Everly* is a natural leader and caretaker. She makes friends easily and shows a remarkable gift for noticing when younger children need help. She is fascinated by dogs and can identify breeds with impressive accuracy, with hopes of having a pet to call her own one day. Everly is also an adventurous spirit who loves climbing, seeking out the biggest slides, and exploring nature.

Having a paid, professional mentor—called a Friend—by her side has given Everly the space and security to let these amazing qualities emerge and shine. Everly’s family story is complex. She never met her birth parents and was raised by her grandmother, who adopted both Everly and her older half-sister. Her grandmother has been diligent about connecting Everly with supportive resources, including Friends of the Children – Colorado.

Over the past three years, with help from her Friend, Everly has made tremendous progress. She is learning to name and express her feelings, and has started opening up about her emotions surrounding her family. Building trust with her Friend has helped Everly process challenging moments in a healthy way. Academically, Everly is making steady progress in reading and math, building a foundation that will serve her throughout her education.

With her natural empathy, curiosity, and determination—and a Friend walking beside her no matter what—Everly is becoming a confident young person with a bright future ahead.

*Youth name changed to protect privacy