The Friendship Confidence™ Program

For teens and adults who want friends but need the right support to get there

Friendship Confidence™ helps students build real friendships, stronger confidence, and genuine connection through carefully matched groups.

Two teen girls smiling and waving during the Friendship Confidence™ Program teen social group, building confidence and connection in Staten Island.

Why this matters

Friendship doesn’t usually happen by accident for students who are struggling socially.

They may want connection, but still feel awkward, left out, unsure how to join in, or discouraged after past experiences. Friendship Confidence™ was created to give students a carefully matched, supportive environment where confidence can grow and friendships can actually begin to take shape.

Carefully matched, never one-size-fits-all

Every student is unique. That’s why we take time to match students based on age, independence, personality, and goals. This way, no one feels out of place, and everyone gets the most out of their group.

Friendship Confidence™ FAQs

Who is the Friendship Confidence™ Program for and not for?

This is a great fit for students who:

➡️want friends but struggle to make or keep them

➡️are relatively independent in a group setting

➡️would benefit from guided support, confidence-building, and carefully matched peers

This is probably not the right fit if:

➡️your child needs 1:1 behavioral support in a group

➡️your child does not want to make friends

➡️you are looking for a drop-in recreational activity without guided social coaching

What age groups can join the Friendship Confidence™ Program?

We currently offer Friendship Confidence™ groups for:

➡️ Middle School (Grades 6–8)

➡️ High School (Grades 9–12)

➡️ Young Adults (Ages 18–30)

We’re also working on creating a group for ages 30+!

Can I use Self-Direction (SD) funds for the Friendship Confidence™ Program?

Yes, we can accept Self-Direction (SD) funds if your agency approves social skills classes for reimbursement. Please check with your Financial Intermediary (FI) for more information. If they approve it, we can either accept SD directly or complete any necessary paperwork for you to receive reimbursement.

If you wish to register for a Friendship Confidence group but do not yet have approval or reimbursement set up through your agency, you will need to pay out of pocket initially. Once you have reimbursement set up, we can provide any documentation your agency needs to reimburse you for the sessions you have already paid for.

Real families, real friendships

Let’s find the right group for your child

Helping kids, teens, and young adults build confidence, friendships, and belonging.

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