| U.S. Department of Education Grant |
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For Immediate Release Contact: Todd Leibbrand, BEST Kids Washington, D.C. - BEST Kids, Inc., a new mentoring organization in the District of Columbia, has been awarded a $596,000, three-year grant in support of its mentoring program by the US Department of Education, under the Office of Safe and Drug-Free School and Communities-National Programs. BEST Kids, Inc., a non-profit organization established in 2001, matches volunteer adult mentors with foster care children in the District of Columbia’s Abuse & Neglect System. BEST Kids has partnered with Friendship Public Charter School in the District of Columbia in this effort. In 2004, BEST Kids and the District of Columbia’s Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) agreed to the terms of a first ever partnership for conducting long-term volunteer mentoring for those children most at risk for school failure – those residing in foster care. BEST Kids, Inc. provides each foster child selected a well-trained adult who will relate to the child on a long-term, one-on-one basis. The children will also participate in a peer group to develop a sense of belonging, to learn academic and social skills as well as goal setting techniques. BEST Kids will stay with the children from fourth grade until they become 18 years old, and will continue to advocate for and maintain a mentor in these foster children’s lives until they successfully complete postsecondary education and/or vocational training, and successfully transition to independence. Federal funds represent 91% of the total costs or $197,181 of the first year costs of BEST Kids™ mentoring program. Non-governmental costs represent 9% or $19,200. Learn more about BEST Kids™ mentoring program by visiting www.bestkids.org. |