Big Advocates is a tri-state (DE, NJ, PA) mentoring enhancement program implemented uniformly by three Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies to implement advocacy functions into the mentor's role

This demonstration program will support collaborations of qualified, established mentoring program sites to incorporate advocacy or teaching functions into mentors' roles through (1) matching youth and mentors based on needs, skills, experiences, and interests; (2) initial and ongoing training for mentors; and (3) ongoing mentor support.

Big Advocates is a tri-state mentoring enhancement program implemented uniformly by three Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) agencies: BBBS of Delaware (est. 1964), BBBS of Burlington, Camden & Gloucester Counties (est. 1959) and BBBS Southeastern Pennsylvania (est. 1915). The single program design will enhance three areas of BBBS' mentoring model in order to implement systematic advocacy functions into the mentor's role.
1. Matching: The Search Institute's 40 Development Assets for Adolescents assessment will be incorporated into the interview for the mentor/mentee to ensure mentoring matches are driven by the youth's preferences, needs and interests.
2. Training: All mentors will participate in a pre-match training as well as an advocacy-focused training after they are matched. Mentors will be trained on the 40 Developmental Assets in a mentor training where Mentors and Mentees will take an inventory of their strengths in order to identify specific ways the Mentor can advocate for the Mentee's development.
3. Support: Each agency will assign a dedicated staffer to handle all aspects of screening, matching and supporting of each mentoring match to ensure continuity of support. Big Advocate Support Groups will offer mentors an opportunity to learn from and support one another's advocacy efforts.
Goal: implement systematic advocacy functions into the mentor's role through enhancements to BBBS' mentoring model.
Objectives:
1. Provide enhanced mentor services to 114 youth between the ages of 11-15 in NJ, DE and PA and "business as usual" services to 111 youth.
2. Reduce incidence of delinquent behavior.
3. Participate in OJJDP evaluation.

CA/NCF

This demonstration program will support collaborations of qualified, established mentoring program sites to incorporate advocacy or teaching functions into mentors' roles through (1) matching youth and mentors based on needs, skills, experiences, and interests; (2) initial and ongoing training for mentors; and (3) ongoing mentor support.

Big Advocates is a tri-state mentoring enhancement program implemented uniformly by three Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) agencies: BBBS of Delaware, BBBS of Burlington, Camden & Gloucester Counties and BBBS Southeastern Pennsylvania. The single program design will enhance three areas of BBBS' mentoring model in order to implement systematic advocacy functions into the mentor's role. The Search Institute's 40 Development Assets for Adolescents assessment will be incorporated into the interview for the mentor/mentee to ensure mentoring matches are driven by the youth's preferences, needs and interests. All mentors will participate in a pre-match training as well as an advocacy-focused training after they are matched. Mentors will be trained on the 40 Developmental Assets in a mentor training where Mentors and Mentees will take an inventory of their strengths in order to identify specific ways the Mentor can advocate for the Mentee's development. Each agency will assign a dedicated staffer to handle all aspects of screening, matching and supporting of each mentoring match to ensure continuity of support. Big Advocate Support Groups will offer mentors an opportunity to learn from and support one another's advocacy efforts. The goal of the program is to implement systematic advocacy functions into the mentor's role through enhancements to BBBS' mentoring model. This goal will be supported through the following objectives: Provide enhanced mentor services to 114 youth between the ages of 11-15 in NJ, DE and PA and "business as usual" services to 111 youth; Reduce incidence of delinquent behavior; and Participate in OJJDP evaluation.

NCA/NCF