Potential volunteer mentors are trusted to potentially spend one-to-one time with a child. Below are basic eligibility requirements for potential Bigs:
**For Site-Based (“SB”): You must meet with your Little once per week during the school year.
We ask that Bigs and Littles commit to one year matched in a mentoring relationship together. Matches can remain active through elementary, middle, and high school. Many of our friendships end up lasting a lifetime.
Once your child is matched with their Big, your family will be assigned a Mentoring Relationship Specialist. This professional staff member will be present the first time you and your child meet their Big. They will be available to provide support throughout the lifetime of your match relationship. Your Mentoring Relationship Specialist will be in regular contact with you, providing ideas for activities, guidance and coaching tips, resources, and will always be ensuring child safety.
No, Littles have a parent or guardian in their life already. What they need is a Big to spend quality, one-on-one time with them. Someone to have fun with, someone they can confide in, someone like you!
While this varies by program, in general, you and your Little will decide what you want to do then your Little will get approval from their parent. We recommend getting together on a regular basis. Your Match Support Specialist can also provide case-specific guidance on this topic. Overall, outings depend on the comfort level of you, the Little, and their parents.
In the beginning it’s most important for you and your Little to get to know each other. This can happen best on a one-to-one 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.
During the application process, we interview you, the Little, and their parent to learn specifics that will help us make a Match. This includes age, religion, personality, family background, ethnicity, and interests. We strive to follow your preferences closely when selecting Matches. After we exchange information regarding a potential Little, you will have the final say as to whether or not this is the right fit for you.
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 to read together. Play a board game. Go on a nature walk. Hit a bucket of golf balls at the local driving range. Take 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!
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.
After you are matched, you’ll get a dedicated Mentoring Relationship Specialist who’ll stay in touch with you regularly to provide assistance and feedback. You can always reach out to them whenever you are unsure about how to handle a situation or what to do next. They’ll guide you with ideas for fun activities, advise you on handling possible difficult situations, and provide feedback on how you’re making a difference.
For Bigs who are looking to grow as a mentor professionally and personally, BBBSCI hosts trainings throughout the year that touch on various topics like youth mental health, cultural humility, empathy, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and much more.
For Community-Based (“CB”) mentoring relationships, BBBSCI also provides fun, engaging, and educational activities for Bigs and Littles to do together! Each month, we host or facilitate approximately 10 activities for Bigs and Littles each month that explore different hobbies, passions, and learning opportunities.