Topic: Academic Performance, Case Management, Mentorship
Target Population: Adolescents, Middle Childhood
Sector: School-Based
This program is for youth in 4th to 9th grade who do not have regular contact with one or both parents or are having problems with academic performance, behavior, or relationships.
Big Brothers Big Sisters School-Based Mentoring (BBBS SBM) is a school-based program that is designed to provide support, guidance, and friendship to youth. BBBS also provides Community-Based* and Military Mentoring* programs.
*Separate fact sheets are available for these programs
A longitudinal randomized trial revealed mixed results. Youth in the treatment group were matched with mentors early in the school year. By the end of the school year, there were significant, teacher-reported, academic improvements for youth in mentor relationships that were still intact; there was no impact for youth whose relationships had terminated early, and there was a negative impact on academic performance for youth who were re-matched with a new mentor after the first relationship terminated. Additionally, among academically at-risk youth, there were significant academic benefits (e.g., language, reading) among youth who met with mentors during lunch or after school; however, there was a negative effect on math performance among youth who were pulled out of class to meet with mentors.
BBBS SBM screens, trains, and organizes volunteer mentors to interact regularly with youth in a one-to-one relationship at the youth's school. Agencies implementing BBBS SBM use a case-management approach. The case manager screens applicants, assigns and supervises matches, and concludes the matches when volunteer requirements are no longer met or either party decides they can no longer participate fully in the relationship.
Once a match is made, youth and their mentors participate in activities that may include tutoring or homework assistance, reading, engaging in creative activities (e.g., drawing, arts, crafts), playing games, doing athletic activities (e.g., shooting hoops), and talking about a variety of topics. The meeting format may be one-to-one or consist of a group of multiple mentors (i.e., Bigs) and their mentees (i.e., Littles). Program components include the following:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America was established in 1904. There are now over 230 agencies in more than 5,000 communities in all 50 states. These agencies serve over 400,000 youth, their families, and mentors each year.
Training is required for volunteers before the match is created, and volunteers have the option to attend additional training as the match develops. Topics, such as program rules, match expectations, relationship building, match activities, and communication skills are addressed. For information, please visit www.bbbs.org/get-involved/
Considerations for implementing this program include gaining buy-in from youth, school or organization administration, and, in some cases, parents; obtaining funding for program costs; recruiting and supporting volunteers who have the ability to commit to a long-term relationship with a youth; and building and maintaining good relationships with partner schools.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing the BBBS SBM program, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Matches meet on a weekly basis for 30 to 90 minutes during or after school. Some agencies encourage Bigs to communicate with their Littles over the summer months. This time commitment will vary.
The marginal cost per treated program participant is approximately $1,200 for the average match length (11 months) or $1,230 per year. Implementation costs could include wages, rent, utilities, conferences, copier services, and administration fees.
To move the BBBS SBM program to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence an additional evaluation should be conducted that demonstrates sustained positive outcomes with an absence of negative effects.
The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu
You may also contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of America by mail 2502 N. Rocky Point Drive, Suite 550, Tampa, FL 33607, phone 1-813-720-8778, fax 1-813-749-9446, or visit www.bbbs.org/contact-us/
https://www.bbbs.org/school-based/; https://search.issuelab.org/resource/making-a-difference-in-schools-the-big-brothers-big-sisters-school-based-mentoring-impact-study.html; