Big Brothers Big Sisters is the preeminent national youth-serving organization based on a one-to-one relationship between an adult volunteer and a child whose circumstances demonstrate the need for additional adult support. Volunteers serving as mentors and role models help youth to increase their self-confidence, reach their highest potential, and to see themselves as having happy and successful futures.

Community-Based Mentoring
Community-Based Mentoring is the traditional Big Brothers Big Sisters relationship. It is all about one-to-one time spent with the volunteer and the young person doing things they enjoy – several hours a month filled with shared interests and activities like: shooting hoops, playing a board game, sharing a pizza, taking a walk in the park, or just hanging out and talking.

The schedule can be flexible to meet the needs of mentors and young people in different kinds of situations. Some Bigs meet their Littles on the weekend or in the evening. Others get together with their Littles after school. There is almost no one so busy that they cannot find a way to fit in a few hours a month.

In the Community-Based program, Big Brother and Big Sister volunteers provide children and youth individualized time and attention on a regular basis. During unstructured outings, filled with conversations and shared activities, they develop a relationship that helps the youth manage the every day challenges that are part of “growing up.” During the time with their Bigs, children gain new skills, explore new interests and test behaviors that expand their experience base beyond their family or neighborhood.

School-Based Mentoring
School-Based Mentoring is not a classroom program and it is not tutoring. It is one-to-one mentoring that takes place in the schools. Of course, some students do talk with their mentors about class, or do homework, or read together, but it is really all about friendship and guidance. The matches can play or jump rope or shoot hoops – whatever they enjoy.

Through School-Based Mentoring volunteers offer children and youth individualized time and attention on a consistent basis, with the venue being the children’s schools rather than the community. Teachers identify those children who can most benefit from extra caring adults in their lives. Match activities take place during the school day, at lunch, or after school, depending on the arrangement that is agreed upon with the school. Volunteers and children meet regularly during the school year – typically each week, utilizing the resources available within the school: computer labs, the library, the gym, a classroom, or the schoolyard.

Whether they play board games or read the newspaper together, their relationship promotes a positive school experience for the children: good attendance, positive peer and adult relationships, a positive attitude, and academic enrichment. As their friendships evolve over time, volunteers and children discover ways to make school and learning fun.

Mentoring Children of Prisoners
Mentoring Children of Prisoners was developed to meet the unique needs of children with incarcerated parents/guardians. Witnessing and living with the arrest and incarceration of a parent is devastating for children and families. Economic, social, and emotional burdens are often placed on families and caretakers, especially children. Family relationships are strained and any existing stability is compromised. In fact, 70% of children with incarcerated parents will themselves at some point be incarcerated – unless they have positive adult intervention.

Big Brother and Big Sister volunteer mentors commit to spending time with their Littles on at least a couple of occasions each month. Mentoring increases the likelihood of regular school attendance and academic achievement. It also decreases the chances of engaging in self-destructive or violent behavior. A trusting relationship with a caring adult will provide stability and often have a profound, life-changing effect on the child. Mentoring is a potent force for improving youth outcomes and provides the incarcerated parent with the assurance that somebody is there to look after the best interests of their child.

Program Outcomes

Community-Based Mentoring Program Outcomes
The following audited data, compiled from our most recent Parent/Guardian and Mentor Program-Based Outcome Evaluation questionnaires, indicates that:

• 86% of the Littles had improved self-confidence,
• 86% of the Littles developed more positive attitudes toward school,
• 80% of the Littles were able to express their feelings more appropriately and developed improved relationships with their peers,
• 69% of the Littles developed better relationships with their families,
• 71% became more involved in new interests and/or hobbies, and were 50% more likely to avoid delinquent behaviors.

School-Based Mentoring Program Outcomes
The following data compiled from our audited BBBS of the Big Bend 2006-2007 SBM Outcome Summary indicates that:

• 88% maintained or improved their academic performance,
• 88% maintained or improved their school attendance,
• 90% showed improvement on behavioral evaluation, and
• 89% were promoted to the next grade level.