Fristers
PROGRAMS
Kidsters
Children’s healthy physical, social-emotional, language, and cognitive development and their readiness for school lay the foundation for future success. Yet children of adolescent and young parents are at increased risk for developmental and academic challenges and often have limited access to preschool and other early learning opportunities. Kidsters is Fristers’ child development and school readiness program for children ages 3 months to 5 years, provided simultaneously with parent programming so both generations receive support at the same time. In a safe, nurturing environment, children participate in age-appropriate early learning experiences guided by CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics developmental standards. Activities promote language and communication, social-emotional and physical development, early literacy, and foundational school readiness skills. Trained staff observe and assess children throughout the year to monitor developmental progress and identify potential delays or behavioral concerns. When concerns are identified, families are connected to appropriate community resources for further evaluation and early intervention, with case managers helping parents navigate and access services. Through early education, developmental monitoring, nurturing relationships, and timely intervention, Kidsters helps children reach important milestones and enter school better prepared to learn, grow, and thrive.
Children make progress toward age-appropriate developmental milestones in language and communication, cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development. Preschool-aged children strengthen foundational school readiness skills, including recognition of letters, numbers, colors, and shapes; fine motor skills; and early writing skills.
Children develop positive social-emotional skills, including sharing, cooperating, taking turns, expressing emotions appropriately, building relationships, and developing greater confidence and independence.
Developmental delays and behavioral concerns are identified early through ongoing observation, assessment, and developmental screening, allowing families to be connected to appropriate evaluation and early intervention services when needed.
Ultimately, Kidsters helps children enter kindergarten developmentally stronger, more confident, and better prepared to learn and succeed.
LifeCoach
LifeCoach empowers adolescent and young mothers, ages 13–25, to build healthy, stable lives and families where they and their children can thrive. Through weekly educational classes, individualized case management, mentorship, and the support of a caring community, young mothers gain the knowledge, skills, resources, relationships, and confidence they need to navigate parenthood and build a strong future for their families. Classes use evidence-based curricula and are often led by specialized community partners with expertise in areas such as parenting, healthy relationships, financial literacy, workforce readiness, health and wellness, goal setting, problem solving, and college and vocational pathways. Individualized case management helps each mother identify her needs and goals and connects her to appropriate community resources. Support may include high school completion, college or vocational enrollment, employment, counseling, housing, healthcare, childcare, food assistance, legal services, and other basic needs. Case managers provide ongoing guidance and follow-up to help mothers successfully access services and make progress toward their goals. Mentorship and peer support are central to LifeCoach. Caring adult mentors provide encouragement, model healthy relationships and decision-making, and help young mothers navigate challenges, while connections with other young mothers reduce isolation and create a sense of belonging. Meals, transportation assistance, diapers, and other practical supports help remove barriers to participation. Together, these supports strengthen protective factors including resilience, self-efficacy, parenting competencies, problem-solving skills, healthy relationships, social connections, and access to concrete support that help young mothers create healthy, stable environments for themselves and their children.
Young mothers increase their parenting knowledge and confidence, strengthen communication and relationship skills, and develop healthier ways to manage stress, solve problems, and navigate challenges. They build resilience, self-efficacy, and stronger social connections through relationships with mentors, peers, and a caring community.
Mothers gain greater stability as basic needs are addressed and they learn how to identify, access, and successfully navigate community resources for housing, food, healthcare, counseling, childcare, legal assistance, and other needs.
Mothers make progress toward educational and economic goals, including completing high school, pursuing college or vocational training, developing workforce skills, and securing employment.
Together, these outcomes strengthen the protective factors that help mothers create safe, healthy, and stable homes, reduce risks such as child abuse and neglect and unhealthy relationship dynamics, and improve long-term outcomes for both mothers and their children.
Family Services
Family Services strengthens fathers, couples, and families by helping parents build the skills, relationships, and confidence needed to create healthy, stable homes for their children. Recognizing the important role fathers and healthy parental relationships play in a child’s well-being, Fristers intentionally provides education and support designed to engage fathers and strengthen families. Fathers receive evidence-based parenting and fatherhood education, mentorship, and opportunities to connect with other dads. Classes help fathers better understand their role in their child’s life, strengthen parenting skills, improve communication, and become more confident, engaged, and nurturing parents. Couples receive education and support focused on building healthy relationships and strong co-parenting partnerships. Topics include communication, conflict resolution, healthy boundaries, managing stress, understanding relationship dynamics, and working together to provide a stable and supportive environment for their children. Family activities and special events provide additional opportunities for fathers, couples, and children to spend meaningful time together, strengthen family bonds, and build connections with other families and a caring community. Through education, mentorship, relationship support, and community, Family Services helps parents develop healthier relationships with one another and their children and build stronger families.
Fathers increase their parenting knowledge, confidence, and involvement in their children’s lives and develop stronger communication and relationship skills. They gain a greater understanding of the important role they play in their child’s healthy development and well-being.
Couples strengthen communication, conflict-resolution, and co-parenting skills; establish healthier boundaries; and develop tools to navigate challenges and disagreements in constructive ways. Parents are better equipped to work together in the best interests of their children, whether they remain a couple or are co-parenting separately.
Families experience stronger parent-child relationships, healthier family dynamics, increased social connections, and greater stability. By strengthening parenting competencies, father involvement, healthy relationships, and supportive connections, Family Services builds protective factors that reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and unhealthy relationship dynamics and promote healthier outcomes for children and families.
CONTACT
Fristers
17785 Sky Park Circle
Suite E
Irvine, CA 92614
Ali Woodard
Phone: 949-387 7889