Mentoring Works

The Latest
The bottom line is that mentoring works. BEST Kids Mentoring Program is guided by the belief that all children are talented. Through one-on-one volunteer mentoring, extensive training, staff support, and experiential learning-based Peer Groups, we encourage our youth to discover and develop their unique skills and abilities. Beginning with children as young as age six, BEST Kids works to enable youth to develop a positive sense of self, acquire teamwork and group social skills, and to become productive members of society.

11th Annual 
Superhero 5K and Fun Run

BEST Kids will be hosting its 11th Annual Superhero 5K & Fun Run! What an amazing event for a worthy cause! We will be bringing the community together to celebrate the everyday heroes who make a positive impact in the lives of youth in foster care and youth who are at-risk.

Evolution in Action

Evolution in Action is the BEST Kids blueprint for achieving our new mission and vision based on abiding by our organizational values and our three strategic priorities of Engagement, Equity, and Excellence.

BEST Kids
Information Sessions

​Upcoming Sessions: 
Tuesday, February 7
​at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, February 21 ​at 6 p.m.
We are looking forward to sharing how we can partner together to support youth in foster care and youth who are at risk in the Washington, DC area. Whether it’s through volunteering your time, and resources, becoming a mentor to one of our youth, or donating financially, your support enables us to continue to improve outcomes for the youth we serve. 
Please join us for one of the following Virtual Volunteer 
Information Sessions to learn more about BEST Kids and our amazing volunteer 
​opportunities!

Mystics Mentor

BEST Kids is a proud partner of the Mystics Mentor program! In association with MENTOR MD|DC, Mystics Mentor seeks to close the mentoring gap in the DC area. Help us meet our goal of recruiting 40 Mystics fans to become volunteer mentors by joining us Friday, May 13th at 7pm for the Mystics Mentoring Tip Off and Saturday, July 17th at 3pm for BEST Kids night!

BEST Kids Stands in Solidarity​
Over 95% of the youth we serve are members of the Black community. We recognize the systemic racism and inequality, as well as the continued police and community violence within our country and our own city that directly and adversely impact our youth, and in many ways is an added layer of trauma that they continue to experience every day.

We refuse to ignore this issue that plagues our nation. Instead, BEST Kids will band together to be an active part of the solution, and side with those striving to do the same. We are continuously taking the opportunity to re-examine ourselves and our programming and are dedicated to finding ways we can do and be better. We've created a page on our site to track our efforts in this work on an ongoing basis with more transparency.
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Our Impact

Every aspect of our programming is designed to reach positive outcomes for the children and youth we serve including academic achievement, social and emotional well-being, the avoidance of risky behaviors, and the development of independent living skills. 

Social & Emotional Wellness

Academic Achievement

Avoidance of Risky Behavior

Our Stories

Brett & T

Brett and T were able to build a strong bond by discovering mutual interests with one another. They used these common interests as an outlet for fun and as the foundation of a strong, long-lasting relationship that has seen T through many transitions and difficulties.

Lyle & Michael

Michael is the very first mentee to be matched at BEST Kids. Although he has seen many ups and downs over the years, he's always had his mentor Lyle at his side. After spending his entire life in foster care, Michael has now aged-out; however, he still can depend on Lyle to navigate early adulthood and self-sufficiency. 

Whitney & David

Whitney was a former foster youth herself who made a point to give back to her community through mentoring. She's been matched as David's mentor since 2014. Together, they've experienced tons of fun and a tremendous amount of growth.