Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington is a local affiliate of our national organization founded in 1904. We have been making one-to-one mentoring relationships between teen and adult volunteer mentors and children/youth, 6-18 years of age, since 1985. Bbbs provides research-based, professionally supported mentoring programs at both schools sites and in the community for children and youth across a five county area: thurston, lewis, pacific, grays harbor and mason counties. We partner with school districts, after-school programs, community groups and community members to connect children and youth with mentors to make sure they receive the support they need to be successful in school and life. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington offers several high quality programs to meet community needs. With input from the little's family and school personnel, the mentoring is focused so that the little receive the maximum support in the areas they need the most. All matches are carefully administered by Big Brothers Big Sisters staff members following strict background and interview standards to ensure the match between the Big and little is safe and well-suited to the individual child's needs, as well as harmonious and built to last. Big Brothers Big Sisters programs include: (1) bigs in schools program: our bigs in school program is designed to foster youth's academic development and enhance their social-emotional skills. Students, referred by teachers and school counselors, are struggling in school, lack social skills or have problem behaviors such as aggressiveness, chronic absenteeism, or skipping classes. Adult and high school mentors (bigs) are recruited from local high schools, colleges, and the local community, are matching with children and youth, ages 6-13 years of age. Student and their mentors meet between 30-60 minutes each week at a designated school or after-school site, under the direct supervision of a bbbs staff member. Matches participate in activities that reflect their mutual interests and hobbies, such as arts and crafts, homework and educational enrichment activities, steam (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) projects, organized games and sports, and board games. Mentors offer students time and attention on a consistent basis, promoting positive peer and adult relationships, a positive attitude, enhances self- confidence, and academic encouragement. (2) bigs in the community: our bigs in community program offers the opportunity for children and youth, ages 6-18 years of age, and their mentors to spend time together in their local communities. A Big and little are matched based on shared interests and individual child's needs. Bigs meet with their littles on evenings and weekends to participate in such activities as homework help, sharing a meal together, or attending local museums, theatre, and sporting events. During match outings, filled with conversation and shared activities, bigs and littles develop a relationship to help manage their everyday challenges of growing up. (3) mentor connections: our mentor connections program focuses on military-connected students in elementary and middle school grades to help them cope with the stress of parental deployment and frequent moves. Specially trained bigs meet with the military-connected littles weekly during school hours to share lunch and participate in fun and learning activities. (4) mentor u is a high school mentoring program focusing on college readiness, workforce development, career exploration and social-emotional learning. The program is an innovative approach that provides on-to-one mentoring to high school youth, blending technology with a curriculum and activities that are intentionally designed to meet a high school student's needs, using a framework based on the skills students need to graduate from high school, be ready for post-high school success. And achieve success in life. Students participate in a weekly class session led by a bbs mentor u program coordinator. Each grade level course outline has seven units progressing in topics as students move through grades 9 through 12. Curriculum units include: communication styles, conflict resolution, and relationship building; identifying interest and passions; goal setting and pursuit of goals; growth mindset; relationships with others; beyond high school; how do i get there (post-secondary education); academic progress and community volunteer opportunities; the college process; financial literacy/guidance; who can i become; and internship opportunities.