The following frequently asked questions apply to our Big Brother and Big Sister community one to one program. Although generally most of the information pertains to all our programs, there may be some variation in age of acceptance, and time commitment required for some of our other programs.
Q: Who are the children who apply to your program?
A: Families with children between the ages of seven and 12, who require the positive influence of an adult in their lives. Children are also referred from agencies such as Child and Family Services and various schools we partner with.
Q: After the first year, can I continue to be a mentor to the same child?
A: Yes, definitely! Many matches continue beyond the one year, several of them lasting until the Little turns 18.
Q: What is the time commitment for volunteering as a Big Brother or Sister?
A: Volunteers in this program are encouraged to spend a few hours per week with their Little Brother or Sister for a minimum of one year from the time of matching.
Q: What if I will be away?
A: We know that life is busy outside of being a volunteer with us, and that from time-to-time you may miss some time with your match due to vacation, illness, business trips, etc. You can help ease that time for your match by being open about expected time away and clear about return times. If you know that you are going to be away for an extended time prior to being matched, please inform your case worker about your plans.
Q: How do you match Bigs and Littles?
A: We take the time to get to know our volunteers and the kids in our program. We then carefully match Bigs with Littles based on a number of factors, including interests, personality, location, experience, age of child, etc.
Q: Will the staff at Big Brothers Big Sisters stay involved after the match is made?
A: Yes. It is mandatory to stay involved with the agency. This is the responsibility of all parties, including the Big, Little and parent/guardian.
Q: Is there a cost associated with volunteering?
A: No, there are no fees associated with any of our programs. We encourage matches to participate in no or low-cost activities so that involvement does not result in a financial burden for volunteers or families. The focus of the program should be on quality time being spent together, rather than on exciting activities that cost a lot of money. Ideas for outings can be obtained from the Big Brothers Big Sisters office.
Q: What are the benefits to a child involved in the program?
A: Studies show that mentoring relationships are proven to help boys and girls to:
- Develop increased confidence, self-esteem and hope for the future
- Enhance their goals and expectations
- Improve academic performance
- Stay in school and go on to further education
- Improve their communication and social skills
- Improve their interaction with peers
- Avoid the use of illegal drugs and alcohol
- Avoid the use of physical violence
Q: Is there any training involved?
A: Yes. Once you have applied to our program and have successfully gone through our screening process you will be invited to a training session that will cover topics such as abuse prevention.