Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star

The mission of BBBS Lone Star is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. BBBS Lone Star seeks to defend, ignite and encourage the potential that each child possesses to be successful in life. It partners with parents/guardians, volunteers and others in the community and hold themselves accountable for children in its program achieving the following three primary goals:
• Educational Success
• Higher Aspirations, Greater Confidence and Better Relationships
• Avoid/Reduce Risky Behaviors

In the BBBS evidence-based model, matches are safe and well suited to each child’s needs, harmonious and built to last. The entire process, from the initial screening to the final pairing—and beyond—is strategically designed and supported. Critical success factors include:
• Developing strong partnerships with schools and community organizations;
• Being strategic about recruiting mentors and checking their background for safety;
• Using a rigorous screening process to select mentors who are safe, reliable, compassionate, and able to commit to seeing their Little regularly for at least a year;
• Providing high-quality training for mentors so that they are well equipped for success;
• Making “smart” matches to increase the likelihood of the mentor and mentee developing a close, healthy, supportive relationship;
• Providing professional support to mentors to help them be effective and resolve issues that arise;
• Sustaining Big-Little relationships over time to have the greatest imp

BBBS understands that to achieve organizational goals it takes sustained effort and a sold approach. Lone Star has clearly defined its goals, through its strategic plan and operational plan and standards of practice. Every person in the organization has the educated level of understanding and a strong commitment to the goals and their achievement. Employees participate in weekly organized meetings to discuss key progress indicators related to the goals in order to remain attentive to the essential business of the organization. The organization regularly focuses on building block initiatives the help to make the end goals a reality. Each time one of these initiatives is completed it is celebrated by the organization. The organization has made significant strides using this approach.

Researchers have found that children involved in BBBS programs are 52% less likely to skip school, 46% less likely to use illegal drugs, and 27% less likely to use alcohol. The improvements in Littles’ risk avoidance, socio-emotional competence, and educational success are associated with longer-term impacts such as increased high school graduation rates, avoidance of juvenile delinquency, and improved college/job readiness.

Other studies on show:
• Improved self-esteem and self confidence
• Improved relationships with parents, teachers, peers
• Improved behavior at home and at school
• Decreased likelihood of drug and alcohol use
• Increased participation in extracurricular activities
• Higher educational aspirations

Based on its 2016 Strategic Plan BBBS continues to successfully work toward:
• Measuring program outcomes and demonstrate value proposition
• Broadening community engagement
• Improving financial health
• Expanding and enhance service delivery
• Optimizing internal