48 Washington Street, Suite 16 Camden, ME 04843 Phone: 236-BBBS Fax: 236-2292
[email protected] www.bbbsmidmaine.org
What we do… Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine (BBBSMM) changes the lives of 700 youth (annually) facing adversity in Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot, Somerset and Waldo Counties for the better, forever by providing strong and enduring, professionally supported 1-to-1 mentoring relationships. BBBSMM partners with parents, schools, volunteers and organizations, so children in our programs have higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships, avoid risky behaviors and achieve greater educational success. We provide a wide variety of mentoring opportunities that pair children, ages 5-14 (Littles), with role models (Bigs) in one-to-one relationships. Professional Match Support Our experienced and trained professional staff communicate at least monthly with each match to ensure healthy relationship development and child safety. In School-Based Mentoring, screened, trained coordinators also attend weekly match meetings, providing valuable insight and support to matches and the BBBSMM staff. One-to-One Relationships We’ve all had that special someone in our lives besides a parent that made a difference. They were there for us on a consistent basis. Together we learned new things, laughed a lot and received support when we needed it most. This one-to-one attention is essential in forming the strong bond which changes lives. Screened, Trained and Matched ALL program participants are screened and trained. Our comprehensive process, which includes background checks and in-person interviews, helps ensure child safety and quality relationships. Our orientation and ongoing professional match support help everyone navigate the relationship as it grows and strengthens. Matches have a strong foundation for success because they are based on personalities, geography, interests and preferences.
How we do it… We offer two types of mentoring programs: School-Based and Community-Based, and we currently partner with over 30 schools across 7 Maine counties to offer our services at no cost to participants. Community-Based Mentoring Programs An adult, 18 and older, meets weekly with a child for 2-5 hours. The relationship grows as they share time doing activities they both enjoy such as shooting hoops, playing board games, sharing a pizza, or taking a walk in the park. School-Based Mentoring Programs A high school or college Big meets weekly for about an hour with a Little at their school. They spend time building their friendship by creating arts and crafts, sharing a healthy snack, playing sports, reading books and enjoying board games. Diversified Funding 61% of our annual revenue is raised from special events such as Bowl For Kids’ Sake and Golf Fore Kids’ Sake. The remaining 39% of funding comes from grants, United Way contributions and Individual/Corporate giving.
Measurable Outcomes… Nationally, Little Brothers and Sisters are 47% less likely to use drugs, 27% less likely to use alcohol and 52% skip school less. Locally, youth in our programs experienced a 93% increase in self-confidence, 89% increase in positive attitude towards school and 87% increase in ability to express feelings. High-school and adult Bigs really benefit, too. By serving as a mentor to a younger child, highschool Bigs learn valuable life skills, such as patience, empathy, compassion, humor, love, acceptance, persistence, commitment and leadership. 47% had improved interpersonal skills, 34% were more responsible and organized and 35% improved their leadership abilities.
Androscoggin County Office: Lewiston/Auburn Kennebec County Office: 2351 North Belfast Ave, Augusta Knox County Office: 48 Washington St. Suite 16, Camden Penobscot County Office: 890 Hammond St., Bangor
