New Friends New Life

“FORM 990, PART I LINE 1 and PART III LINE 4a: THE PURPOSE OF AMY'S FRIENDS DBA NEW FRIENDS NEW LIFE IS TO RESTORE AND EMPOWER FORMERLY TRAFFICKED TEEN GIRLS AND SEXUALLY EXPLOITED WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. THE ORGANIZATION HELPS THESE WOMEN TO GAIN EDUCATION AND CONVENTIONAL EMPLOYMENT. MOST CLIENTS LACK A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND DO NOT HAVE THE REQUISITE JOB SKILLS TO EARN A LIVING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN IN CONVENTIONAL EMPLOYMENT. THE AVERAGE AGE A GIRL IS TRAFFICKED IS FOURTEEN. MOST HAVE LEFT HOME DURING THEIR TEENS BECAUSE OF BAD FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES, AND MOST WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED AS CHILDREN AND/OR ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. MOST ARE SINGLE PARENTS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. WITHOUT HELP, MOST WILL SEE THIS ABUSE AND VIOLENCE REPEATED IN THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN. NEW FRIENDS NEW LIFE HELPS WOMEN WHO WANT TO LEAVE SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT. WE DO NOT RECRUIT WOMEN INTO THE PROGRAM. MOST COME TO US THROUGH CONTACTS AND WITH OTHER WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN HELPED BY THE PROGRAM, THROUGH REFERRALS BY SOCIAL WORKERS AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM, AND THROUGH OUR WEBSITE OR MEDIA COVERAGE. MOST ARE MOTIVATED TO COME BECAUSE THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO HAVE STABLE, SAFE LIVES. DURING 2015, WE HELPED APPROXMATELY 850 TEENS, WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. FIND A CARING, SUPPORTIVE STAFF AND MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP THEM TO MAKE A PEACE WITH THEIR PAST AND BREAK THE CYCLE OF ABUSE AND VIOLENCE, SO THEIR CHILDREN WILL HAVE A CHANCE FOR BETTER LIVES. THE WOMEN ARE GIVEN COUNSELING BY LICENSED COUNSELORS AND THERAPISTS AND LEGAL AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE BY COOPERATING SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND PROFESSIONALS. OUR STAFF INCLUDES LICENSED, EXPERIENCED SOCIAL WORKERS WHO WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITH EACH WOMAN TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO ENABLE HER TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. THEIR CHILDREN ARE ALSO ASSISTED WITH COUNSELING AND OTHER NEEDS BY OUR CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS. AS THEIR MOTHERS BECOME STABLE AND GAIN PARENTING SKILLS, THE CHILDREN ALSO IMPROVE, SHOWING FEWER ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL, BETTER BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS AND IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR SCHOOLWORK. WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR BASIC LIVING EXPENSES DURING A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD WHILE WOMEN FIND CONVENTIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND GAIN THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE ADEQUATELY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN. WE PROVIDE WORK APPROPRIATE CLOTHING, JOB SKILLS AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS, ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING HOUSING, CONVENTIONAL EMPLOYMENT, AND MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE. FOR WOMEN WHO DO NOT HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED, WE REQUIRE THEM TO GET ONE. WE ALSO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO GET FURTHER EDUCATION OR TRAINING, AND WE HAVE MANY WOMEN WHO ENROLL IN THE DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OR OTHER VOCATIONAL TRAINING.”

“Form 990, PART VI, LINE 11B: Form 990 is reviewed in detail by the audit committee of the board of directors. The form is also provided to each board member and discussed in general terms prior to the filing of the return.”

“Form 990, PART VI, LINE 12C: Compliance with the conflict of interest policy is monitored by the treasurer, who is aware of all financial transactions with board members and other related parties. It is also monitored by the executive director, who has access to financial records of the organization.”

“Form 990, Part VI, LINES 15A & 15B: Annual compensation for the executive director is reviewed by the compensation committee of the board, after reviewing competitive compensation data for other nonprofit organizations of similar size located in the Dallas metropolitan area and after reviewing the individual's performance for the year. Recommendation of appropriate compensation is then made to the board of directors, who acts upon the recommendation of the committee. The committee also reviews compensation of other staff members to determine appropriate levels, as well as how such aggregate compensation complies with the organization's annual budget. It then recommends any aggregate increases, based on what nonprofit organizations of similar size in the Dallas metropolitan are planning for the year, with such aggregate increases to be approved by the board. The executive director then has discretion to apportion the aggregate increase among the individual staff employees, based on performance and competitive levels for each position.”

“FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 19: The organization makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request.”