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:
AFC Mentoring builds relationships between adult volunteers and children between the ages of 7 and 14 who have adoption, foster care, or other out-of-home care experiences. Our goal is to connect youth with mentors who can offer enough emotional and social support to enable the youth to confidently define and achieve success on their own terms.
AFC Mentoring has a growing waiting list of boys who would like a male mentor in their life. By spending time with a young boy, you can provide him with the opportunity to grow and succeed, but mostly just be a friend. Mentoring with AFC 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!

Mentors go through an information session, six hours of training and an interview before being matched. AFC requires mentors to meet for eight hours per month with their mentees for at least one year. AFC will support a match for as long as they want, even beyond a year.

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: Abby Austin, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (617) 451-1025

Address:

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

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