Get a Big

As a parent, you recognize the potential of your child better than anyone. By giving your child the opportunity to be a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters, you’re starting them down a path to an even brighter, more promising future.

Could your little one use a BIG?

Is your child at least 6 years old?
Is your child interested in having a mentor?
Do you live in Johnson County or West Branch and will you be here for at least one year?
Will you, the parent or guardian, partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters staff and a mentor so that the mentoring relationship can be as strong, safe, and successful as possible?
If you answered "YES" to all of these questions, read on!

Big Brothers Big Sisters makes child safety our priority. We have zero tolerance for abuse or exploitation of any kind. BBBS has designed our child protection systems in collaboration with experts including the Centers for Disease Control, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the Nonprofit Risk-Management Center.

To ensure a safe and successful mentoring relationship, a BBBS match requires a partnership between the agency and your family. Enrolling your child means you agree to:

1. Regular phone or in-person contact with the BBBS Mentoring Specialist for the match duration; every 1-3 months, depending on the program.

2. Support your child in communicating with the Mentoring Specialist. Help them return phone calls if a message is left.

3. Talk to your child regularly about his/her activities with their “Big”.

4. Contact your Mentoring Specialist when concerns arise, contact information changes, or to share successes.

Families as Partners

When it comes to the future of our children and the well-being of our communities, we’re all in this together. So it should come as no surprise that we need the parents and guardians of Littles to be involved every step of the way, starting with the initial match.

Not only will you provide information about your child’s strengths and needs, but you’ll also approve the selection of the Big Brother or Big Sister. Once the match is made, you remain closely involved in many ways, including:

Approving activities and outings for your child and their Big
Asking your child questions about those outings, and sharing what you learn with the agency staff
Reporting your child’s progress and milestones to the agency on a regular basis (Big Brothers Big Sisters will contact you, but we welcome your feedback any time)
Participating in training on child safety offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters staff, and communicating with your child about the training he or she receives.

Child Safety

Making the best possible match between Little and Big is critical to the growth and development of a child. But before we begin the matching process, we start by thoroughly screening potential Bigs.

Big Brothers Big Sisters National Standards of Excellence require each volunteer to complete an extensive screening process that includes:

Completion of a formal application
Background and reference checks
An in-person interview
An orientation and training process that outlines the individualized needs of your child and provides information and resources on how to encourage your child’s development

BBBS also provides child safety instruction to you and your child, and we welcome your questions and feedback. Starting in spring of 2023, parents/guardians are required to take the online training “Your Child’s Personal Safety” before their child can be matched with a Big. Throughout the life of the match, our professional staff will be in ongoing communication with you, your child, and your child’s Big. It’s the best way to build a strong relationship that will have the greatest impact on your child’s future success.

Enroll Your Child

Beginning April 15, 2019, we are unable to accept applications for youth aged 15 years and older. We are very sorry for any disappointment this may cause.

If you have unmet needs, please see this List of local Family & Youth Services.

Additional resources can be found at the Johnson County Social Services’ Resource Directory.

And/or feel free to call and speak with a BBBS staff person who may be able to direct you to helpful resources, at 319-242-3059.