Best Kids, Inc., is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides mentoring to foster care children in the District of Columbia's Abuse and Neglect System. Foster care children are the most at-risk population of children in America.

Research studies show that, of youth emancipating from foster care after 4 years, fewer than 1 in 5 were completely self supporting, and 60 percent of the females had given birth.

In the District of Columbia, 44.5 percentage of children age 12 or younger are placed in group homes or institutions at entry into foster care. The District of Columbia has the highest percentage of children in group homes in the country, much higher than the national average of 8.7%. The District of Columbia also had the lowest percentage in the nation of children over 12 years old being discharged to a permanent home.

BEST Kids™ targets the District of Columbia's foster care children. Please visit Foster Care: A Quiet Crisis and our Investment Approach for more information.

Best Kids, Inc., is operating via the first ever Memo of Understanding (MOU) with the District of Columbia. Under the MOU the BEST Kids™ mentoring program has the legal authority to provide volunteer mentors for children starting in fourth grade and continuing, as needed, until they reach 18 years old. BEST Kids™ asks mentors to commit to two years, and perform on average, 10 hours of a month of face-to-face contact.

Best Kids, Inc. was started in 2001 by Todd Leibbrand, who served as a Volunteer Advocate and a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for over ten years to two boys in foster care in the District of Columbia. Todd saw the tremendous need for a positive adult role model in the boys’ lives, and wanted to help other boys and girls in the same way. Todd now serves as president of Best Kids, Inc. and is assisted by many professionals and child advocates with deep experience in working with and reaching this population. We invite you to click on our Board of Directors, Leadership Team, Advisory Board, and Partners to get a better understanding of the breadth of experience working on this initiative. The organization  currently is funded by a US Department of Education grant and individual donations, and is seeking corporate and foundation assistance, as well.

We encourage you to visit our site and if interested in becoming more involved, please contact us.