Big Brother and Big Sister of Metro Atlanta
1382 Peachtree Street
NE Atlanta, Georgia 30309 (404) 601-7000
Hours of Operation
8:30am - 8:30pm Monday - Friday; Saturday 9am - 5pm; Closed Sunday.
http://www.bbbsatl.org/
A mentoring program that matches an adult volunteer, known as a Big Brother or Big Sister, to a child, known as a Little Brother or Little Sister, with the expectation that a caring and supportive relationship will develop. The most important component of the intervention is the match between volunteer and child. Equally important, however, is the support of that match by the ongoing supervision and monitoring of the relationship by a professional staff member. The professional staff member selects, matches, monitors, and closes the relationship with the volunteer and child, and communicates with the volunteer, parent/guardian, and child throughout the relationship.
The generalized activity of the relationship between volunteer and child is related to the goals that were set initially when the match was established. The foremost goal is to develop a relationship—one that is mutually satisfying, where both parties come together freely on a regular basis. More specific goals might relate to school attendance, academic performance, relationships with other children and siblings, general hygiene, learning new skills, or developing a hobby. The goals are developed into an individualized plan, which is updated by the BBBSA staff member as progress is made and circumstances change over time.
BBBSA typically targets youth aged 6 to 18 years. The local BBBSA agency develops its own criteria that define the type of child who is appropriate to be matched with a volunteer. Although many children come from single-parent households, most agencies serve children from dual-parent households when there is some type of stress in the family, such as illness, poverty, or other circumstances that make it difficult for both parents to provide ongoing nurturing and support for the child.
1382 Peachtree Street
NE Atlanta, Georgia 30309 (404) 601-7000
Hours of Operation
8:30am - 8:30pm Monday - Friday; Saturday 9am - 5pm; Closed Sunday.
http://www.bbbsatl.org/
A mentoring program that matches an adult volunteer, known as a Big Brother or Big Sister, to a child, known as a Little Brother or Little Sister, with the expectation that a caring and supportive relationship will develop. The most important component of the intervention is the match between volunteer and child. Equally important, however, is the support of that match by the ongoing supervision and monitoring of the relationship by a professional staff member. The professional staff member selects, matches, monitors, and closes the relationship with the volunteer and child, and communicates with the volunteer, parent/guardian, and child throughout the relationship.
The generalized activity of the relationship between volunteer and child is related to the goals that were set initially when the match was established. The foremost goal is to develop a relationship—one that is mutually satisfying, where both parties come together freely on a regular basis. More specific goals might relate to school attendance, academic performance, relationships with other children and siblings, general hygiene, learning new skills, or developing a hobby. The goals are developed into an individualized plan, which is updated by the BBBSA staff member as progress is made and circumstances change over time.
BBBSA typically targets youth aged 6 to 18 years. The local BBBSA agency develops its own criteria that define the type of child who is appropriate to be matched with a volunteer. Although many children come from single-parent households, most agencies serve children from dual-parent households when there is some type of stress in the family, such as illness, poverty, or other circumstances that make it difficult for both parents to provide ongoing nurturing and support for the child.