Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Southwest Colorado

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

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SOUTHWEST COLORADO CREATES AND SUPPORTS ONE- TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT INSPIRE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH. OUR VISION IS TO HELP ALL YOUTH IN OUR PROGRAM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND BUILD AN INTRINSIC FEELING OF THE IMPACT OF POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS TO BE RECEIVED AND GIVEN THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME. BY PARTNERING WITH PARENTS/GUARDIANS, EDUCATORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHER ADVOCATES IN THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR EACH YOUTH AND VOLUNTEER IN OUR PROGRAM, AGES 6 YEARS+, IN ACHIEVING HIGHER GRADUATION RATES, INCREASING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND CONFIDENCE, MITIGATE RISKY BEHAVIORS, AND INCREASE A DESIRE TO ACHIEVE THEIR OWN SUCCESS. IN 2023, OUR PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED STAFF CONTINUED TO ENGAGE 92 YOUTH WITHIN A MENTORING RELATIONSHIP WITHIN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. THESE RELATIONSHIPS WERE BUILT THROUGH TWO MAIN PROGRAM MODELS: COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING AND HIGH SCHOOL BIGS MENTORING. COMMUNITY-BASED MATCHES INCLUDE A YOUTH AND ADULT THAT ENGAGE THROUGH INTENTIONAL ACTIVITIES TO STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP. HIGH SCHOOL BIG MATCHES ARE MATCHED IN A SUPERVISED SETTING THAT ALLOW HIGH SCHOOL-AGED MENTORS TO ENGAGE WITH A MENTEE ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. WITH A 3-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN IDENTIFIED IN 2022, CLOSURES OF MATCHES THAT HAD DISCONNECTED DUE TO THE IMPACT OF LESS PERSONAL CONTACT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY IN HOW THEY'D LIKE TO MENTOR OUR YOUTH, WE HAVE SET AMBITIOUS AND ACHIEVABLE GOALS TO SERVE AGAIN 100 YOUTH WITH QUALITY AND INTENTIONAL STRATEGIES IN 2024, INCLUDING THE GROWTH OF SERVICE AREAS IN EASTERN LA PLATA COUNTY AND ARCHULETA COUNTY IN 2026. 58% OF OUR YOUTH SERVED WERE RAISED IN FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT TWO PARENTS AND INCLUDED YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE, RAISED BY GRANDPARENTS, OR ONE- PARENT HOUSEHOLDS. 12% OF OUR YOUTH HAVE AT LEAST ONE PARENT INCARCERATED, AND 71% OF OUR YOUTH WERE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE/REDUCED LUNCH. AS OUR AVERAGE AGE OF YOUTH SERVED INCREASES, OUR MATCH TIME AVERAGED JUST UNDER 3 YEARS. OF NEW YOUTH BEING MATCHED WITH A MENTOR, THE AVERAGE AGE INCREASED TO OVER 11 YEARS OLD, IN COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS YEARS WHERE THE AVERAGE AGE WAS UNDER 9 YEARS OLD. YOUTH IN OUR PROGRAM ARE GENERALLY HALF MALE, HALF FEMALE. ALL YOUTH OF ANY DEMOGRAPHIC, SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS MAY BE SERVED IN OUR PROGRAM WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF VOLUNTEER MENTORS.