Did You Know?

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berks County, PA

Did You Know?

DID YOU KNOW?! The US Department of Juvenile Justice (OJJDP) has listed the Big Brothers Big Sisters program service model as an "EXEMPLARY" program! The OJJDP Models Program Guide gives an "Exemplary" rating for BBBS mentoring programs in all geographic areas...rural, suburban, and urban settings. In awarding the rating, the OJJDP said the BBBS program service model has been successful in dealing with such behaviors as academic programs, aggression/violence, drug use, delinquency, and family functioning.

LOCAL PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS:

From 1995 to present...Little Brothers and Sisters remaining with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berks County for over one year exhibited some positive results:

99% high school graduation rate
99% academic grade level advancement
Less than a 5% teenage pregnancy rate
Reduced school absenteeism/truancy rates.

In addition, COUL -- a program created here in Berks County and now offered to a number of BBBS agencies throughout the country -- received national recognition for its creation and development.

INDEPENDENT NATIONAL STUDY:

According to an independent survey released in November 1995 (and re-released in 2000) from Public/Private Ventures (P/PV), Little Brothers and Little Sisters who met with their Bigs regularly for about a year were:

46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs
27% less likely to start drinking (alcohol)
52% less likely to skip a day of school
More trusting of their parents/guardians and less likely to lie to them.

The study went on to say that "other programs providing similar youth with One-To-One adult relationships supported by the kind of thorough screening of volunteers, careful matching, and extensive supervision required by BBBSA can expect to produce similar impacts. In mentoring programs without this infrastructure, we have found that relationships evaporate too soon for effects to be possible."

DID YOU also KNOW?

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berks County, PA, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1968 to provide FREE mentoring services to at-risk youth across Berks County, PA.
Our focus in Berks County is providing mentoring services for children form single-parent households lacking a positive role model. We are NOT a counseling or residential care facility.
Quality services and the safety & welfare of our Little Brothers and Little Sisters is our #1 priority!
All of our program services are FREE!!!
Children served range in age from 8 through 19 (applications for new Littles taken up to and including age 15), and represent each & every corner of Berks County.
The volunteer application process is thorough but not arduous, and includes very informative & fun training sessions. You can mentor for as little as 12 hours a year to as much as 8 to 10 hours per month or more.
Approximately 35-40% of our annual budget is underwritten by the United Way of Berks County -- while the balance is covered by grant-writing and internal fundraising events such as our annual Bowl For Kids' Sake and Golf Invitational events.

Also note: we offer an emergency beeper system for our Bigs and Littles 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year from 12 noon to 10:00 pm.

Let us know if there are any events or updates you would like to share with fellow members.