Big Brother Big Sister program

• se-alum

  

  Has anyone participated in this program? I'm considering becoming a Big Brother. The only thing I'm worried about is having enough time, as I work full-time, and take full-time college courses online. I would want to be sure that I have enough time to put full effort into it. So I guess my question is, how much time a week/month is enough to ensure that the Little Brother gets the experience they deserve out of the connection??
• Gameover

  Se-alum,
  I'm currently a Big Brother here in Portage County. I'm a busy man myself and involved in a lot. I always felt that if I didn't hit the "hours" in a month that the kid wasn't benefitting. I have now been with my little for over a year now and there are some months where we see each other a lot and others not so much. His mom is very understanding in my time and life. If you spend a few hours with them, that is MORE than they are getting now. My little has gone from not able to talk to people, look at them or anything. He separated himself from his peers. Now he laughs, has a better relationship with his mother and sisters and has a lot of friends again. He's grown tremendously and I don't feel like I've done anything special per se. But it's been a great experience for both of us and especially him as he has no male influence in his life. It's shown me the basic needs of survival aren't taught in every house. If you have any time and just want to give back I HIGHLY recommend it. Big Brothers range from all ages, single/married, with kids or with out their own kids. It's been an awesome experience.
  
  As long as both parties understanding the time, it will all work out. They do a great job of pairing with someone that has similar interest. They want to see 12 hours a month, which doesn't seem like a lot and isn't but it can be in the back of your head when your busy. PM if you have any questions. Good Luck.
  
  Also, some great perks outside of helping them grow... they have a lot of free activities and people dontate tickets to the organization. I've taken my little brother to a lot of Indians games, Monday night Browns game and Cavs game all free of charge through the organization. Which they would have no other opportunity in going and it keeps you doing something big without spending a lot of money.
• thedynasty1998

  

  I've actually been thinking about joining this as well. That's some good information above. I didn't know if there was an age limit or what.
• Gameover

  The "Big" must be 18 and they do checks (which they should) and interview sessions. They do the same with the families (& Little) to get a feel on who they should be paired up with. I just saw that Cleveland and Portage County has so many "littles" waiting on the list and not enough volunteers. The "littles" range in all ages as well as I was shocked that there were high schoolers in the program. But it makes sense especially from broken, poverty homes. But there are also a lot of kids in the program that their parents just want a different role model in their life. They have a "normal" family with siblings. It's interesting. My only requirement was that the kid didn't have bad hygiene, that's one thing I can't tolerate.
  
  When they find a "Match" they tell you about him/her and then you decide if you want them as your little. The kid never knows until the day they meet you. It's very interesting and awesome organization.
• se-alum

  

  Great information Gameover. Thanks alot! I'm gonna fill out the online application tonight to get the process started!
• september63

  

  Wow!! Freehuddle just provided a community service? This sure is becoming serious business. J/K.........GL Se alum, you are doing a great thing.
• osu45804

  

  I've always wanted to do something like this as well... With only having a younger sister it kind of made it hard to do a lot of the same things lol....
• imex99

  

  I've been in the program for about a year... Spend a few hours a month at the min. And some months more....
  It's fun, we text and call when we're busy. With a newborn, I've been busy and him and his mother understand.
• gerb131

  

  I got denied due to my DUI in 02. I may try again in 11.
• UA5straightin2008

  

  i was a Big in high school, it was a good experience
• dwccrew

  

  UA5straightin2008 wrote: i was a Big in high school, it was a good experience

  One question, how do you "break it off" with your little? Seems that if they come from a broken home or a neglected background, this would also add to their rejection issues.
• Gameover

  dwc,
  I'm not 100% sure, but usually it's mutual and worked out with the organization. As kids mature and get older, the true need for the "Big" might not be there any more. They are usually paired with another Big. They want you to commit for a year, but understand job transfers, family and just basically life happens. It's not as negative as one might think. When you separate, they might also decide its time to separate as well. From what I've seen, there's only a handful of high schoolers in the program, only because they've been with it for a few years.
  
  It's truly amazing what only a few hours can do for kid a month in their confidence and mentality. 1 hour is more than they get now.
• WeAreNC

  Not a member. But I am bowling this weekend for the 2nd year in a row to raise money for the Big Brother / Big Sister program.
• jpake1

  

  Se-alum.. I worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters as a Match Support Specialist, and I generally asked that my Bigs spent one day a week for a couple hours with their Little. Any time you can spend with a kid will mean a lot to them. Just make sure you're consistant. I can't tell you how many times people signed up so it would look good on an application, spent a lot of time with the kids the first 2-3 weeks, then by month 3, they weren't even talking. It's not easy telling a kid, who doesn't have it good anyways, that the only person that seemed to be their friend, wants nothing to do with them now. If you've got any questions, just ask. It's a real easy process. You fill out an application. A background check will be done. If things go well, there will be an interview. After that, someone like me would look through the applications of the bigs and littles and create the best matchups. It's not a first come first serve thing. After that is done, someone would call you and give you very brief information about your future little and ask if you're interested. Then the same would be done with the parents. If everybody agrees, a match meeting would be set up. You come into the office and meet each other, go through some rules and paperwork, then be asked to take the Little out for a bit or even just drive them home. Then each month you'd have a mandatory check in for the first year. Someone like me would call and ask how things have been, when you meet, what do you do, and what you plan on doing next. These are very vital for the relationship. And like somebody else mentioned, you can even get some perks out of it. I contacted the Indians and Cavs and got free tickets for several games throughout the year. We'd also get college bball tickets from Cleveland St and stuff like that.
  
  I worked in Ravenna, so needless to say, 90% of the kids I saw didn't have it good. They usually have single mothers that are barely making it. They don't have much structure in their life. They don't even know what confidence is. I've worked a good amount of jobs, but I've never been more proud of my work than what I did at Big Brothers Big Sisters. Whether you work there or volunteer there, you're actually changing a kid's life. When is the last time most of us can say we did that with a complete stranger?
• jpake1

  

  dwccrew wrote:

  UA5straightin2008 wrote: i was a Big in high school, it was a good experience

  One question, how do you "break it off" with your little? Seems that if they come from a broken home or a neglected background, this would also add to their rejection issues.

  If you absolutely can't do it anymore, we'll understand. We try out best during the interviews to see if anything in the future (job promotion, moving, etc) may be on the horizon. But, you can't see everything so it happens sometimes. We get it, and your wish will be granted. But that is the ONLY way a match should be ended. If you think you're kid is weird and it's cramping your style, we'll suggests that you GTFO. I had a GROWN MAN tell me his kid was weird and that he doesn't do well with poor people. I told him exactly what I thought of him and now he's red-flagged and will never become a Big anywhere. So in other words, don't be an asshole and break it off ha. We try out best to NEVER end a match. If there are conflicts, we resolve them. If the words "can I get another little" comes out of your month on the phone, you probably will not be a Big... unless they absolutely need volunteers badly.