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Duke and Timothy were matched September 17, 2002 when Timothy was eight years old.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri has adopted a new mission, vision, and accountability statement in 2012. The VISION of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri is that all children achieve success in life. The MISSION is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. We partner with parents/guardians, volunteers, and others in the community and hold ourselves ACCOUNTABLE for each child in our program achieving
Higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships;
Avoidance of risky behaviors; and
Educational success.
These new statements represent a sharpening of focus of our vision and mission statements. In adopting the new vision and mission statements, the Board makes it clear that we will focus on those children who need our services the most, those children for whom mentoring is effective prevention and intervention strategy. The accountablility statement demonstrates that we have clear outcome goals to achieve for the agency, our volunteers, and community members. And in doing so, we must continue to measure the success of our organization, and focuses our work on outcomes and impact.
OUR FOCUS The key principles for the strategic plan require that the agency’s work are child/client centered, fundable and sustainable, results-oriented and evidence-based/driven, and serving young people most in need for whom mentoring is an effective prevention and intervention strategy. In 2011 our three school districts reported growing numbers of our children and youth are on free/reduced lunches indicating some level of poverty. Columbia reports 43%; Mexico reports 52.9% and Moberly 57%. The percentage of our youth come from homes facing financial hardship: 93% of the young people we serve come from families with low or extremely low incomes. Being low income doesn’t mean you will automatically be considered in the “achievement gap”, falling behind grade level expectations, nor does being wealthy guarantees that a youth will graduate from high school. But statistics reveal that the rates of children on free or reduced lunches in the school is a good indicator of the number of children who also are falling behind in academics and have a greater possibility of not completing high school. Our strategic plan proposes that we move even more towards serving young people who are impacted by poverty or other oppressing factors. Youth who face certain social, emotional, and economic challenges in their lives are particularly at risk for low academic achievement, entering the juvenile justice system, and lack of opportunity to lead a healthy and productive life. We will focus on the following:
EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS Little attends school, performs better, and is more likely to graduate. Sixty-seven percent of former Littles agree that their Big played a role in their decision to attend college (Adult/Little Survey: Exploring the Value of Big Brothers Big Sisters, BBBSA and Harris Interactive, 2009). When young people stay in school and do well, they significantly increase the likelihood they will earn a high school diploma. With their diploma, students become eligible for other education and training and have a stronger foundation for leading successful lives and contributing to the communities.
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We will encourage youth to identify natural mentors in addition to their Big Brother or Big Sister, especially those who may have careers of interest to them. Bigs and staff are champions for education, and will support them in talking about school attendance and raising expectations for success. We will also ensure that we are building partnerships with local resources to support our Little Brothers and Little Sisters in tutoring, extracurricular academic activities, college readiness, and general school success. Our Bigs are particularly interested in reading and are being trained to assist children in kindergarten through third grade in reading because we know that children that read on level in grade three are more likely to graduate from high school. Our hope is that these mentors will continue with their Littles through elementary, middle and high school where many transitions happen that Little Brothers/Sisters need a trusted friend in which to confide, to encourage and assist them in academics, to guide them in positive decisions leading to high school graduation and higher education. The University of Missouri researchers from the School of Public Policy studied the outcomes of one of our former U.S. Department of Education grants which required 5% improvement in reading, writing and math plus a decrease of 10% in truancy. At the beginning of the study the Littles were 1-3 levels behind in reading. After a year of mentoring they found the young people who had a Big Brother or Big Sister had improved:
28% in reading
19% in mathematics and
24% in writing
Truancy decreased by 35%
IMPROVEMENT IN ATTITUDES AND COMPETENCIES Little has higher aspirations, gains confidence to overcome challenges, and improves relationships with others. Perhaps most important in the growth of a child is the development of aspirations and self-confidence. Having high self-esteem and positive behavior will increase a child’s likelihood to succeed in society and in life. According to research from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, 90% of former Littles agree that their Bigs made them feel better about themselves, and 85% say that being a Little influenced them to have confidence in their abilities. Overcoming problems with courage and honesty, being a team player, and respecting others are all character traits that alumni say they learned as a Little. If young people have a strong belief in themselves and a positive path in their life, they can envision and achieve success. In part, we will achieve the desired outcomes by bolstering training for staff and volunteers on child development, childhood trauma, and other similar topics. In addition we will align specific activities to these topics, including the use of drama, art, or music; leadership skills; and improving relationship skills. Over the years Timothy says what he has enjoyed most was eating and playing Monopoly at the home of Duke and his wife, Kim, and talking about things that he couldn’t share with his mother. Timothy’s mother, Sheila, says she has always trusted the advice that Timothy received from his Big Brother.
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AVOIDANCE OF RISKY BEHAVIORS Little avoids risky behaviors, delinquency and the juvenile justice system. If a young person is involved in risky behaviors, they are more likely to enter, then re-enter the juvenile justice system again or in the adult justice system. The Juvenile Referral rate of 10 – 17 year olds per 1,000 in our three counties (Kids Count 2010) excedes the average rate in Missouri: Missouri – 55.2%; Boone – 88.9%; Randolph – 124.7%; and Audrain – 70.9%. As such, it becomes important to work to “alter the life trajectories of those juveniles to not only reduce further criminal behavior but to improve their chances to prosper as productive citizens. It also becomes important to work on prevention so young people will not be exposed to the systems that will greatly increase their chances of future crime. The Public Private Ventures study of eleven year old Littles showed that compared to similar demographic children that didn’t have a Big our Littles were:
46% less likely to start using illegal drugs;
27% less likely to start drinking alcohol;
33% less likely to use violence as a way of solving problems.
