Provide a reliable mentor and positive role model for a child or teen by supporting the cost of a match. Through proper screening and vetting, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Upper Peninsula creates lasting and effective relationships to defend the potential of the youth in our community.

Your gift of $2,000 creates a match between a child or teen and an adult mentor by covering the costs of interviews, screenings, and background checks and providing professional support through the first year.

YOUR INVESTMENT OF $2,000 COVERS THE COST OF

--> Program Staff work with the volunteer, the youth, and the family to develop a Youth Outcome Development Plan, which includes mentoring goals for the child. Goals can include establishing community connections, improving academic performance, and lessening behavioral issues at school.

--> Volunteers engage in an orientation about BBBS of the Central UP, as well as training on safe and effective mentoring relationships. Training is provided on an ongoing basis, as needed. 

--> Youth and their families are evaluated to determine what needs the child has. This includes a combination of in-depth interviews with both the youth and the family, as well as a Risk Prevention Inventory. The assessment helps Program Staff determine what skills and backgrounds a volunteer should have to address the child's needs. 

--> Program Staff are thoroughly trained in providing support for effective mentoring relationships and child safety, including recognizing signs of child abuse and neglect. They also administer program evaluation tools to evaluate the impact of the mentoring relationship, allowing them to take corrective action if necessary. 

--> Each match is paired with a Match Support Specialist to provide volunteers, children, and their families with support throughout the life of the match - and often throughout a lifetime - and create strong, lasting relationships with our Littles, their families, and our Bigs. 

--> Through ongoing assessment and support, Program Staff continuously screen matches to ensure youth are making progress toward their Youth Outcome Development Plans. This includes regular check-ins and evaluations with both the volunteer and the youth's family, as well as course-correction, if necessary. 

--> All volunteers are thoroughly screened through
fingerprinting, background checks, reference checks,
and online searches. Child safety is our number one
priority! Volunteers are also interviewed in-depth
to determine what skills and backgrounds they have
​that can address a child's needs.