Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Bath Brunswick

TO CREATE AND SUPPORT ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT IGNITE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH.

THE COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM SERVES YOUTH BETWEEN AGES 6-YOUNG ADULT THAT ARE FACING ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND ARE PRIMARILY LIVING IN SINGLE-PARENT LOW-INCOME HOMES BY PROVIDING ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROFESSIONALLY SUPPORTED, VOLUNTEER BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS. VOLUNTEERS ARE SCREENED, TRAINED AND VETTED BY BBBS PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND CAREFULLY MATCHED WITH EACH LITTLE. BIGS AND LITTLES SPEND TIME MONTHLY ENGAGING IN A VARIETY OF HEALTHY ACTIVITIES. STAFF PROVIDE ONGOING MONTHLY SUPPORT TO EVERY VOLUNTEER, CHILD AND CHILD'S FAMILY. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, OVER 80% OF BIG AND LITTLE MATCHES EXCEED THEIR ONE-YEAR MATCH ANNIVERSARY AND MANY WILL STAY CONNECTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH THE AVERAGE MATCH LENGTH BEING 43.2 MONTHS OR JUST UNDER FOUR YEARS! BBBS/BB MATCHES RELATIONSHIPS EXCEED THE NATIONAL AVERAGE MATCH-LENGTH BY OVER 50%. THESE RELATIONSHIPS HELP CHILDREN BUILD RESILIENCY AGAINST ADVERSITY, GROW THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND ASPIRATIONS, BUILD CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, LEARN TO BETTER AVOID RISKY BEHAVIORS AND EXPERIENCE AN OVERALL IMPROVED LIFE-TRAJECTORY FOR FUTURE SUCCESS. IN 2021 SIXTY-FIVE CHILDREN, AN EQUAL NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE SERVED BY THE COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM.

BEARS AND CUBS IS AN ONGOING PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPED AND MANAGED WITH SUPPORT BY BOWDOIN COLLEGE MCKEEN CENTER FOR THE COMMON GOOD. THIS IS ONE OF OUR SITE-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM AND IT CONNECTS BOWDOIN STUDENTS (BEARS) WITH CHILDREN (CUBS) IN OUR COMMUNITY. BEARS AND CUBS PARTICIPATE IN SUPERVISED ACTIVITIES AT THE BOWDOIN COLLEGE CAMPUS DURING SIX SUNDAY SESSIONS EACH SEMESTER. THIS PROGRAM ALSO INVOLVES TWO STUDENT LEADERS WHO WORK WITH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS STAFF TO ORGANIZE, PLAN AND SUPPORT THE PROGRAM ONGOING. YOUTH IN THIS PROGRAM ARE EXPOSED TO POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS.

IN OUR SITE-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM ADULT COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COLLEGE STUDENTS OR HIGH SCHOOL-AGED BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS MEET WITH THEIR LITTLE BROTHERS AND SISTERS ONE DAY PER WEEK ON-SITE AT THE CHILDS SCHOOL, OR AT BOWDOIN COLLEGE. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HAVING LUNCH, PLAYING BOARD AND CARD GAMES, CREATING A CRAFT OR ART PROJECT, HELPING WITH HOMEWORK, READING A BOOK TOGETHER, SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS AND/OR HAVING CONVERSATIONS. TO ADMINISTER THESE PROGRAMS, IN 2020 BBBS PARTNERED WITH EIGHT AREA SCHOOLS AND BOWDOIN COLLEGE. PROGRAMS ARE DIRECTLY SUPERVISED BY BBBS STAFF AND FACILITATORS AT THE SCHOOLS. VOLUNTEERS ARE VETTED, TRAINED AND SUPPORTED ON-GOING. CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN THESE PROGRAMS ACHIEVE GREATER SELF-CONFIDENCE, ARE BETTER ABLE TO EXPRESS FEELINGS, HAVE INCREASED INTERESTS AND HOBBIES, HAVE IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, BETTER CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR AND SEVERAL OTHER POSITIVE OUTCOMES! FIFTY-TWO YOUTH AND A COMPARABLE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE SERVED BY SCHOOL/SITE-BASED PROGRAMS IN 2020. THE AVERAGE BIG AND LITTLES MATCH LENGTH IS 32.2 MONTHS.