Friends of Children & Youth
Started in 2004, Friends of Children and Youth (FOCY) helps children and youths, ages 6 to 16, with at least one parent presently or formerly incarcerated.
FOCY intervenes in our beneficiaries’ social, physical, emotional, educational development, as well as provide financial assistance.
We do it through casework management, regular mentoring sessions, tuition programme, food rations, character-building and life-skills workshops and activities.
Using intervention methods, we assign a caseworker to each child/youth, as well as a befriender (volunteer), to mentor, care and support, so they are ready and equipped to enter the next phase of their lives.
This helps the child/youth to:
- Be more engaged in school and improve school attendance
- Make better choices in relationships and lifestyle
- Develop pro-social behaviour
- Build stronger relationships with parents and peers
- Decrease delinquent behaviour and substance abuse
- Be at a lower risk of intergenerational transmission of criminality
Cases are only closed when their situations are deemed stable, which can be from a few months to many years.
This programme is available islandwide.
Focus Areas
- Case management – Needs assessment | Basic counselling | Home visitations | Individualised care plans | Collaborating with stakeholders
- Social support – Mentoring & character development | Group work | Pro-social activities | Interest groups | Family outings
- Educational support – Academic coaching | Liaising with schools
- Care support – Food rations | Milestone celebrations | Financial assistance referrals
Programme Referral
If our Friends of Children & Youth programme is of interest to you, kindly fill up the FOCY Referral Form and email it to focyreferral@life-community. We will be in touch with you shortly.
*Note: Cut-off date for admission of children is 14 years old