Adoption & Foster Care Mentoring

Vision Statement: AFC Mentoring envisions a future when all adopted and foster youth can say,
"I will flourish, my community will support me."

Mission Statement: Adoption & Foster Care Mentoring empowers adopted and foster youth to flourish through committed mentoring relationships.

Description:
Most youth in the foster care system have zero consistent relationships. YOU can make the change. By giving eight hours a month for one year you will help the youth that we serve to flourish.

AFC Mentoring is dedicated to building positive relationships among adults with youth who have experience in foster care or who have been recently adopted. Our goal is to create long-lasting, consistent relationships which encourage youth to define and achieve their own personal success. Become a mentor, because one consistent and stable influence is all it takes to help a young person succeed in life.

Mentoring with AFC is a great chance to have fun and make a difference in your community! It can open the doors to many new opportunities for you and your mentee. AFC has sent matches to Red Sox games, Celtics games, museums, the zoo and many more events!

History:
J. Justin Pasquariello is the founder and director of the AFC Mentoring program. His foster family adopted him when he was nine years old. Justin has been a mentor for the same boy since his first year in college, and through his community organizing class at Harvard he developed the basics for a mentoring organization for adopted and foster youth.

In June 2001, Justin partnered with The Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP). Two months later AFC Mentoring became a pilot initiative of MMP, based out of their office.

Many people from the adoption, foster care, mentoring, nonprofit, business, and general communities helped and continue to help in the development of AFC Mentoring. Many of them serve on the board of advisers for AFC. Our strong community ties form an important part of our strong foundation in mentoring, adoption, and foster care.

In the early spring of 2002, AFC Mentoring began its first one-on-one and group mentoring relationships. We have already witnessed improvements in the lives of mentors and mentees, and outside feedback has been very positive. We provide a strong support structure to mentors and mentees as well, including monthly mentor meetings and check-ins.

On October 31, 2002, Justin was recognized by the Boston Celtics as a "Hero Among Us" for his positive impact through AFC Mentoring in the community, and his positive effect on the lives of others.

Currently, AFC Mentoring is working to further improve their programs by researching and evaluating current best practices. As a result, the number of people involved in AFC programs is rapidly increasing, but we still need your help! Please contact us if you would like to get involved. Thank you!

Contact person: Brittany Temple, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (617) 451-1025

Address:

727 Atlantic Avenue, 3rd Floor Boston, MA 02111 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.afcmentoring.org

Directions:

Take the Red Line to South Station. Exit South Station and head towards the bus terminal. We are aproximately 2 blocks from South Station on the right-hand side of the street.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: South Station,   Walk distance (in minutes): 3   Nearest Bus Stop: 3,6,7,448,449,459, 4-5 minute walk For maps or information, please see http://www.mbta.com/schedmaps/index.cfm

Last updated on May 5, 2009