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Program Options
Our Programs
Our professional case management supervision sets Big Brothers Big Sisters apart from all other mentoring programs. Through consistent contact, our case managers monitor the progress of the one-to-one Big/Little match, evaluate the effectiveness of the match and offer support where necessary. This support is the key to building longer and stronger matches.
Core programs
Community-Based Program
Through the Community-Based program, an adult volunteer (Big), commits to spending time with a Little once a week, for at least a year with most matches lasting much longer. Bigs and Littles spend time together doing things they both enjoy such as: playing sports, participating in hobbies or games, going to the movies or sharing a meal. This positive and lasting friendship expands a child’s horizons, helps him or her to make better decisions, to perform better academically and to feel more confident.
Site-Based Program
In the Site-Based Program, contact between the Big and Little Match takes place at the school or in an after-school location. While the program is not meant specifically to focus on academic tutoring, some of the activities in which the Big and Little engage may be school-related. Bigs involved in the program may be adults or students (high school and college) who build relationships with Littles designed to help build the child’s confidence and competence, and to help the child learn to care for others. Frequently, these matches grow into a trusted friendship and transition into the Community-Based Program.
Special Initiatives within Community and Site-Based Programs
Teen Mom Program
With one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in North Carolina, Forsyth County currently has more than 650 pregnant or parenting teens. Many of these teen mothers have the need for a Big Sister to provide support and mentoring. The Teen Mom program, funded by the Winston Salem Foundation and the Women’s Fund provides a supportive relationship with the encouragement needed for the teen mom to stay in high school and graduate. Through these relationships, teen mothers are encouraged to chart the best course for their families empowering future generations to break negative cycles.
Mentoring Children of Prisoners
Children of parents who have been, or are currently incarcerated are at risk of following the same path into the prison system unless they receive positive intervention. Across North Carolina, there are 12,000 children of incarcerated parents. Big Brothers Big Sisters Services, Inc. is participating in a federally funded statewide collaboration with four other Big Brother Big Sister agencies to serve at least 10 percent of these children by 2012. In the Winston-Salem agency, our goal is to match 105 with Big Brothers or Big Sisters by 2012.
Graduating Our Future
Forsyth County ranks 3rd in graduation rates among North Carolina’s largest counties. To help address this problem, two years ago, Big Brothers Big Sisters entered into a collaborative with the YMCA, Family Services, and Winston Salem Forsyth County schools through the United Way (Forsyth County) High School Graduation Breakthrough Initiative. Graduating Our Future, is a three-pronged approach focusing on improving the graduation rate at Parkland High by providing mentoring, tutoring and support programs at Philo Middle and Parkland High Schools.
Graduate. It Pays.
Launched by the Community Education Collaborative, Graduate. It Pays. is a collaborative community program also focused on improving the high school graduation rate. Through this program, Big Brothers Big Sisters provides mentors for repeating 9th graders, Communities in Schools organizes tutors for 10th and 11th graders and the Senior Academy led by the Chamber of Commerce provides tutors for 12th graders at Atkins, North, and Carver High Schools. In 2009 we matched 24 individuals in the program including, 9th graders and adult mentors. We anticipate growth of this program in the 2010-11 school year.
Other Opportunities
If you don’t have the opportunity to volunteer today, please consider the many other ways you could help make Big Magic!
Recruitment of volunteers
Invite a BBBS staff member to speak to your group about volunteering.
Bowl for Kid’s Sake
Participate as a bowler and/or ask your company to be a signature, corporate, series or lane sponsor. Click here to see the results of our 2010 Bowl for Kids’ Sake event
Big for a Day
Take a child on our waiting list to work with you during our annual mentoring event to be held on August 12, 2010. For more information contact Judi Saint Sing at jsaintsing@bbbsnc.org.
Share information
Post BBBS flyers and brochures in your place of business, church, or civic group.
Waiting list activities
Host an activity for children waiting on Bigs. Contact Brittany Pruitt at 336-724-7993 or bpruitt@bbbsnc.org
The possibilities are endless. To learn more, call 336-724-7993.
