1. What is Big Brothers/Big Sisters?
We are an organization dedicated to providing children with positive one-on-one and group mentoring opportunities so that every child in Canada who needs a mentor has a mentor.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (a registered trademark of Big Brothers of Canada), has developed to the point where today there are 160 agencies across the country. Almost half of them are joint Big Brothers/Big Sisters agencies. Each agency has a volunteer Board of Directors made up of a cross section of members of the community. These Boards employ staff who carry out day to day casework of the agencies.
2. Where and when did Big Brothers/Big Sisters originate?
Big Brothers was started in 1903 by Irvin Westheimer with Big Sisters following in New York in 1908. In Canada, Big Brothers began in Toronto in 1913 with the national organization, Big Brothers of Canada, chartered in December 1964.
3. How did the South Shore Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association originate?
In 1977, a Big Brothers agency was established in Bridgewater under the leadership of two volunteers. This agency was supported by the Bridgewater Lions Club. They made several Big/Little matches, but folded in 1982 because the work was too demanding to be carried out on a volunteer basis.
The agency was revitalized in 1984 with the Provisional Agency Agreement dated November 6th. In 1985, a Canada Works grant was received on March 11 and staff was hired to "set up a properly organized and managed Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization." Incorporation with the Province of Nova Scotia took place on March 12, 1985. When the Canada Works grant ended in March 1986, the agency had raised enough money to keep the Executive Director and a part-time support person. South Shore Big Brothers/Big Sisters expanded its staff in October 1986 when a part-time (twenty-one hours per week) Caseworker was hired to assist in handling not only the increased interest in our services shown by the public, but the increase in workload.
In our 20 years of continuous service, we have matched over two hundred Little Brothers and Little Sisters with screened adult volunteers. Since 1999, over one hundred Mentees have experienced a special one-on-one friendship with an adult or Junior Mentor.
4. What area does the South Shore Association serve?
The agency serves Lunenburg and Queens Counties with the office centrally located in Bridgewater.
5. How is the agency funded?
From March of 1985 to March of 1986, a Canada Works Grant financed the agency. Since that date, the agency has relied on fundraising and the support of the community to finance over 80% of operating costs. As well, a small grant is received annually from the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services.
6. How is the agency run?
An Executive Director handles the administrative, the majority of the fundraising, and program work at the agency. A Caseworker looks after the traditional and In-School Mentoring matches including all casework. An Office Assistant handles the clerical and the bookkeeping duties as well as assists in fundraising. The Executive Director position is full-time while the Caseworker and Office Assistant positions are part-time. Governing the staff is a volunteer Board of Directors made up of people in the community who have an interest in the agency. The Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for the actions of the agency.
7. Is the agency a non-profit organization?
YES. The agency is registered through Joint Stock Companies and fulfils all the requirements of a non-profit organization. The organization has a charitable tax number so tax receipts can be issued for donations.
8. Who are Little Brothers and Little Sisters?
A Little Brother or Sister is a child between the ages of 6 and 18. To be in the program the boy or girl must want a Big Brother or Sister as a friend. The parent of the Little Brother or Sister must also want the friendship for the child. A Big Brother or Sister is affectionately known in our organization as a "Big" and the young friend, a "Little".
9. Who are Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Big Couples?
A Big Brother or Sister is an adult, 19 years of age or older, from any walk of life, married or single, with or without children, who volunteers as a friend, to a child. Big Couples are 20 years of age or older and have been together as a couple for over one year. Big Couples are matched to one child.
10. Where do the children come from?
Most are referred by a parent. Other social agencies also make referrals.
11. Why are these children referred?
The children may be having some difficulty functioning in the home, school, or community, but not necessarily. All the children, though, do need the friendship of a Big Brother, Big Sister or Big Couple.
12. Do all the children have special needs?
NO. Some of the children do have behaviour issues or special needs. This information is passed on to a potential Big and he/she can decide if he/she is willing to deal with this type of behaviour. Most of the Littles are just children with normal needs.
13. Do parents or guardian have to pay anything to become part of Big Brothers/Big Sisters?
NO. The Service is offered free.
14. Does a child have to be from a single-parent family?
NO. Each case is judged separately.
15. If a child is accepted in the program, how long does it take for a Big to be assigned to a child?
It depends on the individual situation. Sometimes it may takes several months or years before the right volunteer for the child comes into the program. There seems to be more Big Sisters available than Big Brothers, but a lot depends on the interests of the child and volunteer and geographical location.
16. How is a child selected to be in the program?
When a child (age 6 to 18) is referred to Big Brothers/Big Sisters, his or her parent/guardian completes an application. The child is interviewed by a member of our professional staff, usually the Caseworker, to determine his or her interests and motivations as well as his or her needs and concerns. The child’s parent is also interviewed regarding the behaviour and personality of his or her child.
