In this article, ICF explores how one organization, Friends of Children, does more than mentor at-risk children. Professional mentors (aka "friends") are intensively trained, children with the fewest protective factors are specifically targeted for a friend, the child is paired with the friend throughout their childhood, and the friend spends at least four hours a week with that child.

Children who complete the program, on average, demonstrate more behavioral strengths, more positive school behavior, and fewer externalizing behavioral problems than control group children who didn't receive the program's supports.