Give Yavapai youth a mentor who shows up the future
Our programs include
Community-Based Mentoring
A Little meets up with their Big 2-4 times per month for at least one year. The parent, Little and Big communicate together to schedule activities. The purpose of the time together is for the Little and Big to build a healthy, mentoring relationship.
-
2–4 meets up / month
-
Monthly team support
School-Based Mentoring
A Little meets up with their Big at school for an hour per week. Depending on the school and the young person's needs, they might enjoy lunch together, spend time working on homework or play a board game.
-
Meets up / an hour per week
-
Meets up at school
Families as Partners
When it comes to the future of our youth and the well-being of our communities, we're all in this together. So it should come as no surprise that we need the parents and guardians of Littles to be involved every step of the way, starting with the initial match. Not only will you provide information about your young person's strengths and needs, but you will also approve the selection of the Big Brother or Big Sister. Once the match is made, you remain closely involved in many ways, including:
-
Approving activities and outings between the Little and Big.
-
Asking your youth questions about those outings, and sharing what you learn with the match advisor.
-
Reporting your young person's progress and milestones to your match advisor on a regular basis. (The match advisors will contact you regularly, but welcome feedback at any time)
-
Participating in training on youth safety offered by staff, and communicating with your youth about the training he or she receives.
How it works
We want to work together to keep your young person safe. To do so, we start by thoroughly screening potential Bigs and Littles. Each volunteer must complete a screening process that includes:
1) Apply
A written application
2) Check
A criminal history record check
3) interview
An interview will be realized
4) Second Check
-
A home assessment
-
References
5) training
An orientation and training process
6) decision
A professional decision about your process.
Every guardian’s help
Stay Informed
Staying aware of all activities and ensuring that they are approved and follow agency guidelines.
Keep Contact
Keeping in contact with your match advisor and answering all questions openly and honestly.
Rules
Following the rules and policies outlined.
Child’s Personal Safety
Completing "Your Child’s Personal Safety" online training. (Our staff will assign this training to you during the enrollment process)
Complete the Training
Ensuring your youth completes their safety training and reviewing it with them to answer any questions they have.
Teachers and External Agencies
Do you remember a person from your childhood who you looked up to?
An adult who spent time with you, listened to your dreams and encouraged you? Maybe they taught you how to play ball or ride a bike. Likely, it was someone other than your parents, someone you respected, but who did not have an authoritarian, parental role.
Through their friendship with a Big Brother or Big Sister, Littles often discover a whole new world of experiences, opportunity, and potential. Being a Little can transform the life of a young person, and have lifelong results. In fact, research has shown that the shared experiences between Bigs and Littles have a direct and lasting impact on young people’s lives.
Bigs and Littles do simple things together-playing sports, seeing movies, cooking, going over schoolwork, visiting museums, washing the car, taking walks, volunteering in their communities, or just hanging out together. It’s the friendship that develops while doing these everyday activities that makes the difference.
Big Brothers Big Sisters works closely with parents and guardians to match every youth with the right Big. Every volunteer is screened, trained, and supervised, and professionals in youth development support each match to help ensure that the relationship will be safe and rewarding for everyone involved.
Frequently Questions
Our mission is to create and professionally support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the promise in us all