Description
In a Community-Based match volunteers provide children with individual time and attention. Their time together is filled with conversations and activities that the “Big” and “Little” share an interest in. The activities they do together can include going to the park, playing a board game, baking cookies, attending a baseball game, or just simply hanging out and talking. The objective is to provide a child with a positive role model that can provide time and attention, which results in a caring, lifelong friendship. Most of the children in this program are from single parent homes and are between 6 and 18 years old.
Budget
$890,374
Category
Human Services, General/Other Mentoring
Program Linked to Organizational Strategy
Yes
Population Served
Poor,Economically Disadvantaged,Indigent K-12 (5-19 years) Families
Short Term Success
The major goal of our mentoring programs is to contribute to positive youth development by keeping children facing adversity safe, in school, and working toward achievable outcomes. According to national research completed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, youth participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs show statistically significant improvement in academic achievement, avoidance of risky behaviors, and socio-emotional competency. Our local agency results corroborate these findings, with over 90% of mentored youth showing improvement in these same areas.
Among youth mentored 3 months or longer, we expect that 85% or more will achieve the following outcomes indicating success in the short-term:
- Improve or maintain acceptable academic performance as defined by the School District (measured by report cards)
- Avoid risky behaviors such as truancy, early parenting, delinquent acts, or substance abuse (measured by monthly Mentor Manager contact with child, parent/caregiver, mentor, and/or school personnel, and by annual Program Outcome Evaluation surveys)
- Improve or maintain socio-emotional competencies such as relationship skills and self esteem (measured by monthly Mentor Manager contact with child, parent/caregiver, mentor, and/or school personnel, and by annual Program Outcome Evaluation surveys)
Long Term Success
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast is committed to our vision that all children achieve success. We expect that, with the help of their mentors, children mentored through our programs will make wise choices that will positively impact their future prospects. A recent national survey (Harris Interactive, 2009) highlights our program’s effectiveness in meeting this expectation: compared to peers from similar backgrounds, adults mentored as children through Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are 75% more likely to have received a four-year college degree, and 39% more likely to have current household incomes of $75,000 or more. Adults that participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are also more likely to report greater satisfaction in their personal relationships, and to be actively involved in their communities, particularly through volunteering.
Program Success Monitoring
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) outcomes are measured with four evaluative tools. The first of these is AIM, a web-based data management systems that allows BBBS to track all relevant metrics that can be used to evaluate our program's effectiveness. These include children served, processing times, match retention rates, average match length, and demographic/geographic data. Secondly, we utilize the Strength of Relationship tool, a survey designed to measure the strength of a bond between a volunteer and a client. This survey is administered after a match has been together for three months and annually thereafter. Our third outcomes measurement system is the Youth Outcomes Survey (YOS). The new survey will continue to track the same outcomes, but will also provide us with a pre-match baseline to measure true program impact over the life of a match. Data from the SOR and the YOS is stored in the AIM data management system. The matches are monitored by professionally trained staff on a consistent basis.
Program Success Examples
- 95% of Littles said going to school and getting a good education is very important.
- 94% of Littles said they have a lot or some confidence they will achieve their goals.
- 93% improved their academic performance
- 95% showed improved relationships with peers and family
A Community-Based Match Story:
When Andy was five, his father passed away from melanoma. A year later, his mother was diagnosed with MS. His mother signed Andy up for Big Brothers Big Sisters so that he would have someone to participate in activities that she no longer was able to. Andy was matched with Jim in a Community-Based match. They get together every other weekend to do fun things together like play basketball, go bowling, visit museums, build model cars, or go fishing. Andy and Jim have been matched for two years. Andy says that having Jim as a Big Brother “is like having a dad again.”
Description
Site-Based matches meet one hour per week at the child’s school, during school hours. The main focus of this program is for the child and the mentor to develop a friendship. It is not intended to be a tutoring program, though the Big and Little may choose to work on school assignments when they meet. Other activities that a school-based match may do while they meet include: reading together, playing a game, or they may just simply talk and build their relationship. While they mainly meet at school, school-based matches are able to take part in Big Brothers Big Sisters events outside of school with parental consent.
Budget
$1,281,270
Category
Human Services, General/Other Mentoring
Program Linked to Organizational Strategy
Yes
Population Served
Poor,Economically Disadvantaged,Indigent Males Females
Short Term Success
The major goal of our mentoring programs is to contribute to positive youth development by keeping at risk children safe, in school, and working toward achievable outcomes. According to national research completed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, youth participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs show statistically significant improvement in academic achievement, avoidance of risky behaviors, and socio-emotional competency. Our local agency results corroborate these findings, with over 90% of mentored youth showing improvement in these same areas.
Among youth mentored 3 months or longer, we expect that 85% or more will achieve the following outcomes indicating success in the short-term:
- Improve or maintain acceptable academic performance as defined by the School District (measured by report cards)
- Avoid risky behaviors such as truancy, early parenting, delinquent acts, or substance abuse (measured by monthly Mentor Manager contact with child, parent/caregiver, mentor, and/or school personnel, and by annual Program Outcome Evaluation surveys)
- Improve or maintain socio-emotional competencies such as relationship skills and self esteem (measured by monthly Mentor Manager contact with child, parent/caregiver, mentor, and/or school personnel, and by annual Program Outcome Evaluation surveys)
Long Term Success
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast is committed to our vision that all children achieve success. We expect that, with the help of their mentors, children mentored through our programs will make wise choices that will positively impact their future prospects. A recent national survey (Harris Interactive, 2009) highlights our program’s effectiveness in meeting this expectation: compared to peers from similar backgrounds, adults mentored as children through Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are 75% more likely to have received a four-year college degree, and 39% more likely to have current household incomes of $75,000 or more. Adults that participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are also more likely to report greater satisfaction in their personal relationships, and to be actively involved in their communities, particularly through volunteering.
Program Success Monitoring
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) outcomes are measured with four evaluative tools. The first of these is AIM, a web-based data management systems that allows BBBS to track all relevant metrics that can be used to evaluate our program's effectiveness. These include children served, processing times, match retention rates, average match length, and demographic/geographic data. Secondly, we utilize the Strength of Relationship tool, a survey designed to measure the strength of a bond between a volunteer and a client. This survey is administered after a match has been together for three months and annually thereafter. Our third outcomes measurement system is the Youth Outcomes Survey (YOS). The new survey will continue to track the same outcomes, but will also provide us with a pre-match baseline to measure true program impact over the life of a match. Data from the SOR and the YOS is stored in the AIM data management system. The matches are monitored by professionally trained staff on a consistent basis. We also collect responses from clients, volunteers, and parents and utilize the information to evaluate our program's performance.
Program Success Examples
Quotes from Littles to their Bigs:
“Thank you for helping me believe in me and showing me how school is important.”
“I like meeting with you because you do not judge me for what I say or based on my past experiences good or bad. I appreciate your concern and your advice.”
“Thank you so much for everything you have done. You have helped me get to where I am, I am going to graduate this year and I could not have done it without you.”
“It takes a very unselfish person to come in every week and take time out of your day to help me in my time of need. Every kid deserves to have someone like you, and that’s why I feel extremely special that I have you as my mentor.”
“You have shown me the chances of my dreams coming true are possible if I work hard and focus on them. I can’t wait to go to college.”
Compared to their peers, adults who were Littles:
- 65% believe their Big helped them reach a higher level of education
- 75% more likely to earn a four-year college degree
- 77% agree that their Big helped them make better choices
- 72% report healthy relationship with friends
- 77% did better in school than their peers
- 52% more likely to volunteer in their community