BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL ARIZONA

SINCE 1955, BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL ARIZONA (BBBS) HAS PROVIDED A FREE AND UNIQUE SERVICE TO FAMILIES IN MARICOPA COUNTY BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONALLY SUPPORTED, ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING. THE AGENCY'S SERVICE AREA EXPANDED TO GILA COUNTY IN 2001 AND TO PINAL COUNTY IN 2005. BBBS OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A CHILD TO DEVELOP A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH A SCREENED AND TRAINED MENTOR, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING WRAPAROUND REFERRAL SERVICES TO THEIR FAMILIES. AS A PRIMARY PREVENTION SERVICE, ANY CHILD AGE 6-15 IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. A MAJORITY OF THE CHILDREN SERVED ARE FROM SINGLE PARENT, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. EACH CHILDMENTOR PAIRING PARTICIPATES IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS READING, HIKING, CRAFTS, SPORTS, AND ATTENDING SPECIAL AGENCY EVENTS. PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH ARE EITHER COMMUNITY- BASED OR SITE-BASED. IN THE COMMUNITYBASED PROGRAM, VOLUNTEERS PICK UP THE CHILD AT THEIR HOME AND PARTICIPATE IN FUN ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. IN THE SITE-BASED PROGRAM, THE ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING OCCURS IN A GROUP SETTING AT A SPECIFIC LOCATION, EITHER AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, OR A WORKPLACE. RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT AFTER 18 MONTHS OF SPENDING TIME WITH THEIR BIGS, THE LITTLE BROTHERS AND LITTLE SISTERS, COMPARED TO THOSE CHILDREN NOT IN OUR PROGRAM, WERE: 46% - LESS LIKELY TO BEGIN USING ILLEGAL DRUGS, 52%- LESS LIKELY TO SKIP SCHOOL, AND 33%- LESS LIKELY TO HIT SOMEONE. THEY ALSO FOUND THAT THE LITTLES WERE MORE CONFIDENT OF THEIR PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOLWORK AND GETTING ALONG BETTER WITH THEIR FAMILIES. OUR ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO MEETING THE POST-PANDEMIC NEEDS OF OUR YOUTH BY PROVIDING INCREASED WRAPAROUND SERVICE REFERRALS AND TRAININGS TO PARENTS, YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS EDUCATION, AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT. IN RECENT YEARS THROUGH PARTNERING WITH OTHER YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR SERVICE TO SPECIALIZED VULNERABLE POPULATIONS INCLUDING YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, YOUTH IN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, AND YOUTH AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. MENTORSHIP HELPS YOUTH THRIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, MAKING IT STRONGER FOR ALL.