April 26, 2018
Written by Amy Chionchio, president & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee
Agency Mission: Our mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported 1-to-1 mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
United Way-funded programs: One-to-One Mentoring Program
United Way partner since: 2005. Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) was founded in 1976
Tell us about the community members you serve: BBBS serves a targeted population of youth facing adversity. Each year, we serve approximately 1,400 youth ages 6-18 who come from single-parent households (66%), are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (84%), and/or have an incarcerated parent (13%). Approximately 15% of the children we serve are from Waukesha County.
What does success look like for BBBS? Big Brothers Big Sisters consistently delivers measurable youth outcomes to the children we serve. In 2018 we expect children in our mentoring program to achieve the following:
75% will maintain or improve education expectations. Big Brothers Big Sisters takes a youth-centered approach and individualizes our mentoring program by working with children, families, and mentors to develop Youth Outcomes Development Plans for each child. These plans incorporate education as a priority outcome, identify and assess each child’s unique needs, set realistic goals and outline measurable steps needed to achieve them, and guide case management.
70% will maintain or improve attitudes towards risky behavior. Big Brothers Big Sisters utilizes a prevention model to ensure youth in our mentoring program make healthy choices and avoid the behaviors that lead to negative outcomes, including tobacco, drug, and alcohol use; skipping school and breaking school rules; crime; violence toward others; and risky sexual behaviors.
70% will maintain or improve social and emotional skills, leading to higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships with friends, parents, and other adults in their lives.
How does United Way funding help you achieve your mission? United Way helps BBBS achieve our mission by providing funding to recruit, enroll, match and support approximately 130 mentoring matches. Our average “cost per match” is $1,500 annually. In 2017, United Way provided $196,000 of funding to BBBS.
How can a volunteer get involved? Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentoring program offers three one-to-one mentoring options that utilize our service delivery model. In each, volunteers make a minimum two year commitment to mentoring a child; engage with their mentee 3-4 times per month; and provide role modeling, friendship, and guidance to increase positive youth outcomes.
Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee and create a profile on United Way’s Volunteers United portal to be notified about upcoming BBBS volunteer opportunities.