Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Alabama
Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Alabama is the largest provider of one-to-one mentoring programs in south Alabama. Currently we serve Mobile and Baldwin counties with plans to strategically expand services to Monroe, Escambia, Washington and Clarke counties in 2014. Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Alabama partners with individual donors, foundations, corporations, governments, and others to build the critical network of support that funds and enables the work of carefully matching children with caring family. Professionally trained Big Brothers Big Sisters staff members work with our partners in the education and juvenile justice communities to find children facing adversity and assess how our programs can have the greatest impact. Big Brothers Big Sisters targets the children who need us most, including those living in single parent homes, growing up in poverty and coping with parental incarceration. We offer two core types of donor-funded programs: Community-Based and School-Based Mentoring. And no matter when a child enter a program, there’s no limit to where he or she can go. Community-based mentoring is the traditional Big Brothers Big Sisters relationship. We match a vulnerable youth ages 6-18 with a caring adult to develop a relationship through spending one-on-one time in the community. Community activities can include going to the park, getting ice cream, hanging out at the library, or just taking a walk. Our mentor’s commitment is one year with the goal for the match to spend an average of six hours a month together.
School-based mentoring is one-to-one mentoring that takes place on school grounds during school hours. We have designated schools in which we identify the most vulnerable youth to match with mentors. Matches meet for one hour per week for the duration of the school year, arranged around the youth’s needs and the mentor’s schedule. We encourage youth to talk with their mentors about their classes, play games, or read together-its really about friendship, guidance, and building a relationship. In both programs, we provide professional staff that support and help guide the match and troubleshoot issues when they arise. In supporting the match, we are able to measure the youth’s outcomes and provide tangible data that supports the effectiveness of our mentoring services.
Organization Mission Statement
Provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
Available Mentoring Programs
Community-based mentoring
is a one year commitment with the goal for the match to spend an average of six hours a month together in the community. Community activities can include going to the park, getting ice cream, hanging out at the library, going to sporting events, or just taking a walk.
School-based mentoring
takes place on school grounds during school hours. Matches meet for one hour per week for the duration of the school year, arranged around the youth’s needs and mentor’s schedule. Designated area on the school grounds are set up to facilitate the relationship and an activity bin provided for activities and games.
Participant Requirements
Each potential mentor is required to submit to a reference and background check before they can me matched. In addition, those in the Community‐based program must provide a drivers license and valid car insurance.
Additional Pertinent Info
Changing Lives for the Better, Forever:
Big Brothers Big Sisters seeks to change the lives of children facing adversity for the better, forever. We operate in communities all across the United States – urban and rural… Big and Little. Our mentors work with children in the community, in their schools, on military bases, and many places in between. Our unique brand of one-to-one mentoring has a Big impact all over the nation.
What do we achieve?
Big Brothers Big Sisters helps children achieve success in school, helps them avoid risky behaviors such as getting into fights and trying drugs and alcohol, and helps them improve their self-confidence. We hold ourselves accountable to our supporters by regularly measuring our impact.
Little steps lead to a Big impact:
With the help of a network of donors, partners, family members, and advocates, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully matches at-risk youths with caring, adult role models. Research proves that children enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs 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.
- Success in education: At Big Brothers Big Sisters, we have 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.
- Avoidance of risky behaviors: When kids stay out of trouble, they do better in school and in life, and their communities become stronger, safer places to live. With the help and support of our donors, volunteers, partners, and advocates, Big Brothers Big Sisters helps our Littles learn right from wrong and how to make good decisions. It’s one of the reasons why our work is recognized as best in class by juvenile justice professionals like the US Department of Justice Office for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
- Higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships: Do you remember someone who encouraged you to believe in yourself, who encouraged you to work hard in school and in life? Big Brothers Big Sisters, with the help of donors, volunteers, partners, advocates and supporters, encourages the next generation of children. Our programs encourage children to set higher goals for high schools and college, improves their confidence in themselves, and helps them have better, stronger relationships with their families.
How do we know?
At the heart of all that Big Brothers Big Sisters does is our steadfast commitment to measuring and refining our programs to ensure we are making the most effective and longest lasting impact possible. We hold ourselves accountable to the donors, partners, advocates, and families that make our work possible. We hold ourselves accountable to the Bigs that are making a difference in the lives of children each and every day. And we hold ourselves accountable to a generation of children ready to be impacted by our programs.
Organization Website: www.bbbssa.org
Address: 9 Dauphin St Ste 101 Mobile, AL 36602