Big Brother Big Sisters of Southwest Washington

Mission Statement

The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships, changing their lives for the better, forever. Our vision is that all children achieve success in life. With the help and support of a caring, trusted mentor children and youth facing adversity receive academic support, social and emotional competence and the ability to interact positively with others. This in turn results in better relationship with their peers, family and other adults; improved self-confidence; academic and school success; and avoidance of risky, unhealthy and delinquent behaviors.

Big Brothers Big Sisters offers several programs to meet the communities we serve:

COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING: Mentors (Bigs) are matched with children/youth (Littles) based on shared interests and individual child's needs. Bigs and Littles meet on evenings and weekends to participate in activities such as sharing a meal together, attending local museums, theaters and sporting events. During match meetings, filled with conversation and shared activities, Big and Littles develop a relationship that helps youth manage their everyday challenges of growing up.

SMART MENTORING is a school and after-school based program. Big meet weekly with their Littles on a school campus or after-school site for 45 - 90 minutes. Each weekly match meeting is spent on homework help/reading, playing board games or participating in a craft activity together. Each mentoring relationship promotes a positive school experience and social skill development for each child.

MILITARY CONNECTIONS focuses on military-connected children. Active-duty families move on the average every 2-3 years. Such frequent transitions can be disruptive to a child's education and social development as well as cause significant stress on the family. This program focuses on building resilience in each child, increasing their ability to cope with the stress of parental deployment and frequent moves. Specially trained mentors (Bigs) meet with their military connected Little weekly for 60 - 90 minutes during school hours or after-school times. Activities include sharing the lunch meal together, homework help, playing board games, crafts and participating in outdoor recess activities.