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BECOME A BIG

BECOME A BIG

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WHY SHOULD I BECOME A BIG?

Mentoring tells a young person that there is someone in their corner/ It lets them know they matter. We're always looking for people eager to positively impact a child and improve their community at the same time. And, right now is no different. Mentors are in high demand, so decide to make a difference today!
OUR PROGRAMS
COMMUNITY BASED
Traditional BBBS mentoring program matching youth in the community 1-to-1 with adult mentors who meet once a week for at least one year.

BIGS IN BLUE
Bigs in Blue is a program focused on building relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

BEYOND SCHOOL WALLS
The Beyond School Walls program matches youth with an adult mentor that takes place at the mentor's place of work to expose students to workforce opportunities.

TEM
A new, innovative program combining the Community Based mentoring program with online mentoring to meet the needs of youth and working professional mentors during the current pandemic.

HIGH SCHOOL BIGS
This program matches high school students 1-to-1 with elementary littles in a one day a week after school program at their school.

LEARN MORE
Design Graphic STEPS TO BECOMING A BIG
1
APPLICATION
Complete the online inquiry here. Once submitted, a Volunteer Enrollment Specialist will email you to schedule an orientation.
2
ORIENTATION & INTERVIEW
You will attend an orientation to provide you with an overview of the services offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters. Our agency is currently hosting virtual volunteer orientations or via telephone. After the orientation, you will be sent a link to our full application and training course. Once the application is submitted and training is complete, a Volunteer Enrollment Specialist dedicated to supporting you throughout your volunteer experience, will conduct an interview to get to know you better. This allows BBBS to make a match that takes into account your interests, background, and personality.
3
IN-DEPTH SCREENING & MATCH
BBBS will conduct a Level II national background check on you and complete reference checks; child safety is our number one priority! Once your background comes back clear and our Volunteer Enrollment Specialist makes a final recommendation for acceptance, you become a Big ready to be matched. Our Volunteer Enrollment Specialist will use the information you provided to recommend a Little.
4
MATCH INTRODUCTION
For one-to-one mentoring, our Volunteer Enrollment Specialist will schedule a time for you to meet your Little and your Little’s parent or guardian – an opportunity to start getting to know each other in a supported environment. For community-based mentoring, you will also schedule your first outing with your Little.
5
ONGOING SUPPORT
Your Program Specialist will provide ongoing support to make sure the relationship continues in a positive manner. When talking to your Program Specialist, feel free to share successes with your Little! It is also important to voice any concerns you may have to allow your Program Specialist to make recommendations or take action to fix any issues; this allows for a lasting, fun, and impactful relationship between you and your Little.

INQUIRE TODAY Design Graphic
IGNITE. EMPOWER. DEFEND.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHO ARE THE BIGS IN THE PROGRAM?Black Arrow Icon
Our Bigs come from diverse backgrounds just like our Littles. They are regular people, just like you. You don't need any special degrees or job skills.. You just have to want to positively impact a young person. Role models come in all shapes and sizes, and you could be a perfect fit.
WHEN CAN I SEE MY LITTLE?Black Arrow Icon
As a Big/Little team, you decide together what you want to do and then your Little gets approval from his or her parent. We recommend that you keep a consistent schedule of outings and get together on a regular basis. Your local agency will provide more guidance on this. The outings will also depend on the comfort level of your Little's parents, your Little, and you.
HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I SPEND?Black Arrow Icon
The quality of the time you invest with your Little is more important than the amount of money you spend. That's why we don't encourage spending a lot of money on your outings. The goal of the relationship is to help your Little see the world through a different lens so you can inspire your Little to become something they never thought possible. If you are going to spend money, we encourage you to seek out low-cost activities, especially in the beginning. Play a game together, or share that pizza that you were going to have for lunch anyway. Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies offer donor-supported group activities that are a great way to meet other Bigs and Littles. As a Big, you may also receive notices for free tickets to cultural and sports activities for you both to enjoy.
WHAT ARE SOME IDEAS FOR OUTINGS?Black Arrow Icon
Share an activity that gives you something in common to talk about. Go to the library, check out a book and read together. Buy a comic book and read together. Play a board game. Go on a nature walk. Hit a bucket of golf balls at the local driving range. Rake a ride in the car with the radio on and talk about the music you like. You want to select activities that give each of you a chance to learn more about one another. For children, playing can be learning. Most important: keep it simple and enjoy yourselves!
CAN I BRING A SPOUSE/FRIEND ON OUTINGS?Black Arrow Icon
In the beginning it's most important for you and your Little to get to know each other. This can happen best on a 1-to-1 basis. However, over time it's also valuable for your Little to get to know the people who are important to you. Just keep in mind that if you're spending lots of time with others, your Little may begin to feel jealous or neglected. The main focus is the friendship you develop with your Little.
WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT CAN I EXPECT FROM BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS?Black Arrow Icon
Once you are matched with your Little, a Match Support Specialist from the agency will be in regular contact with you to provide assistance and give feedback. Any time you are unsure about what to do or how to handle a situation, you will have a Match Support Specialist there to help. They'll help you with ideas for activities, guidance for handling possible difficult situations, and feedback on how you are making a difference.
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