Our Programs

Community-Based Mentoring

Community-Based Mentoring is what most people think of when they hear about Big Brothers Big Sisters. Volunteers (“Bigs”) and enrolled children (“Littles”) decide what to do on their own. Bigs pick up their Little from his or her home for each outing, typically a couple of times a month for a couple of hours. They talk, share experiences, and explore new interests.

Bigs, Littles, and their families are professionally supported by Big Brothers Big Sisters. Each match is assigned a Match Support Specialist who periodically checks in with all members of the match to make sure the match is going well. The Specialist asks and answers questions, documenting the progression of the match.

Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and have access to reliable transporation. Children in this program must be between the ages of 6 and 15.

Special Programs

Amachi Texas & Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCOP): These programs focus on a particular demographic of at-risk child – those who have parents or relatives incarcerated or involved with the judcial system. Research suggests as many as 7 out of every 10 children in America with a parent in prison will become incarcerated themselves at some point in their lives. Click here for more about our impact on the children of prisoners.

School-Based Mentoring

School-Based Mentoring is for volunteers who want a more structured mentoring experience. Bigs are matched with a Little at a school nearby their home or workplace. They meet with their Littles at the same time and day each week for one hour.

Matches use the school’s resources – meeting in the library to play goard games, study, or use computers; heading outside to play on the playground. School-Based Mentors are not tutors; they are friends first. Friends sometimes help friends with schoolwork, but it is not the sole focus of this mentoring experience.

School-Based Mentoring has been embraced by local companies, which sometimes give their employees time off to mentor at a nearby school during the workday.

Student mentors

High school and college students also participate in School-Based Mentoring. BBBS partners with National Honors Societies, Peer Assisted Learning groups, student councils, fraternitites, and other school organizations to match members with children from a particular nearby school. In this way, School-Based Mentoring is improving the lives of two young people, giving students the rewarding experience of community involvement that will carry through to their professional lives.

School-Based Mentoring
School-Based Mentoring is for volunteers who want a more structured mentoring experience. Bigs are matched with a Little at a school nearby their home or workplace. They meet with their Littles at the same time and day each week for one hour.
Matches use the school’s resources – meeting in the library to play goard games, study, or use computers; heading outside to play on the playground. School-Based Mentors are not tutors; they are friends first. Friends sometimes help friends with schoolwork, but it is not the sole focus of this mentoring experience.
School-Based Mentoring has been embraced by local companies, which sometimes give their employees time off to mentor at a nearby school during the workday.
Student mentors
High school and college students also participate in School-Based Mentoring. BBBS partners with National Honors Societies, Peer Assisted Learning groups, student councils, fraternitites, and other school organizations to match members with children from a particular nearby school. In this way, School-Based Mentoring is improving the lives of two young people, giving students the rewarding experience of community involvement that will carry through to their professional lives.