If you’re considering becoming part of Big Brothers
Big Sisters of Warren County, questions may arise. Here are a
few of the more commonly-asked questions. If you can’t
find the answer you need here, please call our office at 908.689.0436.
What is Big Brothers Big Sisters?
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a non-profit agency that matches
children with adult mentors, in the hopes of creating lifelong
friendships.
What is a “Big”?
A “Big” is a mature adult, age 18 years and up,
who is interested in being part of a child’s life. A Big
makes a commitment to see his or her “Little” once
a week, or at least three times a month, for a minimum of one
year.
What is a “Little”?
A Little Brother or Little Sister is a child in our program
between ages 6-18. Our Littles come from all different backgrounds
and socio-economic groups.
What is a “Match”?
A match is the pairing of a Big to a Little. We match volunteers
with children who have similar interests, or live within a certain
geographic area, in order to make the best match possible.
What is a “Big Couple”?
A Big Couple is two people either married or in a committed
relationship that would like to be matched to a Little. The Big
Couple can either do activities with the child together or individually,
but both adults will be part of the child’s life.
How do the children and parents get into the program?
Many times, parents contact us directly to find a Big for their
child. Other times, children are referred by school nurses, school
counselors, family friends or other familiar sources. If the
child is interested in having a Big, our professional Case Managers
conduct an interview with the child and the parent(s) to determine
areas of interest.
Is there a fee to enroll a child in the program?
There is no fee to enroll a child in the program.
What is the benefit of Big Brothers Big Sisters?
The individualized attention and companionship our children
receive as a result of being matched has proven to help keep
them away from drugs and alcohol, keep them in school, and greatly
reduce the likelihood they will have aggressive or delinquent
behaviors.
Does being a Big Brother or Big Sister require experience?
You do not need any special skills or experience to become
a Big. Just spending time and caring about your Little makes
a difference in the life of a child. We were all kids once – it
doesn’t take a special skill to be a friend.
Why should I become a “Big”?
Many Bigs describe their experiences with their match by saying, “I
get to be a kid again.” Imagine a child’s eyes lighting
up the first time he or she walks into a baseball stadium or
sees the ocean. Not only can you be there when it happens, but
you can be the reason it did.
Does being a “Big” take a lot of time?
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Warren County has flexible volunteer
opportunities to fit anyone’s busy schedule. As a Big,
you see your Little about once a week, or three times a month,
and do things that you already do. The average outing is anywhere
from one to four hours. School-Based Bigs go into the Little’s
school and spend about 45 minutes to one hour to join their Little
during lunch.
What do Bigs and Littles do together?
Bigs and Littles enjoy playing sports, seeing movies, cooking,
going over schoolwork, visiting museums, washing the car, taking
walks, volunteering in their community, or just hanging out.
Most everything that Bigs and Littles do together is fun and
beneficial to both the adult and the child.
Does it cost a lot of money to be a volunteer?
The idea is not to spend a lot of money, but to spend fun,
quality time with a child. You can take a hike, go jogging in
the park, or just talk. It does not have to cost anything. Also,
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Warren County has social events throughout
the year that Bigs and Littles are always invited to attend,
such as a picnic, swim parties, a holiday party, and a Halloween
party. And sometimes, Big Brothers Big Sisters receives free
tickets to sporting and cultural events, which we notify our
matches of regularly.
As a Big, what kind of support will I get from Big
Brothers Big Sisters?
Each match has a professional Case Manager who is there to
support the child, parent and volunteer. The Case Manager helps
with any problem solving, feedback, ideas and information to
help the match grow.
What is the application process?
The application process simply begins with your phone call
or e-mail to the agency. We then set up a personal, confidential
interview with the Case Manager. All applicants complete an application
form and provide references, and we conduct a criminal background
check and a driving record check. Periodic training sessions
are also offered.
Are there other opportunities to get involved?
For individuals who are not ready to make a commitment to a
child, or just have too many other time constraints, we welcome
you to become one of our Event Volunteers. Event Volunteers help
out with fundraising or social events, as well as administrative
tasks such as mailings and data entry. |
