Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Sierra

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Sierra (BBBS) has served El Dorado County since 1977 and Nevada & Placer counties since 1979. We proudly exist with the belief that inherent in every child is potential and they have the ability to succeed and thrive in life.

Mentoring is based on the premise that predictable, consistent relationships with stable, competent adults can help youth cope with challenges and steer clear of high-risk behaviors. Mentors provide guidance and support, teach positive behaviors and help young people build self-confidence. In short term goals, youth involved in our programs do better in school and have better relationships with their parents and peers. In the long term, we have seen our youth avoid risky behaviors, such as violence and substance abuse and go on to college at rates higher than the national average.

Mentoring relationships with stable, competent adults, help youth cope with challenges, encourage positive behaviors and build self-confidence. Strong kids ultimately create strong communities.

As an evidence-based program, we implement the established service delivery model and standards of practice provided by the National organization. We also utilize school report cards and school delinquency reports during case management and evaluation.

Each child in the program is assigned a professionally trained case manager who:
➢ Screens, checks references and facilitates training to the adult mentors (“Bigs")
➢ Evaluates the child (“Little"), including emotional, mental and physical needs.
➢ Applies these evaluations to carefully match the child to the right mentor.
➢ Coordinates with parents and the child's school in order to ensure child safety and match productivity
➢ Continuously monitors and evaluates the match to ensure child safety and positive outcomes

The case manager monitors and supports the mentoring relationship throughout the match. Once the match begins, the case manager has frequent meetings with the Big and the Little to continue to evaluate the relationship, ensure child safety and positive impact. All records and observations are recorded in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Agency Information Management Database (AIM). In addition, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of El Dorado County uses the following standard impact measurement surveys established by the national organization. These are also conducted by the assigned case manager and recorded in AIM.

➢ The National Strength of Relationship Survey, which is completed by both the Big and the Little at the start of the match, 90 days into the establishment of the match and then annually.
➢ The National Youth Outcome Survey, which cost of developing and maintaining a single mentoring match between a "Big" (the mentor) and a "Little" (the child) is $1,140.00 per year. Each child is assigned to a professional case manager who evaluates and screens adult volunteers, evaluates the child and carefully matches the child to the right mentor. The case manager monitors and supports the mentoring relationship throughout the match. The case manager also facilitates regularly at the school site to ensure child safety and relationship growth.

As with most prevention type services, this cost is in great contrast to what El Dorado County spends per year ($114,000) for incarcerated juvenile offenders. When the costs for mental health care are added, the county spends well over $150,000/year per capita for incarcerated juvenile offenders. The cost savings of having youth participate in Big Brothers Big Sisters verses dropping out of school, committing crime, becoming incarcerated in a juvenile facility, or simply achieving less in life than they otherwise could, is clear – mentoring works - and it does so in a cost effective manner.

BBBS has long-standing relationships with partners throughout the county who refer children and volunteers to the program. Our case managers work closely with these partners to ensure child safety both at school and outside of school, and to help families of the Littles find resources that improve their quality of life.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO REFER CHILDREN/VOLUNTEERS INTO OUR PROGRAM:

Boys & Girls Club of El Dorado County
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
CAPC (Child Abuse Prevention Council)
CSS (Child Support Services)
CPS (Child Protective Services)
City of Placerville
County of El Dorado
Drug Free Divide
EDCOE (El Dorado Office of Education)
El Dorado County Fire Department
El Dorado County Mental Health Department
El Dorado County Probation Office
El Dorado County Sheriff's Office
First 5
Green Valley Christian Church
New Morning Youth and Family Services
Placerville Police Department
Retired Teacher Association of El Dorado County
Rolling Hills Christian Church SARB (Student Attendance Review Board)
The Center for Violence Free Relationships

EL DORADO COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS:

Black Oak Mine Unified School District
Buckeye Union School District
Camino Union Elementary School District
El Dorado Union High School District
Gold Oak Union School District
Gold Trail Union School District
Mother Lode Union School District
Pioneer Union School District
Placerville Union School District
Pollock Pines Elementary School District
Rescue Union School District

COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO PROVIDE VOLUNTEERS AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING:
Amdocs
Big Hairy Dog
Blue Shield of California
Business Workspaces
DST
El Dorado County Community Foundation
El Dorado Disposal
Intel
Kiwanis of El Dorado County
Kohl's
Parker Development Company
Rotary Club of Cameron Park
Rotary Club of El Dorado County
Target
Wells Fargo

BBBS was created as a result of a few community members with vision. They saw children in El Dorado County who were in need of positive role models and families who couldn’t provide for the basic needs of their children. They knew the need would eventually become greater and indeed, they were correct. During the past five years, we have seen children struggle with increased needs and more severe challenges. Accordingly, the annual budget has increased 300% and building upon the core one-to-one community-based mentoring model, BBBS has developed innovative programs to meet the community’s needs. These programs include:
Beyond School Walls – a program that not only introduces a child to a new adult friend and role model, but exposes them to a positive work environment and possible career path.
Start Early – the only one of its kind in the Nation, this program provides mentors for children as young as 3 years old and focuses on prevention of mental health issues.
Bigs in Blue – offers an opportunity for officers to create meaningful relationship with children who may view law enforcement as a “threat” more than a “friend”.
Tomorrow’s Path Together – designed for incarcerated youth and those on probation, this program connects youth involved in the juvenile justice system with positive adult mentors.

BBBS has steadily gained local community recognition, as well as national recognition, recently receiving the Pinnacle Award. El Dorado County is one of only six affiliates Nationwide to receive this award, placing BBBS in the top 2% of the Nation for efficacy.