A “Big” is a caring individual, aged 19 years or older, who is interested in being a part of a child’s life at least twice a month for a minimum of one year.

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.

You don’t have to do it alone, either. Becoming a Big Couple or Big Friends are options for couples or friends that would prefer a shared experience as opposed to each of them having a Little of their own.  Big Friends are two individuals who have been “friends” for a minimum of 2 years and want to be matched together to the same Little. Big Couples have been in a relationship for at least 2 years but do not have to be married.

Potential volunteer mentors are trusted to potentially spend one-to-one time with a child. Below are basic eligibility requirements for potential Bigs:

• You are 19 years or older.
• You are able to meet with a child at least twice per month for one year.
• You have a valid form of I.D.
• You live or commute near Marion, Hamilton, or Johnson County.
• You have been free of alcohol and drug abuse/dependency for 3+ years, and you should not have used illegal drugs or abused controlled substances in the past 3 years.
• You do not have a criminal record involving a violent crime.
• You do not have a criminal record within the past 3 years.
• You have not been fired from a paid or volunteer position where you worked with children.
• You complete a background check and share references with our agency.
• Big Couples or Big Friends: You have been in a relationship or friendship for 2+ years.

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.

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.

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.

Bigs and Littles hang out twice a month doing normal, everyday activities, like seeing a movie, doing homework, playing games, going out to eat, or just hanging out! We provide several resources for finding the right activity for your match including a mobile application called The Big App.

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.