grantee spotlight

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities focuses on matching children facing adversity with caring volunteer mentors to change their lives for the better, and currently has the 2nd highest outcomes of more than 400 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies nationwide:

• Their matches are stronger and last longer.
• Their Littles are accessing college and earning college scholarships in record numbers.
• Their Littles continue to increase in core measurement areas of confidence, competence, and capacity for caring.

Matches (a child or "Little" paired with a mentor or "Bigs") in their School-based Mentoring Program spend time together for at least one hour every week during the school year at one of 28 metropolitan partner schools engaging in activities that build and nurture a friendship. Matches can choose from a variety of activities. A match that likes sports might play basketball in the gym, while a match with artistic interests might make a photo collage of their time together. If a volunteer meets with the child over the lunch hour, they might share a meal together.  These activities, and the consistent support of a caring mentor, lead to the development of positive assets in children. These assets include:

• Enhanced self-confidence;
• Improved academic performance;
• A more positive sense of the future; and
• Stronger relationships with peers, family, and other adults.

According to their 2010 Program Outcome Evaluation (POE), which gathers data from teachers and mentors, students who participated in the School-based Mentoring Program demonstrated the following improvements in school:

• 69% improved their academic performance;
• 69% improved their attitude towards school;
• 68% increased their class participation; and
• 57% improved their behavior in the classroom.

Big Brothers Big Sisters can demonstrate that mentoring can prevent a child from using drugs or alcohol, dropping out of school, skipping classes or acting violently. Of the children and youth who participated in the School-based Mentoring Program in 2010:

• 79% improved their self-confidence;
• 64% improved their sense of the future;
• 64% improved their relationships;
• 63% made better decisions; and
• 58% were better able to avoid substance abuse.

One of the factors enabling such high outcomes is the length of mentoring relationships. Matches in the School-based Mentoring Program remain active for 17.5 months on average, compared to an average of 12.8 months at Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies nationwide. This is important because studies have shown the longer matches stay active in the program the greater the positive developmental impact on the child. Though day-to-day interactions with a caring friend and mentor may seem simple, the time to grow, learn, and try new things with the knowledge that someone cares for and believes in that child has significant long-term benefits.