ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS AND MENTORS

Age - minimum of 18 years

Availability for service - able to make a commitment to see the child on a regular basis, consistent with the program requirements.

Personal suitability - caring, responsible, reliable, stable, mature, sensitive, able to relate well to children, well motivated, committed.

Other issues of acceptability - the local agency will reject any applicant who has committed sexual offenses and other offences against children.  The agency will also reject any applicant who has a problem with substance abuse.

SCREENING AND SUPERVISION PROCESS

As part of the screening process, all prospective volunteers must complete an application form with the caseworker and are given an orientation/training session, the Child Safety Program, and a final evaluation interview.  In addition, four references and a police check are required.  The agency may also require a medical check.

When the match is made, the agency continues to supervise the match on a regular basis in accordance with the standards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.

CRITERIA FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF

BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS AND MENTORS

IT IS THE AIM OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CANADA AND BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS OF CORNWALL AND DISTRICT INC. TO MATCH LITTLE BROTHERS AND LITTLE SISTERS AND MENTEES WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH A DEMONSTRATED SENSE OF WELL-BEING.

THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE USED FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF A BIG BROTHER OR BIG SISTER OR MENTOR APPLICANT:

1. AGE: The applicant must be 18 years of age or older. There is no upper limit.

2. EMPLOYMENT: The applicant should be employed, going to school, or retired. Employment history should reflect a stable lifestyle, and indicate that the volunteer has sufficient time to fulfill the commitment required. Income history must also reflect stability.

Generally, we will place on hold an individual who is unemployed until such time as he/she is settled in a job or one who has had a recent history of a variety of jobs.

3. MARITAL STATUS: Applicants will be considered regardless of marital status. Our focus rests on those individuals who have demonstrated stable relationships. We will generally REJECT a man or woman who is separated or divorced and is prevented by court order from seeing his/her own children.

4. SUBSTANCE ABUSE: We accept applicants who do drink alcohol but REJECT an applicant who may have a problem related to his/her drinking. We REJECT any applicant who admits that he/she is presently taking drugs (not prescribed by a doctor) on a regular basis.

5. CRIMINAL OFFENSES: Applicants must allow the agency to conduct a Canadian Police Information Centre Check (CPIC). If an applicant has been charged and/or convicted of an offense, we may accept or reject the applicant, depending upon the offense and date(s). We will REJECT any applicant who has committed sexual offenses, offenses against children, etc.

Normally traffic violations or summary convictions would not disqualify a candidate.

6. MEDICAL INFORMATION: The applicant may be required to sign a RELEASE FORM in order that the agency can obtain medical information. If the medical information is unfavourable, the applicant is contacted personally and the situation is discussed with him/her. His/her application may be accepted, placed ON HOLD, or REJECTED depending upon the circumstances.

7. REFERENCES: We require four reference checks to include an employment/volunteer reference, a family reference, and 2 character references. References should have known the applicant for a least two years. If the employment/volunteer reference has not known the applicant for at least two years, an additional reference is required.

8. SUITABILITY: The applicant must be personally interviewed by members of the agency, and found to be a suitable candidate, i.e. stability, sensitivity, ability to relate to children, maturity, motivation, commitment and availability. Volunteers in a Couples match must have been in a stable relationship for a minimum of one year. This agency is under NO obligation to accept or assign any applicant.

9. COMMITMENT: The applicant should understand that being a Big Brother or Big Sister or Mentor demands a commitment. The agency expects that each applicant in the regular one-to-one matching program or Couples matching program will spend 3 to 4 hours a week with his/her Little Brother or Sister for a period of at least one year.

In the Big Bunch Friendship program, the applicant will work with another volunteer in a group setting spending time with up to 4 children on our waiting list twice a month for at least a 4 month period.

In the In-School Mentoring program, the applicant will spend one hour a week with his Mentee at his or her school during the school year.

10. PROCEDURES: The applicant is required to participate in two in-person screening interviews, the agency's orientation program, and the Child Safety Program.