Blueprints
Model Programs Fact Sheets
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) |
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
(BBBSA) has been providing adult support and friendship
to youth for nearly a century. A report in 1991 demonstrates
that through BBBSA’s network of nearly 500 agencies
across the country, more than 70,000 youth and adults
were supervised in one-to-one relationships.
Program Targets:
BBBSA typically targets youth (aged 6 to 18) from
single parent homes.
Program Content:
Service delivery is by volunteers who interact regularly
with a youth in a one-to-one relationship. Agencies
use a case management approach, following through
on each case from initial inquiry through closure.
The case manager screens applicants, makes and supervises
the matches, and closes the matches when eligibility
requirements are no longer met or either party decides
they can no longer participate fully in the relationship.
BBBSA distinguishes itself from other mentoring programs
via rigorous published standards and required procedures:
- Orientation is required for all volunteers.
- Volunteer Screening includes a written
application, a background check, an extensive interview,
and a home assessment; it is designed to screen
out those who may inflict psychological or physical
harm, lack the capacity to form a caring bond with
the child, or are unlikely to honor their time commitments.
- Youth Assessment involves a written
application, interviews with the child and the parent,
and a home assessment; it is designed to help the
caseworker learn about the child in order to make
the best possible match, and also to secure parental
permission.
- Matches are carefully considered and
based upon the needs of the youth, abilities of
volunteers, preferences of the parent, and the capacity
of program staff.
- Supervision is accomplished via an initial
contact with the parent, youth, and volunteer within
two weeks of the match; monthly telephone contact
with the volunteer, parent and/or youth during the
first year; and quarterly contact with all parties
during the duration of the match.
Program Outcomes:
An evaluation of the BBBSA program has been conducted
to assess children who participated in BBBSA compared
to their non-participating peers. After an eighteen
month period, BBBSA youth:
- were 46% less likely than control youth to initiate
drug use during the study period.
- were 27% less likely to initiate alcohol use
than control youth.
- were almost one-third less likely than control
youth to hit someone.
- were better than control youth in academic behavior,
attitudes, and performance.
- were more likely to have higher quality relationships
with their parents or guardians than control youth.
- were more likely to have higher quality relationships
with their peers at the end of the study period
than did control youth.
Program Costs:
The national average cost of making and supporting
a match relationship is $1,000 per year.
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