Big Brothers Big Sisters has no stipulation on the children who enroll in our programs. Whether they come from a two parent household, single parent household, grandparents, etc. they are welcome to our program. Children who are struggling with academics, peer relations, socialization skills, or just need some one-on-one time could benefit from connecting with a mentor.
COMMUNITY BASED MENTORING
Our program matches children between the ages of 5 and above with caring adult role-models. Bigs and Littles meet in the community to do things they enjoy, 3-4 times a month for a minimum of one year. As the relationship grows and strengthens, it offers much more than emotional support to children in challenging circumstances. Mentorship also gives Littles the chance to enjoy new experiences, discover new interests, develop new skills and abilities, and gain a greater appreciation for their own potential. Bigs help Littles envision hopeful possibilities for their future and develop the confidence and sense of self-empowerment they need to pursue them.
All community based matches spend a minimum of 4 hours a month together doing anything that interests them. Each match is assigned a BBBS Case Manager who will reach out once a month to the Big, Little, and Parent/Guardian to help identify areas of growth, inform the match of events, and to be there for any questions that arise during the match.
Types of CB matches includes:
Our Matches Enjoy:
All community based matches spend a minimum of 4 hours a month together doing anything that interests them. Each match is assigned a BBBS Case Manager who will reach out once a month to the Big, Little, and Parent/Guardian to help identify areas of growth, inform the match of events, and to be there for any questions that arise during the match.
Types of CB matches includes:
- One-on-One Match – 1 Big to 1 Little
- Couples Match – 2 Bigs to 1 Little
- Family Match – 1 Family (Bigs) to 1 Little
Our Matches Enjoy:
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SITE BASED MENTORING
Southeast of Saline Program
Bigs: 9th-12th Grade Littles: 2nd-6th Grade
Bigs & Littles, who attend Southeast of Saline, meet once a week. During this time, Bigs can visit the Littles in the classroom, attend recess, and eat lunch with their Littles. SES Bigs do have a month meeting to participate in trainings, talk about Big/Little events, and allows Bigs to ask questions from their peers and BBBS Case Manager. BBBS Case Manager is assigned to each match to answer any questions and to help identify areas of growth in the Little.
Ell-Saline Program
Bigs: 9th-12th Grade Littles: 1st-6th Grade
Bigs & Littles, who attend Ell-Saline schools, meet twice a month for 1 hour each time. During there time together, Bigs help Littles with their school work, play games, and build that one-on-one connection. USD 307 does shuttle Bigs to and from the Elementary School for meetings. Each match is assigned a BBBS Case Manager to contact with any questions and also helps identify areas of growth for the Little.
Bigs: 9th-12th Grade Littles: 2nd-6th Grade
Bigs & Littles, who attend Southeast of Saline, meet once a week. During this time, Bigs can visit the Littles in the classroom, attend recess, and eat lunch with their Littles. SES Bigs do have a month meeting to participate in trainings, talk about Big/Little events, and allows Bigs to ask questions from their peers and BBBS Case Manager. BBBS Case Manager is assigned to each match to answer any questions and to help identify areas of growth in the Little.
Ell-Saline Program
Bigs: 9th-12th Grade Littles: 1st-6th Grade
Bigs & Littles, who attend Ell-Saline schools, meet twice a month for 1 hour each time. During there time together, Bigs help Littles with their school work, play games, and build that one-on-one connection. USD 307 does shuttle Bigs to and from the Elementary School for meetings. Each match is assigned a BBBS Case Manager to contact with any questions and also helps identify areas of growth for the Little.
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In Partnership with:
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Beyond School Walls
Beyond School Walls is a program aimed at developing the next generation of employees through one-to-one mentoring relationships. Beyond School Walls was launched in 2022 in partnership with Vortex and Salina Public Schools.
The program addresses the challenges of preparing youth for post-high school success. High school students from a local high school, spend time with their mentor (Big) onsite at the offices of a local business. The students have an opportunity to visit a professional workplace setting, and learn about different career opportunities, from financial literacy to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), while developing meaningful relationships with the employee “Big.”
Beyond School Walls is a program aimed at developing the next generation of employees through one-to-one mentoring relationships. Beyond School Walls was launched in 2022 in partnership with Vortex and Salina Public Schools.
The program addresses the challenges of preparing youth for post-high school success. High school students from a local high school, spend time with their mentor (Big) onsite at the offices of a local business. The students have an opportunity to visit a professional workplace setting, and learn about different career opportunities, from financial literacy to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), while developing meaningful relationships with the employee “Big.”
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In Partnership with:
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Corporate Bigs
Corporate Bigs is a program aimed to create impactful, positive friendships that help children build greater self-confidence and reach their potential, while engaging with a child in their school environment. The program launched in 2022 in partnership with Bennington State Bank and Salina Public Schools.
As a Corporate Big, Bennington State Bank employees (Big) are matched one-to-one to a child (Little) from a local elementary school and spend time together, once per week, at school. Throughout the school year, these Bigs and Littles will spend one-to-one time together during a day that best fits their schedule. It allows Bigs and Littles individualized time and attention on a consistent basis, with the venue being the child’s school.
Matches in the Corporate Bigs program eat lunch together, have fun at recess, assist with school work, or just catch up all while building a positive friendship.
Corporate Bigs is a program aimed to create impactful, positive friendships that help children build greater self-confidence and reach their potential, while engaging with a child in their school environment. The program launched in 2022 in partnership with Bennington State Bank and Salina Public Schools.
As a Corporate Big, Bennington State Bank employees (Big) are matched one-to-one to a child (Little) from a local elementary school and spend time together, once per week, at school. Throughout the school year, these Bigs and Littles will spend one-to-one time together during a day that best fits their schedule. It allows Bigs and Littles individualized time and attention on a consistent basis, with the venue being the child’s school.
Matches in the Corporate Bigs program eat lunch together, have fun at recess, assist with school work, or just catch up all while building a positive friendship.
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In Partnership with:
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BIGS IN BLUE
This program connects youth with law enforcement in our community. They build strong, trusting, long lasting relationships. These relationships help children develop into confident adults and build a stronger bond between law enforcement and the families they serve. Bigs can visit the Littles at school, bring them to BBBS activities, and do things in the community together.
REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A BIG
Requirements: Bigs must be 18+ with a valid drivers license, be able to commit a minimum of 4 hours a month to there Little, and stay with their Little for a minimum of 1 year, but most tend to last for years.
To BECOME A BIG it starts with submitting an Inquiry/Application. From there the BBBS Enrollment Specialists will be in contact with you to set up an orientation/interview. From there they run background checks and calls your references. Once accepted to become a Big, it is time to pick a Little. Our team gets to know you and your interests and finds the best possible match for you. Once a Big and Little are assigned, we host a Match Meeting where Big, Little, and Parent/Guardian are introduced. From there it is completely up to the Match to decide what activities they would like to do together.
Requirements For Being A Big:
To be a Big, you must be 18 years of age or older with a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, access to reliable transportation and be willing to commit to a minimum one year volunteer experience.
Requirements For Being A Big:
To be a Big, you must be 18 years of age or older with a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, access to reliable transportation and be willing to commit to a minimum one year volunteer experience.
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REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLLING YOUR LITTLE
There are no requirements and no cost to enroll you child in any of our programs.
To ENROLL YOUR LITTLE you start with submitting an Inquiry/Application. From there the BBBS Enrollment Specialists will be in contact with you to set up an interview with you (parent/guardian) and the child. Once the interview is completed, the child will be placed on our wait list, where they wait for the perfect Big to come along. While on the wait list, the Littles are more than welcome to come to all of our BBBS events with a parent/guardian.