We will work with parents/guardians and Bigs to involve youth in sports, music, theater, conservation of nature, or other positive outlets. We will also work with our Big to provide a positive outlet to talk through obstacles and to help show a path in life other than risky behavior, especially in the middle school years. To suceeed in school, our Littles need to be healthy and make healthy choices related to avoiding teen pregnancy, substance abuse and living a healthy lifestyle. Bigs will take the role modeling lead in healthy eating, healthy outdoor activities, and healthy discussions about choices that each Little makes to align their lives toward pursuits of success.
FOUR PILLARS FOR SUCCESS CREATE COMMUNITY IMPACT AT SCALE We will continue with and enhance each child’s Youth Development Plan. A set of goals will be created by the parent, the Big, the Little and the Match Support Specialist for each Little Brother and Little Sister around their expectations of the match and what a successful match would look like to them.
CREATE AND MAINTAIN SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES We will continue to foster a diverse donor-supported culture and educate our constituents about the importance of donors to the work we are doing. We will work to sustain Bigs as long-term resources with training specific to their needs.
FOSTER INTENTIONALITY All youth can be at-risk some time in their life but youth facing the highest level of adversity come disproportionately from communities of color (63% of the young people that are currently matched). Children in single-parent households, in long-term foster care, and children of incarcerated parents will be our focus in the Community-Based program. In the School-Based program we will find mentors for children recommended by teachers and counselors. Continued to focus on recruitment, enrollment, and program engagement efforts on these communities will mean that youth who need our services most will benefit most.
FOSTER LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIPS It is necessary for Big Brothers Big Sisters to create outcome-oriented partnerships with like-minded organizations, businesses, churches, civic clubs and individuals to address educational and juvenile delinquency issues at community level.
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start some thing Big Brothers Big Sisters will focus on recruiting mentors from the community that have potential of long-term relationships with their Littles. In the past several years, declining economic conditions have increased unemployment rates and exhausted the resources of many in our community. Public funding sources have also declined. State government has faced major cuts every year and individual and public funding is shifting from social support services to primary support services as more famiies are in need of emergency assistance. Our budget is half what it use to be due to nation-wide deletion of government funding. At the same time, there is more need for our services. When families are stressed, sometimes it is the child that bears the brunt of the stress. We will join forces with youth serving groups such as the Youth Community Coalition and it’s Mentoring Collaborative; Columbia, Mexico and Moberly Public Schools; the City of Columbia; AmeriCorps; United Way; Minority Mens Network; local churches and civic clubs and other local and national movements that are concerned about young people to both improve quality of services and to improve funding sources. The donor community no longer asks WHAT DO WE DO, but instead asks WHAT DO WE ACHIEVE? The most notable refinement of our program of our last few years and going forward into the next three years is to shift our client base, market to increase the number of Big Brothers Big Sisters from adults in our communities, improve the service delivery model, and focus on longer, stronger match relationships.
Focus on staff and board development, enhanced training and content for Bigs, developing structured match activities, and creating enhanced match support.
Focus on length and strength of match relationships.
Focus on the educational success of our Little Brothers and Little Sisters.
Steady, sustainable growth in both program and revenue.
Outcomes of Mentoring: Timothy pictured with his mother, Sheila, Duke and Kim. Timothy graduated from Hickman High School on May 21, 2012 with Honors in Spanish and plans to attend Moberly Area Community College.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri (Columbia, Mexico, and Moberly)has been active in the local communities for more than 44 years, matching caring adult volunteer mentors with young people. During this time, the Central Missouri community has grown tremendously in population and diversity. Young people living in Central Missouri have a stronger need than ever to have some extra support in their lives, helping them to achieve positive attitudes and competencies, avoid risky behavior, and succeed in school. There is always a need for adult role models to become mentors to our youth. Our Bigs say that they probably gain much more out of the experience than the child does. If young people have a strong belief in themselves and a postive path in their life, they can envision and achieve success. Again the Adult/Little Survey; Exploring the Value of Big Brothers Big Sisters documented the long-term outcomes of having a Big Brother or Big Sisters in the life of an former Little Brother or Little Sister as compared to adults from similar demographics as a youth. Our Little Alumni were:
More likely to have a college degree;
More likely to make more money;
Rated their relationships with their spouse, their own children and their peers at a higher rate;
And were more likely to be involved in community leadership or volunteerism.
This is what we want for Central Missouri children and youth. CHILDREN SERVED GOALS: We want to build capacity through staffing and mentors so that we can increase the number of children/youth that are served. 1000
800
874 700
MATCH LENGTH GOALS: Knowing that research shows that longer-lasting matches produce better outcomes for the Little Brothers and Little Sisters,
18 months
2012
770
21 months
2013
24 months
2014 600
2012
2013
2014
0
5
10
Columbia: 800 North Providence, Ste 110 Columbia, MO 65203 573-874-3677 Audrain County: P.O. Box 842 Mexico, MO 65265 573-473-8018
COMMUNITY VS. STUDENT MENTORS: We will encourage quality, long-lasting matches by increasing the percentage of local, community volunteer mentors vs college/high school mentors.
Randolph County: P.O. Box 33 Moberly, MO 65270 660-651-3806
15
20
64%
68%
72%
2012
2013
2014
25
Email: bigs@bigsofcentralmo.org Website: bigsofcentralmo.org facebook.com/bigsofcentralmo @bigsofcentralmo bigsofcentralmo.blogspot.com flickr.com/bigsofcentralmo
BBBS is funded by United Ways in Columbia, Mexico and Moberly, City of Columbia, Children's Trust Fund, Missouri Department of Public Safety, AmeriCorps, the Missouri Legislature through the Missouri Department of Corrections and hundreds of businesses, organizations, and individuals.