Friends of the Children-Eastern Idaho opens new clubhouse in Fort Hall

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) — Friends of the Children–Eastern Idaho celebrated the grand opening of its new clubhouse at Fort Hall Elementary School on Thursday, marking an expansion of the professional mentoring program that first launched in American Falls.

The program aims to disrupt cycles of hardship by enrolling children ages 4 to 6 who are facing early adversity. Each child is paired with a paid, professional mentor who guides them from early childhood all the way through high school graduation, in an effort to keep local youth out of the juvenile justice system and on track to graduate.

Executive Director Gina Judd says those children often show strong potential and benefit most from long-term support.

"Typically their children have a lot of potential and a lot of promise, but they've also been facing a lot of hardship at that early age," said Judd. "And they would be the ones who benefit the most from a long-term, supportive, professional mentor."

Located directly inside Fort Hall Elementary School, the new clubhouse gives mentors a dedicated space to meet with students regularly. For more information, click HERE.