Enroll Your Child

As a parent or guardian, you recognize the potential of your child better than anyone. By giving your child the opportunity to be part of Big Brothers Big Sisters, you’re starting them down a path to an even brighter, more promising future.

Could your little one use a Big?

It all starts with the right role models. Any child can benefit from a positive mentor and typically kids in our program can use a little extra support for a variety of reasons. Children may come from single parent/guardian homes, need some help with school work, or are struggling with self-esteem. Because mentoring is linked to improved academic, social, and economic prospects, any young person who needs a mentor should have one. We are here to help make that happen. 

You’ll feel the impact as much as your child

Studies show that mentoring changes lives for the better, that a Little with a Big will be:


less likely to begin using illegal drugs
less likely to begin using alcohol
less likely to skip school
less likely to skip a class
less likely to hit someone
*Tierney, J.P., Grossman, J.B., and Resch, N.L. (1995) Making a Difference: An Impact Study of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Philadelphia: Public/Private Ventures

Your Role

You know what’s best for your child. So we’ll need your help from the start, providing information about your child’s strengths and needs, and ultimately approving the Big Brother or Big Sister match. But your role doesn’t end there.

You will be an active partner in the relationship:

  • Have monthly conversations with your Match Support Specialist.
  • Communicate any concerns, as well as info and positive stories, to us.
  • Help make sure that your child returns phone calls and stays in regular contact with their Big. Regular contact is important to the success of the match.
  • Help find the best times for outings to occur, and make sure that your child is prepared: proper clothing, ready on time, etc.
  • Make sure that you know details of each planned activity and give your approval in advance. Know when they will return and make a point of being home
  • Ask questions about what the activities were, where they took place, who else was involved and your child’s feelings about the visit.

Our Bigs

 

The Bigs in our program are people who work and live in our community. They may be local high school or college students, retirees, military men or women, members of congregations or civic organizations. They are  ordinary people who are extraordinary. What they all have in common is a sincere interest in being a friend and mentor to a child.  They are not paid – all of their time is volunteered.

Safety from the Start

Your child's safety is extremely important to us. Big Brothers Big Sisters conducts a thorough background check on every volunteer in our program, and every relationship is closely monitored and supported by a professionally trained match coordinator.

Enroll a Child Now

Are you and your child ready? For an enrollment application, please call us at 541-312-6047 or email info@bbbsco.org
Our minimum age for enrolling Littles is 8 years old.

Enroll Now