OUR PROGRAMS
When people think of mentoring programs, they think of Big Brothers Big Sisters. For more than 100 years Big Brothers Big Sisters has worked to develop youth mentoring programs that provide measurable results. Our experienced approach to recruiting, screening, matching, and supporting our mentoring relationships has resulted in tens of thousands of lasting friendships and changed lives of young people across the country.
In the Bay Area, Big Brothers Big Sisters creates these positive mentoring relationships through two types of programs;
Community Based Mentoring Program:
The hallmark of Big Brothers Big Sisters, this traditional program matches screened adult mentors (Bigs) with enrolled children (Littles) ages 6-16 on a one-to-one basis. The matches meet weekly (or several times per month), on days and times convenient to both.
The matches spend their time together engaged in activities that are of mutual interest, such as playing ball, going to parks or beaches, touring museums, cheering on local sports teams or simply hanging out. There are no mandated activities – research shows that the level of connection, rather than what the matches do together, is the most significant factor in positive outcomes from the match. Mentors are provided with training, support and guidance from professional agency staff to help nurture a healthy, lasting relationship between each Big and Little.
Our Impact
In a study conducted by Public/Private Ventures, a Philadelphia-based national research organization, researchers found that Children matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister were:
- 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
- 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
- 52% less likely to skip school
- Showed more self-confidence
- Got along better with their families and peers
Who We Serve
We serve children between the ages of 6 – 18 who live in five Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara. The children we serve are a diverse group, representative of the Bay Area as a whole. However, most are from single-parent homes or live with a non-parent caregiver. Many live below the poverty level. Their parents/caregivers are often are torn between being an active presence in their child’s life and the need to provide financial necessities for their family. As a result, kids end up lacking positive adult role models and are often at a higher risk for being drawn into gang activity, substance abuse and crime which is often prevalent in low income areas.
Most of the children that we serve are from these at-risk families. They have the potential for greatness, but need a special role model and friend they can trust and look up to. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area can be a lifeline for these kids, by matching them with that special person.
Thanks to the generous financial support of thousands of Bay Area donors, foundations and corporate partners, our services are always provided at no charge to enrolled participants. Together We Have The Power To Change Lives!
To learn more about how you can support our programs, click here
