Frequently Asked Questions About the Community-Based Program

How will I be matched with a child?

After you submit an application, we will invite you in for a personal interview. The enrollment and interview process helps us get to know your interests and preferences so that we can find a suitable child for you. It will also help you learn about us and the program expectations. We take into account personality, likes, dislikes, age preferences, background and location when matching you with a child. The final decision, however, is yours.

Do I have the opportunity to meet the child before being matched?

In short, no. We do not want the child to feel rejected, as he or she frequently might have been in the past. We do, however, provide you with in-depth information about the child’s family, neighborhood, school performance, and interests in hopes that you will be able to make a good decision based on this knowledge.

How often should I get together with the child?

There is no required amount of visits, although we do ask you visit with the child at least once per month. During the weeks that you are not visiting each other, we expect you to maintain contact with each other, either through phone calls, emails or letters. Spending about four hours a month with the child is usually enough time to establish a good friendship. It is the quality of the relationship you establish with a youngster, not the number of hours that you visit with each other, that counts the most.

What kind of support can I expect from Big Brothers Big Sisters once I get matched?

The staff of Big Brothers Big Sisters provides ongoing case management and is available at all times to help the volunteer improve or strengthen the relationship with his or her Little Brother or Little Sister. Anytime you are unsure about what to do or how to handle a situation, you will have a Match Support Specialist available to help. You’ll receive guidance on handling possible difficult situations and feedback on how you are making a difference in the child’s life. You will be expected to keep in touch with the staff of Big Brothers Big Sisters on a consistent basis to let us know how the match is going and to tell us what progress has been made in supporting the child’s needs.

If despite our intervention the relationship is not satisfactory, the match can be terminated. Based on what we both learned, we might be able to re-match you.

Will I incur expenses as a Big Brother or Big Sister?

We discourage you from spending a lot of money on your outings. The goal of the relationship is friendship, not buying the child things or taking him or her to expensive places/events. You should focus your time on getting to know each other and enjoying each other’s company. Big Brothers Big Sisters can offer you many suggestions of free or inexpensive activities you can do with your Little Brother or Little Sister.

What do I do at visits?

We ask that you do things that the two of you decide together would be fun. This might be going to a museum, playing ball in a park, trying out a new recipe together, learning a magic trick, celebrating each other’s half birthdays, putting together a scrapbook, visiting a library, reading a comic book together, playing a board game, or taking a ride in the car with the radio on while talking about music. You select activities that give each of you a chance to learn more about one another. Again, we will provide you with a list of suggested activities. Most important: have FUN!

How is the parent or guardian of my Little Brother or Little Sister involved?

The child’s parent or guardian has a large responsibility, the most important of which is to be home at the time you pick up and drop off the child. The parent is expected to be in touch with the staff of Big Brothers Big Sisters to keep us up to date on the progress of the match and on improvements in the child’s life as a result of the new relationship.

Can family members, either mine or my Little Brother’s or Little Sister’s, join us at our outings?

In the beginning, it is important for the child and you to get to know each other. This can happen best on a one-to-one basis. Keep in mind that if you’re spending lots of time with others, the child may begin to feel jealous or neglected. Remember that the main focus is the friendship YOU have with the child. Eventually, you may feel that it is valuable for your Little Brother or Little Sister to get to know the people who are important to you in your life. As to the child’s family being involved, the parent is involved by giving feedback to Big Brothers Big Sisters; the child’s siblings are only involved if the volunteer decides to invite them to join the activity.

Does Big Brothers Big Sisters sponsor any activities or have free tickets for community events?

Yes, Big Brothers Big Sisters sponsors four or five free parties per year for the matches and informs you of free tickets to sporting and community events (available on a first-come first-served basis). Additionally, Big Brothers Big Sisters sponsors events for volunteers and for community members that provide the Big Brothers and the Big Sisters opportunities to get to know each other and to share experiences.