BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS INDEPENDENCE REGION

By partnering with parents/guardians, volunteers and others in the community we are accountable for each child in our program achieving higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships, avoidance of risky behaviors, and educational success. Decades of research has consistently shown the beneficial impact of having a caring, committed adult mentor to help at-risk youth to overcome obstacles, avoid risky behaviors, and envision a successful future (Lerner, Brittian, and Fay. MENTOR, 2007). A comprehensive summary of research studies states “Overall, findings support the effectiveness of mentoring for improving outcomes across behavioral, social, emotional and academic domains of young people's development… while non-mentored youth exhibit declines." (DuBois and colleagues, 2011).

These outcomes are directly related to BBBS' focus on REDUCING RISK FACTORS and INCREASING PROTECTIVE FACTORS, thus leading to POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration defines Risk factors as characteristics at the biological, psychological, family, community, or cultural level that precede and are associated with a higher likelihood of negative outcomes, and Protective factors as characteristics associated with a lower likelihood of negative outcomes or that reduce a risk factor's impact. Protective factors may be seen as positive countering events. (https://www.samhsa.gov)

BBBS takes an evidence-based approach to one-to-one youth mentoring that has demonstrably made an impact in both increasing protective factors and decreasing risk factors over the life of a match. (Public/Private Ventures, reissued September of 2000.) This is accomplished by pairing an at risk youth with a caring, invested, and professionally supported adult who encourages positive youth development. In An Impact Study of Big Brothers Big Sisters Tierney and Grossman explain: 'Our research presents clear and encouraging evidence that caring relationships between adults and youth can be created and supported by programs, and can yield a wide range of tangible benefits. The most notable results are the deterrent effect on initiation of drug and alcohol use, and the overall positive effects on academic performance that the mentoring experience produced'.

The enduring relationships between Bigs (mentors) and Littles (mentees) have added benefits that can't be measured through standard surveys. At BBBSI, one of our mentoring relationships started when the then 12-year old Little Brother was in one of many foster homes. His Big was by his side throughout tumultuous years; the “Big" encouraged the “Little" academically – he maintained his status on honor roll, was on the school basketball team, and steadily kept a part-time. Now, age 18 and living with his Big Brother after being kicked out of a fifth home, the Little Brother is going to college on a full scholarship. The bond of these Big and Little Brothers has been life altering.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence's programs provide at-risk youth with the evidence-based impact of Big Brothers Big Sisters one-to-one mentoring in order to prevent and/or reduce delinquency, academic and social failure. Annually close to 3400 children and youth ages 7-17 (“Littles") from 7 counties (in PA: Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware; in NJ: Gloucester, Camden, and Burlington) are in mentoring relationships with a caring, trained, and professionally supported adult (“Bigs"). Matches meet 2- 4 times per month in the community, at schools or at corporation. Research consistently shows that lasting benefit of BBBS mentoring is that youth facing adversity have adult support that increases the likelihood of achieving success in school, improved socialization, and avoidance of risk taking behaviors. Longer matches have the best outcomes. While Bigs and Littles are required to commit to a year in the program, our matches typically last close to 3 years, one of the highest rates in the country.

BBBSI's primary core program, and the best known, is Community-Based mentoring, in which volunteer mentors (Bigs) and their mentees (Littles) meet on the weekends or after school 2-4 times per month to spend time together: playing sports, visiting museums, going hiking, attending planned agency events, or just talking. The second core program is Site-Based Mentoring. In this program Bigs mentor their Littles during the day. Within our Site-Based Mentoring Program we have several different program variations. In our Corporate Bigs program, professionals mentor children at partner schools once a week during lunchtime throughout the school year. We also operate a Beyond School Walls program where Littles visit their Bigs during the week at their workplace, giving them an opportunity to experience the corporate world first-hand and set goals for the future. Finally, BBBSI has a College Bigs program where college students are matched with elementary and middle school students and spend time together at the Little's school during lunchtime or after school. In 2018, we served 3,164 youth, each with a dedicated adult volunteer mentor.

BBBSI is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA), the largest, oldest and most recognized mentoring organization in the United States. BBBSA has been in existence since 1904, and as a local affiliate we are able to leverage infrastructure and expertise of nation's premier mentoring organization. We diligently follow BBBSA's practice standards for recruitment, screening, matching, match support, match monitoring and evaluation.

BBBSI was itself founded in 1915 and incorporated in 1948. With its deep regional roots and strong reputation for exceptional service, BBBSI has a Board of Directors largely comprised of business leaders, many of whom are widely known in the region and beyond, who are dedicated to strengthening the organization's ability to fulfill its mission through donations, fund raising, and strong involvement in strategic planning.

BBBSI's Leadership Team - Marcus Allen, President/CEO; Michele Molano, COO; Kate McCloud, VP of Development; Gregory Burton, VP of Marketing and Communications and others - is focused on ensuring that BBBSI maintains and further strengthens its public profile, expands its funding base, and provides the highest quality mentoring services to children in the Greater Philadelphia region. With its strong management, BBBSI IS A CHARITY NAVIGATOR FOUR-STAR CHARITY.

BBBSI has a deeply dedicated staff that enthusiastically works to ensure that Littles (child and youth mentees) and Bigs (adult mentors) have productive, meaningful and safe experiences within their mentoring relationships and have resources needed beyond the match.

BBBS Independence (BBBSI), serving the Greater Philadelphia region, faithfully follows the BBBS model as prescribed by BBBS of America; this includes collecting research-based standardized Youth Outcomes Surveys from every participating mentee at intake, at the first anniversary of their match and annually thereafter. The data below represent all 2016 post-test survey results on listed key constructs. All measures reflect a positive impact on regional youth.

In 2018, BBBSI served 3,164 children. Parents of children in community based matches are engaged in every step of our process from enrollment through match support. Beginning with the initial information session, volunteers in community-based matches are explicitly instructed that parents are our partners in this relationship. BBBS Independence surveys parents in our Community Based program annually about their perceptions of the program.

In a recent survey of Bigs and Littles in our programs for 12 months,
- 97% Littles believe their relationship with their Big is very important
- 90% Littles believe that their Big gives them good ideas about solving a problem
- 84% Bigs feel close to their Little
- 82% Bigs believe that their Little has made improvements since they started meeting

BBBSI routinely collects pre- and 12-month post-test data using Big Brothers Big Sisters standardized Youth Outcomes Survey. The results below represent results for community-based Littles in our programs for at least one school year.
- 97% Youth stated that their relationship with their Big is very important to them
- 95% Youth maintained or improved their social acceptance among peers
- 94% Youth maintained or improved their attitude toward risky behaviors
- 89% Youth maintained or improved their grades in school

School-Based Programs
- MENTORING HOURS totaled 29,745
- Partnered with over 59 Public Schools
(SB Mentoring Hours are based on an average of 2.5 hours/month and matches active in April 2018.)

Working with our Corporate Partners in our Beyond School Walls, the corporate commitment totaled:
- 378 Mentoring Sessions
- 10,694 Hours
- $264,041 in Time
*Based on estimated value of volunteer time for 2018 at $24.69/hour
(https://independentsector.org/news-post/value-of-volunteer-time-release/)

Over 90% of children and youth in BBBSI have positive outcomes; and the majority has positive outcomes in at least three of the constructs listed above.