For young people facing significant challenges, one caring adult can make an extraordinary difference. But sometimes, the strongest support comes when an entire community works together around a child and family.

That’s what partnership looks like between Friends of the Children – Phoenix and Higher Ground.

The two organizations often support the same families from different but complementary angles. Higher Ground may identify a young person who could benefit from Friends – Phoenix’s long-term professional mentoring model and make a referral. Other times, a Friend’s close relationship with a child and caregiver reveals a need for additional family resources, and Friends – Phoenix connects the family with Higher Ground.

As our Program Director Christina Martinez explains, “Higher Ground helps the kid by helping the family, and we help the family by helping the kid.”

For one young person we’ll call Mia*, that collaboration has helped create a meaningful new path forward.

Surrounding a Family with Support

Mia was referred to Friends – Phoenix by school leadership while still in kindergarten. Her behavioral needs had become significant enough that she was attending the district’s alternative education program rather than her neighborhood school.

At home, Mia was living with her grandmother, who had also opened her doors to several other children whose mother had lost custody. Suddenly, Grandma was caring for a household of roughly seven children while navigating the complex needs that came with that responsibility.

School leaders recognized that both Mia and her family needed additional support, bringing in Friends – Phoenix and Higher Ground at the same time.

Higher Ground began working closely with the household, helping Mia’s grandmother access resources and create greater stability at home.

Friends – Phoenix began mentoring Mia and another girl in the family. Mia was paired with Professional Mentor Gabby, whose full-time role is to build a consistent, trusting relationship with her and support her development over the long term.

For Mia, that has meant having someone beside her as she works through the behavioral challenges that once made school especially difficult. Gabby can provide individualized support, reinforce skills and expectations, celebrate progress and remain a consistent presence as Mia grows.

A Meaningful Milestone

This new school year brought an exciting milestone: Mia was able to re-enroll and return to her neighborhood school.

There is still work ahead, and no single intervention accounts for progress like this. But Mia’s return represents what can become possible when the right supports surround both a child and the people caring for her.

Higher Ground can focus on strengthening the stability and resources of the household. Friends – Phoenix can provide Mia with the consistent, individualized mentoring and educational support that comes from a Friend who is committed to walking alongside her for 12+ years, no matter what.

Together, the organizations are able to address both the circumstances surrounding Mia and her ability to grow and thrive within them.

Because lasting change rarely happens in isolation.

It happens when families have the resources they need, young people have someone consistently in their corner and community partners recognize that their work is stronger when they work together.

Name changed to protect youth privacy.