Big Brothers Big Sisters Of The Midlands

Programs: Big brothers big sisters focuses on ensuring that youth in the program achieve higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. A primary goal of the community-based mentoring program is avoidance of risky behaviors by the youth connected with a mentor. The results of these unique mentoring relationships are academic success that leads to workforce readiness for vulnerable youth in our community. Big brothers big sisters serves youth who need mentors the most. There are over 40,000 youth in our service area who are facing adversity. We reserve enrollment in the program to children who meet 1 or more of the following criteria:1. Low income as defined by eligibility to receive free or reduced lunch at school2. Living in a single parent household or with extended family3. Foster care children or living in some type of out of home placement4. Has 1 or more parent incarcerated5. Have had contact with the juvenile justice systembig brothers big sisters holds ourselves accountable to the youth in our program achieving positive outcomes. We measure our success with the youth outcomes survey (yos) which was developed exclusively for big brothers big sisters by expert researchers in the mentoring field. Annually, at least 97% of youth matched 1 year or longer maintain or improve in at least 4 of the 7 key categories linked to youth success. The categories measured are: social acceptance, scholastic competency, educational expectations, grades, risk attitudes, parental trust and truancy. The areas measured in the yos have been linked by research to long-term outcomes such as high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency, and college or job readiness.