Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Metro Atlanta Inc

CREATE AND SUPPORT 1:1 MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT IGNITE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH.

OUR COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM IS IMPLEMENTED FOLLOWING NATIONAL EVIDENCE-BASED BEST PRACTICES INCLUDING: : THOROUGH SCREENING AND TRAINING OF VOLUNTEERS; IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH CHILDREN AND PARENTS; AND ONGOING PROFESSIONAL MONITORING, SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR THE DURATION OF THE MENTORING MATCH. THE PROGRAM IS INDIVIDUALIZED FOR EACH CHILD, TO MEET THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC NEEDS. THE BIG BROTHER/SISTER AND LITTLE BROTHER/SISTER SPEND QUALITY TIME TOGETHER ENGAGED IN EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES AT TIMES THAT ARE MOST CONVENIENT FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, MOST OFTEN ON WEEKENDS. IN 2021, WE SERVED 946 CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM: 84% LIVED IN LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, 80% QUALIFIED FOR FREE OR REDUCED SCHOOL LUNCH, 70% LIVED IN SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS, AND 37% HAD ONE OR MORE PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED. 98% WERE CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF COLOR (82% BLACK, 8% HISPANIC, 6% MULTI-RACIAL, 1% ASIAN AND 1% OTHER RACE/ETHNICITY). BIG FUTURES IS AN IMPORTANT ENHANCEMENT TO OUR MENTORING PROGRAM. OUR GOAL WITH BIG FUTURES IS TO HELP THE YOUTH IN OUR 1:1 MENTORING PROGRAM PREPARE FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREER, AND TO RAISE AWARENESS OF ALL THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING TECHNICAL/TRADE SCHOOLS, COLLEGE AND THE MILITARY. WE PROVIDE EVERY STUDENT IN GRADES 8-12 WITH A GRADE-SPECIFIC COLLEGE PREP ROADMAP AT THE START OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR. THE ROADMAPS PROVIDE A MONTH-BY-MONTH LIST OF ACTION ITEMS WITH LINKS TO ONLINE RESOURCES SUCH AS THE FAFSA, ONLINE SAT AND ACT PREP AND PRACTICE TESTS, CAREER ASSESSMENT TOOLS, TEMPLATES FOR CREATING A RESUME, FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS. THESE ROADMAPS HELP STUDENTS STAY ON TRACK TO GRADUATE ON TIME AND TO PREPARE FOR POST-SECONDARY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. THEY ALSO HELP BIGS AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. WE FURTHER SUPPORT THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OUR PROGRAM THROUGH SERVICES INCLUDING: A NEW FUTURE PLANNING TOOL (FOR SHORT- AND LONG-TERM PLANNING OF ACADEMIC OBJECTIVES AND POST HIGH-SCHOOL PLANNING); ACCESS TO SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING BIG FUTURES SCHOLARSHIPS WHICH ARE AWARDED AT OUR ANNUAL GRADUATION CELEBRATION; ACCESS TO INTERNSHIPS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES; WORKSHOPS ON FINANCIAL AID, COLLEGE APPLICATIONS AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL OPTIONS; CAREER PANELS THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS, INCLUDING TECHNICAL SCHOOL; COLLEGE TOURS; AND COLLABORATIONS WITH ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY AND ACADEMIC PARTNERS FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TECHNICAL SCHOOL, 2-YEAR AND 4-YEAR COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES.WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE OUTCOMES THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN OUR PROGRAM ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE, AT SCHOOL AND IN THE COMMUNITY. FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR:O 97% OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS GRADUATED ON TIMEO 92% REPORT PLANS TO PURSUE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES OR THE MILITARYO 96% OF YOUTH IN OUR PROGRAM WERE PROMOTED TO THE NEXT GRADE ON TIMEO 99% OF YOUTH DID NOT BECOME INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM

OUR SITE BASED MENTORING PROGRAM HAS TWO MODELS: SCHOOL-BASED (CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER MENTORS MEET WITH ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN A SCHOOL TWICE A MONTH OVER A THREE-SEMESTER PERIOD), AND BEYOND SCHOOL WALLS (MENTORS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MEET TOGETHER REGULARLY AT THE MENTOR'S WORKPLACE). FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR, WE ARE SERVING STUDENTS AT EIGHT SCHOOLS INCLUDING: ARGYLE, BRUMBY, AND THOMASVILLE HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS; MLK, PRICE, AND SUTTON MIDDLE SCHOOLS; AND CHAMBLEE AND THERRELL HIGH SCHOOLS. WE HAVE A DEDICATED SITE BASED TEAM THAT FACILITATES AND SUPPORTS MENTORING MATCHES AT EACH LOCATION. BOTH MODELS FOCUS ON SUPPORTING ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND FOLLOW GRADE-SPECIFIC CURRICULA DURING THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. WORKPLACE MENTORING HAS AN ADDITIONAL FOCUS ON EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT CAREERS, IMPROVEMENT IN EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE IN THE WORKPLACE. WE SERVED 102 MATCHES THROUGH THE SITE BASED MENTORING PROGRAM IN 2021.