Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas is a mentoring agency that has helped thousands of families in Benton and Washington Counties.
The BBBS website reported the program helps children who don’t always have the tools to succeed, inspiring many kids to grow up and become first generation college students.
“December 1995 was when we made our very first match,” said Tami Shaver, executive director for Big Brothers Big Sisters Northwest Arkansas. “We help with things like how to apply for FAFSA forms and when to apply for college, helping look for scholarships, and taking them on college tours.”
Matches are made through an extensive vetting process. Shaver said potential volunteers go through two-hour interviews to figure out their personalities and what they like to do.
Children and parents are interviewed as well. Shaver said families are asked about why the child needs a mentor, and the history of the family. Children are asked the type of mentor they want. “It’s funny, they say they don’t want someone who’s old, but 22 is old to them.”
Laura Basch, community engagement manager, said after the interviews, the team looks over every file and tries to get the best matches possible. If they have the same hobbies, are from the same place and so forth, a match is proposed to them, and they get to decide whether or not they want to.
“If we find a child and the right volunteer isn’t already waiting, we will wait for the perfect fit. The volunteer and the child’s trust has to be built on real friendship. Focusing on fun and not changing the child or being prescriptive is the key to a successful match.”
Basch said working with corporations is how BBBS NWA stays funded. They are trying to start a program called ‘workplace mentoring’ where kids are brought to the workplace, rather than volunteers going to the schools.
“We’re partnering with Rogers public schools and hopefully partnering with JB Hunt to do that program starting next fall,” Shaver said.
Basch said volunteering is currently about 60/40, with girls having more matches than boys. Shaver said that men are usually more hesitant to sign up for the minimum year-long commitment of having a little, but when they do, their matches last longer.
“We’re trying to recruit more little sisters than big sisters,” said Basch, “which is a good problem to have.”