In some instances, several separate interviews may be held and other persons may be interviewed as well as the parent and child. When it is determined that the child could benefit from having a Big Brother/Big Sister/Big Couple, the agency then carefully selects the right volunteer for the right child.
17. If there is more than one child in a family, are they all eligible to become Littles?
Certainly.
18. Do the parent and child have any input in the selection of the volunteer?
The parent and child are questioned on the type of volunteer they would like and every effort is made to meet those specifications. When a potential volunteer is selected, the Caseworker meets with the parent and child and presents them with information on the potential Big Brother, Big Sister or Big Couple. This is the parent and child’s opportunity to decide if they think this person is the right "Big".
19. How do I become a Big Brother or Big Sister or Big Couple?
To apply, interested persons should call the agency, drop into the office, or e-mail a request to obtain an application. Soon applications will be able to be downloaded from the website. Staff will be happy to answer any question an individual might have about the program.
20. What is involved in the enrollment process to become a Big Brother, Big Sister or Big Couple?
A staff member conducts an interview with the volunteer to find out about the volunteer’s interests and lifestyle. The volunteer is required to sign a form allowing a police check and Child Abuse Registry Check to be done and a release form for their doctor. The form sent to the doctor allows the doctor to state whether he/she feels the applicant is of sound physical and emotional stability. As well, references (1 family, 1 employment and 2 character) provided by the volunteer are contacted. When all the information has been compiled, a Screening & Selection Committee reviews the information and either accepts or rejects the application.
21. What if the volunteer has a police record or has had a physical or mental condition in the past?
These things are seriously taken into consideration, but do not automatically mean the applicant in rejected. Factors such as the type of crime committed, how long ago, and the person's behavior since the crime are considered with regard to police records. The same applies for persons who have had a physical or mental condition. They are all just factors to be considered.
22. How much are volunteers paid?
NOTHING. They are volunteers along with many others who help the organization to operate.
23. How are volunteers trained?
Volunteers are well selected. Each applicant is interviewed and informed of the responsibilities of being a Big Brother or Big Sister. During this time, the Caseworker becomes aware of this person’s strengths and interests, which allows her to match the volunteer with the appropriate child. All volunteers as well as children and their parents/guardians receive our National Child Safety Training program.
24. How does the volunteer help the child?
To help the child, it is essential that a volunteer act naturally. Their image and example are the basis of their help. It is what they do that counts. If a problem is encountered, a volunteer can and should contact the staff immediately for advice.
25. What are the responsibilities of the volunteer?
A Big is expected to see his Little regularly and consistently. This appeals to many busy people whose free time varies each week. A Big is expected to keep in contact with the Caseworker regularly.
26. Does a volunteer assume any legal or financial obligations?
Volunteers are expected to be responsible and careful when sharing activities with their young friend so that potentially harmful situations are avoided. The agency is covered by comprehensive liability insurance.
Some incidental costs may be incurred on outings, but volunteers are not expected to spend a lot of money on the child. (Remember, buddies don’t buy friendship)
27. Do Bigs and Littles ever get together as a group?
YES. The Group Activities Committee plans group activities regularly where everyone gets together --Bigs along with matched and unmatched Littles.
28. If a Big Brother or Big Sister is married, will their family lose out?
Experience has shown that Bigs become more skilful parents. There is also the "Big Couple" option.
29. Is Big Brother\Big Sister\Big Couple a long-term program?
Although the duration of relationships may vary, it generally requires a minimum commitment of at least one year be spent with a child. Often the relationship develops into a life-long friendship lasting well into adulthood.
30. What about child abuse?
We take the safety of the children enrolled in our programs seriously and we are concerned about the incidence of child abuse. In keeping with the traditions of prevention, we conduct a child sexual abuse prevention program aimed at developing the self-confidence and self-awareness of Little Sisters and Brothers. There is also an education component for parents and Big Brother/Sister/Couple.
31. How are Big and Little matched?
This is arranged by the Caseworker who interviews both the Big and Little. After careful study, the two are matched on the basis of geography, background, interests, the strengths of the volunteer and the needs of the child.
32. How does a child meet his Big?
After a series of interviews, the child and parent are introduced to the volunteer by a staff member at the child’s home.
33. How do a Big and Little spend their time together?
Basically, they share their interests and get together. They meet for a few hours a week as friends. They go for a walk, take in a movie or a ball game, bake cookies or just sit and talk. In short, they do whatever they both enjoy.
