Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County’s mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationship that change their lives for the better, forever.
Sure, it’s about doing fun stuff together, but it’s also about achieving goals and helping children succeed in life.
Each time Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs a child with a role model, we start something incredible: a one-to-one relationship built on trust and friendship that can blossom into a future of unlimited potential. Thanks to the following studies conducted by independent research groups, we have the facts to prove it!
In a study funded by the Lilly Endowment, the Commonwealth Fund, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and an anonymous donor, 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:
According to the study, Big Brothers Big Sisters programs were found to “focus less on specific problems after they occur, and more on meeting youths’ most basic developmental needs” – our one-to-one matches are the driving force behind making an impact on children.
A Big Brothers Big Sisters’ match is carefully administered and held to the strictest standards. Agency staff strives for matches that are not only safe and well suited to each child’s needs, but also harmonious and built to last. The entire matching process, from the initial screening to the final pairing—and beyond—is made possible by corporate sponsors and individual donors.
Don’t just think of us as simply matchmakers. We provide ongoing support and supervision to the Big, the Little, and the Little’s family. We offer training and advice to help ensure that the match is working for everyone involved. It is this web of support that helps maximize the likelihood that a Big Brothers Big Sisters relationship will thrive.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County measures the impact of services for at-risk youth through a survey known as the Youth Outcomes Survey. This survey shows us that our mentoring programs result in proven, positive short-term and long-term outcomes for youth in three main areas: educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, and increased social and emotional well-being.
Educationally, youth in our mentoring programs have higher grades, better scholastic competence, and a greater desire to graduate from high school and attend a four-year college.
Socially, youth in our programs feel more accepted by their peers and more connected to their family. They are also more likely to say no to drugs, alcohol, skipping school, or getting into fights.
Emotionally, youth in our mentoring programs have greater feelings of self-worth, and therefore more hope and higher aspirations for the future.