Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wyoming

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wyoming seeks to enhance and expand mentoring services for children and youth impacted by opioids and other substance misuse. The program will increase access to mentoring services for youth by expanding the capacity of existing mentoring programs to provide high-quality services to youth that reduce substance misuse, delinquency, or other problem behaviors. Intended beneficiaries are youth from Wyoming who are 17 years old or younger at the time of enrollment and admission to the program and are currently misusing or dependent on substances, at-risk for misusing substances, and/or have family members who are currently misusing or dependent on substances. Project activities include statewide recruitment of youth and mentors; enhanced trainings for mentors including the topics of substance misuse, youth mental health, and suicide; targeted mentoring, and educational and supportive services (enhanced case management, referrals, academic assistance, and group activities) for youth and their families, including substance use treatment. Expected outcomes include youth reporting a positive relationship with a caring adult, mentors reporting confidence in their abilities, parents reporting positive agency engagement, and a lower Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version score at exit than at intake.