The Family Friends Program provides a bridge between Boston-resident families and Wellesley families by providing each child from Boston a consistent, caring presence in the school community as they endeavor to succeed in school. Elementary students in the program participate in scheduled monthly “Stay Days,” which are a structured way to facilitate connection between communities.
Based on qualitative data, our program has observed that students who have been matched with host families typically perform better academically and experience greater socialization with peers, than those who do not take part in “Stay Days.” The goal of the Family Friends Program is to support the successful integration of Boston students into the school community so that they may benefit fully from available academic and social opportunities. Above all, Family Friends provides a feeling of security for METCO students by giving them a sense of belonging to the community where they spend the majority of their day.