Big Brothers Big Sisters celebrates mentoring success

This January, as part of National Mentoring Month, Big Brothers Big Sisters celebrates those who invest in a child through the gift of mentoring.

“We hold ourselves accountable for the proven youth outcomes that are unique to Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs, including academic achievement; avoidance of risky and delinquent behaviors; and higher self esteem and aspirations,” said Jackie Scholl Johnson, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota. “Our committed board, leaders, and program, research, and mentoring support staff work with parents, volunteer mentors, donors and partners from the diverse communities we serve to give children who face adversity every opportunity to succeed. National mentoring month is a time to pay tribute to the Big Brothers Big Sisters village and to encourage others to Start Something to extend our reach.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates will celebrate National Mentoring Month by honoring their supporters – volunteers, donors, parents and staff members who work together to provide careful mentor matching and support services for children who face adversity. Youth served by Big Brothers Big Sisters are primarily children of single, low-income, or incarcerated parents or they are in military families or are coping with other challenges.

Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are based on a data-proven model focused on creating and sustaining strong and long mentoring matches. Longstanding research by Public Private Ventures, a national nonprofit research and program development organization, found that after 18 months of spending time with their Bigs, the Little Brothers and Little Sisters, compared to those children not in the program are:

46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs

27% less likely to begin using alcohol

52% less likely to skip school

37% less likely to skip a class

33% less likely to hit someone

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children (“Littles”) with screened volunteer mentors (“Bigs”) and monitors and supports them in one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. The organization holds itself accountable for children in the program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as higher aspirations; greater confidence and better relationships; educational success; and avoidance of delinquency and other risky behaviors.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota was established in 1969 and helps youth to realize their full potential by providing positive growth experiences through one-to-one mentoring relationships. To learn how you can be the difference in the life of a child, as a mentor, volunteer, or donor, call (320) 253-1616 or visit www.bbbscentralmn.org.

Tags: regional news, news, updates, mentor