Phillips 66 Billings Refinery is joining us in one of the most important investments a community can make: ensuring every child has the consistent support they need to learn, grow, and thrive. We're proud to announce them as our 2026 Premier Learning and Literacy Partner!

Why This Work Matters in Eastern Montana

Montana has the third-highest rate of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in the United States. Although Indigenous youth represent a small percentage of the overall youth population in Yellowstone County, they comprise a significantly higher share of youth in foster care.

We fill a critical gap by providing full-time, professional mentors who work holistically across school, home, and community, not as a short-term program, but as a long-term commitment that changes life trajectories.

Our Friends commit for 12+ years, no matter what. From kindergarten through high school graduation, these consistent relationships provide the foundation children need to heal, learn, and build futures without limits.

How Friends of the Children Supports Learning & Literacy

Literacy is the foundation of lifelong success. It's one of the earliest predictors of whether a child will stay engaged in school, graduate, and pursue meaningful opportunities beyond high school.

Through our trauma-informed mentoring model, Friends embeds literacy and learning support into every aspect of our work. Our professional mentors, called Friends, focus on the A, B, C, D's of school success:

A - Attendance
Friends foster a sense of belonging, safety, and motivation to stay in school. They help caregivers access community resources and remove barriers to attendance.

B - Behavior
Friends support identity development, promote youth voice, and build skills, including self-regulation, problem-solving, and critical thinking. They work in classrooms, helping youth engage positively in the school environment.

C - Course Progression
Friends work in and outside the classroom with education specialists to advance proven trauma-informed strategies for literacy. They communicate with teachers and staff to ensure that youth have the services they need, including special education and mental health resources.

D - Dream and Plan for the Future
Friends provide opportunities for volunteering, career exploration, college preparedness, employment, and military options. They support youth in applying to colleges and scholarships, building resumes, preparing for interviews, and addressing anything else needed to advance their personal goals.

The results speak for themselves, in 2025:

• 100% of children advanced to the next grade level
• 80% participated in our summer literacy program
• 50 children enrolled across 15 partner schools in Yellowstone County

Phillips 66 is leading the way. Will you join them?

Every child in Yellowstone County deserves a Friend - someone in their corner for 12+ years, no matter what. Your support makes that possible for more kids right here in our community!