Friends of Children is a nonprofit organization dedicated to impacting the lives of hundreds of children each year by working to bring security and hope to abused and neglected children in the foster care system. These children from birth to young adulthood have been made vulnerable by abuse and neglect and often have other special needs associated with mental health, trauma, education and permanency. Since it began, Friends of Children has advocated on behalf of more than 10,000 children in western Massachusetts.