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Lots of youth success starts with the right role models and our Life Academy’s Project ‘Bigs’ mentor program is the place to start a relationship with one! 

We are committed to empowering all youth to reach their full potential. Studies show that children who have role models or mentors are more likely to improve in school and in their relationships with family and friends, and less likely to skip school or use illegal drugs or alcohol. Students who are successful in school are less likely to drop out, abuse drugs, or commit crimes.

Due, in large part to your private donations, we’ve been able to recruit, screen, match, and support mentoring relationships with young people all across the state.

Mentorship is Partnership. When it comes to the future of our children and the well-being of our communities, we’re all in this together creating partnerships between mentor and mentee’s families. 

So it should come as no surprise that we need the parents and guardians of mentees to be involved every step of the way, starting with the initial match.
Not only will you provide information about your child’s strengths and needs, but you’ll also approve the selection of the mentor aka Bigs. 

Once the match is made, you will remain closely involved in many ways, including:

  • Approving activities and outings for your child and their Big
  • Asking your child questions about those outings, and sharing what you learn with the agency staff
  • Reporting your child’s progress and milestones to the agency on a regular basis (A Life staff member will contact you, but we welcome your feedback any time)
  • Participating in training on child safety offered by our Bigs staff, and communicating with your child about the training he or she receives.

 

Mentorship Focus Areas:

  • Many relationships between Bigs and mentees are part of our Community-based programs. Community-based mentoring relationships involve one-on-one outings and activities, doing things the Big and Little enjoy together, like:
  • Taking a walk in the park
  • Going to museum
  • Going to an event hosted by the Inner Circle
  • Listening to music
  • Meeting at Comic book stores
  • Hanging out and talking

Some Bigs meet their mentees on the weekends. Others get together with their mentee on weekday evenings. Each match is unique and develops a schedule that works for them.

Sometimes the best thing a child can have is a friend. An adult to look up to, speak with on a personal level and confide in, and who can help with everyday things. Big Brothers Big Sisters is on a mission to inspire children’s passions and encourage them to achieve success in life. Operation Mentors focuses on providing mentors for children in military families. Mentoring isn’t parenting. Bigs can’t fill those shoes, and definitely not those boots. Bigs are just here as a little extra support. Bigs who mentor children from military families come from various backgrounds and can be military (active or retired) or civilian volunteers. Just as we do with all of our matches, our Big Brothers Big Sisters are carefully matched Bigs and mentees for long-term, one-to-one friendships. We also provide support for the mentors, mentees and families throughout the life of the match. The safety and well-being of all mentees comes first. We take time to match the right Bigs and mentees together. And there is more than one way for them to meet, providing flexibility for the matches

It may sound obvious, but sometimes the best place to help a child realize their potential is at school. Kids enjoy having their Bigs meet with them there, whether it’s in the classroom or on the playground. And parents know what a positive impact it makes.

IT’S TEACHER-APPROVED.
Some of the biggest supporters of our School-Based Mentoring program are actually teachers. They see students come back from their time with their Big, filled with confidence, smiling big, ready to learn and eager to succeed.

LEARNING ABOUT LIFE.
Although it takes place at schools, our School-Based Mentoring program isn’t limited to the classroom. Of course, some mentees do talk with their Bigs about class, or do homework, or read together, but it’s perfectly fine to shoot hoops in the gym or play on the playground. At the end of the day, it’s really all about starting a friendship, providing guidance and inspiring them to reach their potential.
At Project Bigs, we have tremendous confidence in our ability to impact children and put them on the right path. But it means even more when an outside study comes to the same conclusion. Click on our blogs to learn more about our Nationwide School-Based Mentoring Study.

Having a mom or dad in prison can make growing up difficult. Children with an incarcerated parent often need additional support and guidance. The operation Bigs C.I.P. (Children with Incarcerated Parents) program helps broaden their perspectives on what they can achieve in life.

Our C.I.P. program connects children with role models from all walks of life, but particularly those from local religious organizations. Houses of worship and their members can provide a safe, stable environment for children to develop into responsible young men and women.

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