About our Mentoring Options and Support Services
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County (BBBSLC) delivers one-on-one mentoring services to children and youth ages 6 – 19 in two basic ways: in schools and other educational institutions, and in the community. Vetted, trained, and professionally supported volunteer mentors called “Bigs” meet with their mentees, called “Littles”, 3-5 hours per month for at least one year. Most of our mentoring matches last much longer. When you contact BBBSLC, a staff member will provide you with additional information and help you decide which mentoring approach best meets the child’s needs.
Community-Based Mentoring
In our Community-Based Mentoring Program, Bigs and Littles are paired based on geographic proximity and shared interests and are provided professional support through the BBBSLC Match Support Team. Community-based matches spend time doing low-cost or free activities in the community that helps mentees build self-confidence, embrace school, think about their future, and have fun! The Community-Based Program also includes a Big Couples Program that provides co-mentors, and a Bigs with Badges Program that connects youth with safety forces to build bonds among youth and their families.
School/Site-Based Program
In our School/Site-Based Program, adult Bigs go to elementary schools to provide support to children who have been identified by their teachers and counselors as children who can benefit from a caring mentor. Littles meet their Bigs over a lunch period (Lunch Buddies Program) or after school in a variety of activities weekly for a year. A special High School Bigs Program matches teens in grades 9 through 12 as mentors to elementary school students in one-on-one matches. A new Sports Buddy Program will be offered next school year through a partnership with Oberlin College that will offer opportunities for Littles to engage with vetted college students and coaches in a variety of sports.
All Safety Forces and First Responders are Welcome
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County (BBBSLC), supported by the Ohio Department of Youth Services, has created a program designed to help prevent at-risk youth from becoming part of the juvenile justice system, while bridging the gap between law enforcement and other safety forces and the communities they serve.
The Bigs with Badges program encourages law enforcement professionals and other first responders to volunteer as Big Brothers or Big Sisters in one-on-one relationships with at-risk youth ages 10 -17 who need and want a mentor in their lives.
Law enforcement officers and other safety forces and first responders in Lorain County are invited to become a Bigs with Badges mentor. This includes: police departments, sheriff’s departments, corrections officers, state and federal law enforcement departments, fire departments, and other emergency management service personnel.