Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County

Program Description

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County matches adult volunteers with children who need an extra special friend in their lives. Under careful and ongoing supervision by program staff, a volunteer is paired with a child whose interests and temperament are likely to make a good match. Together, every week, they spend time tossing a ball, baking cookies, going for walks, or just "hanging out".

Volunteer big brothers and sisters offer supportive and dependable friendships, helping each child develop confidence and self-esteem. Our adult volunteers enrich their own lives while enhancing the growth of their young companions.

The little brothers and sisters are children who need some extra attention. Positive role models can help them learn to express themselves, make healthy personal choices and have fun. Little brothers and sisters tend to perform better in school, make new friends and generally feel better about themselves.

A recent study conducted for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America by Public/Private Ventures, an independent research company, found that "littles" who met regularly with their "bigs" for about a year, compared with their peers, were:

46% less likely to start using drugs (70% less likely among minority "littles")
27 % less likely to start drinking
52% less likely to skip a day of school
37% less likely to skip class
33% less likely to hit someone
more likely to make slightly higher grades
more likely to trust their parents
less likely to lie to their parents.

The program provides one-to-one mentoring services to some of the most at-risk children throughout Hampshire County. In addition to our regular services, we have several special components:

an Amherst Diversion Program, working with teens and preteens who are referred by the Probation Department;
a special partnership with the Jackson Street School in Northampton which was initially funded by a 3 year federal grant from the office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention;
a site-based mentoring program at the Williston Northampton school in Easthampton where high school students are big brothers and sisters to local Easthampton children;
a member of the Safe Schools Healthy Students collaboration, which is a partnership with five school districts in the county where we provide matches for referred children.

In FY '03. the program was staffed by a full-time Program Director, a full-time Administrative Manager, a full time volunteer recruiter/development coordinator, two part-time case managers, one full-time case manager and several work/study students. The program served 176 children, making 160 matches and serving young people ranging from 6 to 16 years of age. Approximately 100 young people throughout Hampshire County remain on the waiting list. All policies and practices of the program are described in detail in the Casework Manual, which is available in the Program office for anyone who would like to learn more about the day-to-day activities of the Program.

Services to clients are strengthened by case managers networking with other human service agencies in the County. The program is an active member of the Amherst Human Services Network, Amherst Chamber of Commerce, Council of Social Agencies of Hampshire County, Amherst Drug Free Community Partnership, and the University of Massachusetts Community Service Learning Office. The participation of the program in these coalitions broadens our understanding of the needs of the community we serve as well as enhances our fund raising and recruitment efforts.

This year (FY 2003) the Program budget was close to $340,000, most of which was allocated for personnel. $179,000 of this sum came from contracts and grants. About $150,000 came from fund raising, with about $80,000 of that coming from Board-assisted events, including a bowl-a-thon and two craft fairs.

The program's goals continue to be to provide high quality mentoring services and maintain the present case capacity achieved through recent growth initiatives, even after expansion grants expire.