BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS OF DANE COUNTY INC

COMMUNITY-BASED:THE CORE, TRADITIONAL PROGRAM OF BBBS INVOLVES AN ADULT MENTOR "BIG" MATCHED WITH A CHILD "LITTLE". THESE COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS INVOLVE ONE-ON-ONE OUTINGS AND ACTIVITIES, DOING THINGS THE BIG AND LITTLE ENJOY TOGETHER LIKE: TAKING A WALK IN THE PARK, GOING TO A MUSEUM, LISTENING TO MUSIC, OR HANGING OUT AND TALKING. SOME BIGS MEET WITH THEIR LITTLES ON THE WEEKENDS. OTHERS GET TOGETHER WITH THEIR LITTLES ON WEEKDAY EVENINGS. EACH MATCH IS UNIQUE AND DEVELOPS A SCHEDULE THAT WORKS FOR THEM. EACH MATCH IS SUPERVISED AND SUPPORTED BY AN AGENCY MATCH SUPPORT SPECIALIST. IN 2025, WE CREATED 151 NEW MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS AND SERVED 541 KIDS.MATCH SUPPORT - THE PROFESSIONAL MONITORING, SUPPORT AND CONTINUAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BIG, LITTLE, PARENT/GUARDIAN(S), AND SITE PARTNERS WHILE THE MATCH IS ACTIVE. MATCH SUPPORT STAFF GUIDE THE MATCH IN ACHIEVING POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR THE YOUTH, AND TRANSITION THE MATCH TO CLOSURE AND RE-ENGAGEMENT WHEN APPROPRIATE. 2025 RESULTED IN 576 MENTORS TO 543 KIDS. OUR BIGS SPENT 59,904 HOURS WITH THEIR LITTLE, RESULTING IN $2,084,060 INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR AVERAGE MATCH LENGTH TIME IS 39.1 MONTHS. WE CONDUCTED 207 VOLUNTEER INTERVIEWS WITH PROSPECTIVE BIGS.AGENCY-SPONSORED MATCH ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS - PLAN AND CONDUCT YOUTH-CENTERED ACTIVITIES THAT BOTH ENHANCE THE CONNECTION TO THE AGENCY AND STRENGTHEN MATCH RELATIONSHIPS. AGENCY-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES CAN RANGE FROM ONE-TIME EVENTS SUCH AS HOLIDAY PARTIES AND BACK-TO-SCHOOL PICNICS TO STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES THAT SPAN SEVERAL WEEKS OR MONTHS. WE HOSTED 37 MATCH ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS, FOSTERING COMMUNITY AND FRIENDSHIP AMONG OUR MATCHES.

ENROLLMENT:VOLUNTEER ENROLLMENT - POTENTIAL VOLUNTEERS COMPLETE AN ONLINE APPLICATION FORM, PROVIDING BASIC INFORMATION AND EXPRESSING THEIR INTEREST IN BECOMING A MENTOR. BBBS STAFF REVIEWS THE APPLICATION AND CONTACTS THE APPLICANT TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. APPLICANTS ATTEND A VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON INTERVIEW WITH BBBS STAFF TO DISCUSS THEIR MOTIVATIONS, INTERESTS, AND SUITABILITY FOR MENTORING. A THOROUGH BACKGROUND CHECK IS CONDUCTED, INCLUDING: CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK, FINGERPRINT CHECK (FOR FEDERAL GRANTS), AND DRIVING RECORD CHECK. VOLUNTEERS ATTEND PRE-MATCH TRAINING SESSIONS TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRAM, EXPECTATIONS, AND BEST PRACTICES FOR MENTORING. BBBS STAFF CAREFULLY ASSESSES THE VOLUNTEER'S INTERESTS, PERSONALITY, AND PREFERENCES TO FIND A SUITABLE MATCH WITH A CHILD. ONCE A POTENTIAL MATCH IS IDENTIFIED, THE VOLUNTEER'S INFORMATION IS SHARED WITH THE CHILD'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN FOR APPROVAL. A MEETING IS ARRANGED BETWEEN THE VOLUNTEER, THE CHILD, THE CHILD'S PARENT/GUARDIAN, AND A BBBS MATCH SUPPORT SPECIALIST. DURING THIS MEETING, AGENCY GROUND RULES ARE DISCUSSED, AND ANY REMAINING PAPERWORK IS COMPLETED.CHILD ENROLLMENT - PARENTS OR GUARDIANS INITIATE THE PROCESS BY CONTACTING BBBS AGENCY OR FILLING OUT AN ONLINE APPLICATION FORM. BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHILD AND FAMILY IS COLLECTED TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY. THE CHILD ENROLLMENT SPECIALISTS CONDUCTS AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PARENT/GUARDIAN AND THE CHILD. THIS INTERVIEW HELPS THE AGENCY UNDERSTAND THE CHILD'S NEEDS, INTERESTS, AND PERSONALITY TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATE MATCH. THE INTERVIEW TAKES PLACE AT THE FAMILY'S HOME. CHILD SAFETY TRAINING IS PROVIDED FOR BOTH PARENTS AND CHILDREN. AFTER THE INTERVIEW AND ASSESSMENT, THE CHILD IS PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. THE WAITING PERIOD CAN VARY DEPENDING ON THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE MENTORS. WHEN A POTENTIAL MENTOR IS IDENTIFIED, BBBS STAFF PRESENTS THE MATCH TO THE FAMILY. PARENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE INPUT ON THE PROPOSED MATCH. IF THE MATCH IS APPROVED, A MEETING IS ARRANGED BETWEEN THE CHILD, PARENT/GUARDIAN, THE MENTOR, AND A BBBS CASE MANAGER. THIS MEETING ALLOWS EVERYONE TO GET ACQUAINTED AND DISCUSS PROGRAM GUIDELINES.VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT - DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING TARGETED RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGNS TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC NEEDS. ATTENDING COMMUNITY FAIRS AND EVENTS ALIGNED WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. PARTNERING WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES TO RECRUIT STUDENT VOLUNTEERS. FORMING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, SPONSORS, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. UTILIZING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR RECRUITMENT, INCLUDING CREATING SHAREABLE CONTENT FOR VOLUNTEERS. DISTRIBUTING PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS TO TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS. IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE. HOSTING RECRUITMENT EVENTS, SUCH AS INFORMATION SESSIONS. PROVIDING PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS LIKE POSTERS AND FLYERS WITH QR CODES FOR EASY ACCESS TO INFORMATION.