BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN INC

IN 2024, BBBS SERVED 460 TOTAL YOUTH. 229 YOUTH WERE SERVED IN COMMUNITY BASED MENTORING 231 YOUTH WERE SERVED IN SITE BASED MENTORING ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING PROGRAMS ARE COMPRISED OF COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING OR SITE-BASED MENTORING DETAILED BELOW. COMMUNITY BASED MENTORING TOGETHER, BIGS AND LITTLES EXPLORE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND SHARE FUN ACTIVITIES THEY BOTH ENJOY. BBBS STAFF WORKS WITH BIGS, LITTLES, AND LITTLES FAMILIES TO ENCOURAGE A CONTINUOUS RELATIONSHIP AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN FUN AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SPORTS BUDDIES A COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORSHIP PROGRAM THAT MATCHES BIGS AND LITTLES WHO HAVE A SHARED INTEREST IN SPORTS AND FITNESS OR JUST LIKE BEING ACTIVE. MATCHES SPEND TIME TOGETHER ENGAGING IN FUN AND POSITIVE SPORTS ACTIVITIES AND ONCE A MONTH THEY ATTEND A SPORTS BUDDIES EVENT FACILITATED BY BBBS STAFF. BIG FUTURES-WHEN LITTLES ENTER HIGH SCHOOL, BBBSECW CONTINUES TO SUPPORT, COACH AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR MATCHES AS THEY WORK TOWARD GRADUATION. MATCHES PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS, WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO EMPOWER YOUTH TO MAKE POSITIVE CHOICES TOWARDS POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, ENLISTMENT, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. SITE-BASED MENTORING SIMILAR TO COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING BUT SITE-BASED MENTORING TAKES PLACE AT A DESIGNATED FACILITIES SOMETIMES A SCHOOL, COMMUNITY CENTER OR EVEN A LOCAL BUSINESS. OUR FACILITATED PROGRAMS ARE LED BY A BBBS STAFF MEMBER AND INCLUDES TIME FOR RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, A STRUCTURED GROUP ACTIVITY AND FREE TIME TO SHARE STORIES AND INTERESTS TOGETHER. BBBS OFFERS FOUR SITE-BASED MENTORING PROGRAMS: BIGS IN SCHOOL BIGS VISIT THEIR LITTLES AT SCHOOL, EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER OR DURING LUNCH/RECESS. MATCHES SPEND TIME WORKING ON HOMEWORK, READING, OR PLAYING GAMES. THEY MEET DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR AND CONNECT OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS. HIGH SCHOOL BIGS TAKING PLACE AT SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL BIGS MATCHES ELEMENTARY OR MIDDLE SCHOOL AGED LITTLES WITH HIGH SCHOOL BIGS FROM THE SAME SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS PROGRAM TAKES PLACE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AND IS FACILITATED BY A BBBS STAFF PERSON. WORKPLACE MENTORING THIS PROGRAM PAIRS SPECIFIC WORKPLACES WITH AREA SCHOOLS. LITTLES ARE TRANSPORTED FROM THEIR SCHOOL TO THE WORKPLACE, AFTER SCHOOL, TWICE PER MONTH TO MEET WITH THEIR MENTOR WHO IS AN EMPLOYEE AT THE WORKPLACE. WORKPLACE MENTORING IS FACILITATED BY A BBBS STAFF PERSON AND ENABLES STUDENTS TO SEE A FUTURE BEYOND SCHOOL. BIG FUTURES AT THE CLUB -BIGS MEET THEIR LITTLE AT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF OSHKOSH AFTERSCHOOL. MATCHES MAY WORK ON HOMEWORK, PARTICIPATE IN CLUB ACTIVITIES, OR SIMPLY HANGOUT AND PLAY POOL, SHOOTS HOOPS, ETC. THEY MEET DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR AND CONNECT OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS. BIGS WITH BADGES THE BIGS WITH BADGES PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. POLICE OFFICERS (BIGS) SPEND ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING TIME WITH A LITTLE AT THEIR SCHOOL TWICE A MONTH AND DO A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AROUND SENSE OF COMMUNITY, BELONGING AND SELF- CONFIDENCE, PEACEFUL PROBLEM SOLVING AND GOOD DECISION MAKING. THESE RELATIONSHIPS HELP CHILDREN DEVELOP INTO CONFIDENT ADULTS AND HELP BUILD STRONGER BONDS BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE.