Early Intervention: Friend
The Friend Program is designed to provide a context for school-aged youth to consistently engage and connect with positive adult role models. More specifically, this early intervention program pairs "College Friends," collegiate volunteers recruited by The Second Mile, with "Young Friends," K-6th grade students in need of additional support, to participate together in recreational and educational events. To promote the development of healthy self-esteem and personal responsibility, College Friend and Young Friend pairs work together on goals targeting academic and social success, with the Young Friends submitting documentation (i.e., report cards; information from parents, teachers, counselors, or the College Friends themselves; certificates) to verify their progress toward achieving such goals at year-end.
Currently, the Friend Program is available to children in Blair,
Centre, Chester, Clinton, Delaware, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Mifflin, and Montgomery Counties and the Lehigh Valley. Serving
these youngsters are caring student-volunteers interested in making
a difference in their communities, recruited from Penn State, Penn State-Altoona,
Lock Haven, Millersville, and Villanova Universities and Muhlenburg and Cedar Crest Colleges. All College Friends are supervised by Second
Mile staff and sign volunteer commitment statements and non-abuse
disclosures.
Friend activities are scheduled regularly throughout the course of the school year and range from swimming and bowling to picnics and holiday parties. All activities are offered at no cost to participating youth, and transportation is usually provided through private arrangements with bus companies.
School counselors, teachers, and parents all act as referral sources for the program, identifying children who would benefit from social interaction with positive role models as a result of changing family circumstances, difficulties with academic or social issues, geographic isolation, impoverishment, and/or lack of adult support and guidance. These same referral sources report on the positive benefits of the program: improved social skills, goal-directed behavior, and attention to academics.
As part of our strategic vision to serve more children throughout the Commonwealth, The Second Mile plans to expand the Friend Program in the Southcentral and Southeastern regions of the state. We are currently looking for site locations that would provide the following resources:
- The support of college or university administrators in recruiting College Friends and using campus facilities,
- The commitment of local adults, individual students, and collegiate student organizations in serving as key volunteers, and
- The cooperation of local businesses in donating venues for activities and buses for transportation.
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