34. What is the volunteer’s relationship with the child’s family?
The volunteer is primarily concerned with the child. After being introduced to the rest of the family by the child, the volunteer spends little or no time in the child’s home, aside from picking him/her up before or returning him/her from a visit.
35. What action should a volunteer take if circumstances changes and he/she cannot find time to spend with the child?
Contact the office immediately so that support can be put in place to reduce the impact of the news to the child. The Caseworker must know a "Big’s" situation in order that this can be explained to the Little in the best way possible and arrangements can be made to assign a new Big if deemed advisable.
36. How does Big Brother/Big Sister/Big Couple work differ from other children/youth work?
Most organizations-Scouts, Guides, YMCA, etc., are geared to working with groups of children. Big Brother/Big Sister work is directed to the needs of the individual child.
37. How do you measure your success?
Our focus is on prevention of problems and often that is hard to measure, but success can be seen when a child keeps out of trouble, shows an improvement in school work, or generally feels better about him or herself. Sometimes it is as simple as seeing a smile that was not there before.
38. What does a volunteer get out of the program?
First, they have many enjoyable outings with their Little.
Second, they make a lifelong friend.
Third, they have the satisfaction of giving a child a chance to observe another way of life.
Fourth, they will have made a contribution to the community.
39. How do people find out more about the program?
Simply call the office at 543-4435 or 354-5517, check out the program information on the website, or drop in to chat with the staff. We love to tell people about the program!
40. Are there any other services or programs offered for youth in our area through South Shore Big Brother/Big Sister Association?
YES!We added the In-School Mentoring Program in March of 1999.
41. What is the In-School Mentoring Program?
An opportunity for children to benefit from a one-to-one relationship with a caring, reliable adult or youth. This is a joint project of the local Big Brother/Big Sister Association and the local School Board and in March 2004, South Shore Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association entered into a formal partnership agreement with the South Shore District School Board. There is also the Junior In-School Mentoring option in which a junior or senior high school student is the mentor who is matched with a local elementary school student, usually where the Junior or Senior High Schools are in close proximity to the elementary schools.
42. How does it work?
Each adult volunteer (called a Mentor) becomes a special friend to one child.
Mentors visit with their child (called a Mentee) at their school.
Visits are during school hours for one hour per week from September to June.
The Mentee and the Mentor spend their time in ways that are of interest to the child (i.e. physical activity, playing board games, visiting the school library to read, talking, drawing, making crafts, admiring the child’s school work).
43. Who are the Mentors?
Volunteers from our community.
Caring adults and youth.
People who like children, relate well to then, and want to be helpful.
Reliable adults and youth who will keep their appointments with the children.
People who are enrolled/screened, trained, and supervised by the Big Brother/Big Sister Association.
44. What is the role of a parent, who accepts the Mentoring Program as offered to the child ?
Support the child’s friendship with the Mentor by letting the child know the parent is glad he/she is involved.
Know that the parent is welcome to meet the Mentor at the school, if he/she wishes.
Notice how the child reacts the Mentor’s visits (whether he/she looks forward to them).
Report any concerns to the school.
Sign a release of information form and ask any questions before the program begins.
Give information about the child’s interest and needs so a suitable match with a Mentor can be made.
Call the school when the child is absent or when the parent knows the child will be absent on a particular day.
Give an opinion on the program if asked by the Big Brother\Big Sister Association.
Be aware that there is a limited number of Mentors available, and matches may not be possible/available for all children.
45. What is the role of the school in the Mentoring Program?
Carefully consider which children would benefit most from the program.
Contact parents about the opportunity for Mentoring.
Contact children whose parents agree to the Mentoring Program.
Observe children’s reactions to visits.
Report any concerns to the Big Brother/Big Sister Association and advise BBBS when the child is absent on the mentoring day.
Be sure Mentors are wearing identification and that they sign in and out.
Make locations for visits available in the school.
Notify the agency if the Mentee is absent or if the Mentor does not show up.
46. What may be the benefits of this extra attention for the children?
Children may feel more important.
Children may become more self-confident in their ability to succeed.
Children may become more comfortable in making friends.
Children may become interested in the kind of work the Mentor do and see the importance of staying in school.
School work may improve because of this positive experience during the school year.
Attendance improves as the child never misses a day when his or her Mentor is coming.
47. What don’t Mentors do?
Counseling.
Tutoring.
Contact children outside school hours.
Give children expensive gifts.
Punish (for example: visits will not be cancelled if children have misbehaved at school)
48. What else should the parent know?
- Contact South Shore Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association at (902) 543-4435 or (902) 354-5517, by fax at (902) 543-8571 or by e-mail at southshorebbbs@ns.sympatico.ca
- There is a contact in each school for the program
- The school staff and the South Shore Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association are very excited about this partnership.