi-site randomized controlled trial (RCT) study that began in 2007 is concluding this year, and it has provided Friends of the Children with new data that affords us the opportunity to update our long-term program outcomes. For all the youth in the study who participated in Friends of the Children program for at least 9 years, or graduated from the program, here is what we found:
90%
graduated from high school or earned their GED (up from 83%)
96%
avoided criminal justice system involvement (up from 93%)
95%
avoided early parenting
92%
of youth enroll in post-secondary education, serve our country, or enter the workforce
“We are so proud to see a large jump from 83 to 90 percent in the graduation rate. We know that improved high school graduation and GED completion are critical to our mission of breaking cycles of intergenerational poverty. Most youth in our program are the first in their families to celebrate that accomplishment.”
– Terri Sorensen, National CEO, Friends of the Children
Friends of the Children hopes that this fall the full RCT study results will be released by researchers, digging into the efficacy of our program and sharing new understandings about our impact on youth mental health and substance use.