Big Brothers Big Sisters of Carolina Youth Development Center

Description

Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of eight programs administered by Carolina Youth Development Center (CYDC) and its primary prevention program.

The goal of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program is to provide a one-to-one adult volunteer relationship for a child from a family that lacks the involved supportive participation of two parents. The children who are served by the program are boys and girls ages 6-16 years who reside in the tri-county area. These children come from single parent families or one in which one of the two parents is unable to be fully engaged in family life.

In an effort to prevent a child from needing more restrictive services (i.e. involvement with mental health professionals or the juvenile justice system) the child is provided with a volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister who agrees to meet with the child 3-4 times a month, preferably for one year. The volunteer serves as a friend, positive role model, and confidant for the child.

Children, youth, families, or volunteers are not excluded from BBBS services on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital status of parent.