Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County has served the community for over fort-four years as a private, non-profit organization committed to making a positive difference in the lives of children and youth, primarily through a professionally supported One-to-One relationship with a caring adult and to assist them in achieving the highest potential as they grow to become responsible men and women. The Big Brothers Big Sisters approach of matching at-risk youth to unrelated adult mentors and providing professional services to guide and support the relationship has been found, through internal and external studies and more than ninety years of national experience, to prevent significant social, behavioral and emotional problems and educational failure. In Bucks County, service is provided without fee to moderate and high at-risk children and teens, ages 4-15, referred by Bucks County Children and Youth, Juvenile Court, schools, and social service agencies. Over the years eligibility criteria has been increased to target service to youth at greater risk, and special programs have been established in response to increasing juvenile delinquency, teen age pregnancy, and the greater numbers of youth identified in need of adult support and guidance. Programs include:*Traditional Matching Program: The traditional community-based match program in which referred youth identified at-risk are matched to adult volunteers who serve as Big Brothers and Sisters. The program includes professional guidance, support, training, social and community service activities for matched "Bigs and Littles". *School-Based Mentoring: School-based mentoring programs target students who are deemed at risk of academic failure, social difficulty or failure and in need of a positive adult role model. Students are matched One-to-One with adult volunteers who serve as a mentor to extend positive experiences, help students learn basic skills, and make responsible choices concerning their future roles as contributing members of our society. *Bridge Program: This community-based program targets children between the ages of 4-15 who have a parent or close family member in prison. Mentors meet with their Little once a week to build a trusting realtionship that has been proven to reduce the risk factors associated with having an incarcerated parent/family member. Options/Alternatives: This program is a direct counseling and guidance service to youth referred from the court system with a history of law breaking behavior. Youth meet on a One-to-One basis with a professional staff member who serves as guide, mentor and advocate.