Friends of the Children Austin
Freddy Vigil-Zavaleta has had a diverse range of work experiences, primarily focused on child protection and mentorship roles. Freddy is currently employed at Friends of the Children Austin as a Program Manager, a position they have held since November 2022. Freddy also works as a Professional Mentor for the organization, a role they began in June 2021.
Prior to joining Friends of the Children Austin, Vigil-Zavaleta worked at the Center for Child Protection. Here, they held the position of Forensic Interviewer from June 2019 to June 2021. Freddy previously served as a Program Specialist at the same organization, starting in July 2018 and ending in June 2019.
Vigil-Zavaleta's work experience includes a college internship at Bright Future Child Placement Agency, which took place from August 2017 to May 2018.
Additionally, they have relevant experience gained during their time at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Freddy served as a Head Resident Assistant from August 2016 to May 2018, and as a Resident Assistant from August 2015 to May 2016.
Freddy Vigil-Zavaleta received their Bachelor's degree in Social Work from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, where they studied from 2014 to 2018. Additionally, in March 2022, they obtained certification in Youth Mental Health Youth First Aid USA from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
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Friends of the Children Austin
Friends of the Children breaks the cycle of generational poverty by giving children facing the highest-risks the ability to create a new story. This brings life transformation to the highest-risk children and tremendous economic impact to our community. Our model is courageous, unique, and proven. We provide each child with a salaried, professional mentor, who we call a Friend, from kindergarten through graduation. 12 ½ years. No matter what. Moving mentoring out of the volunteer realm ensures the quality, consistency, and commitment needed to help the child create a new story and break the cycle of poverty. We have many stories of the highest-risk children realizing their potential: • 83% graduate from high school, while 60% have parents who did not. • 93% avoid the juvenile justice system, while 50% have parents who were incarcerated. • 98% avoid early parenting, while 85% were born to a teen parent. Friends of the Children was founded in 1993 by Portland entrepreneur Duncan Campbell. Campbell was inspired by his own troubled childhood in NE Portland to start a revolutionary new program to help at-risk children in the same neighborhood where he grew up. In 1992, The Institute for Children conducted extensive research on resilient youth and factors that influenced their success. The research discovered that the single most important factor that fosters resiliency in at-risk children is a caring and supportive relationship with an adult. Intervention and support must begin early, continue as the child matures, and consistently address the needs of the whole person. In 1993, Friends of the Children opened its doors in Portland with three friends serving 24 children. Today Friends reaches thousands of children in over 250 schools in communities across the nation providing mentorship and support for vulnerable youth for 12 and a half years (from kindergarten though high school)-- no matter what.
Employees
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