Friends of the Children is launching a new chapter that will pair children facing the greatest obstacles from Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo with a salaried, professional mentor, called a Friend, from kindergarten through high school graduation - 12+ years. No matter what. Beginning this fall 2019, we will invite children whose families have faced significant challenges - like homelessness, substance use, or foster care - to join our program. In both North Dakota and Minnesota, the number of youth experiencing foster care is increasing. On any given day in the Fargo-Moorhead region, at least 50 children ages 4-6 are in foster care. Parental substance abuse is now the leading reason for a child's placement in foster care in North Dakota and Minnesota. 1 in 5 people who are homeless in Fargo and Moorhead are children. These challenges create obstacles that challenge a youth’s ability to be successful in school and in life. For over 26 years, Friends of the Children has empowered thousands of youth and families across the country to overcome those obstacles and change their stories through the unconditional commitment of a consistent, long-term relationship with a caring adult.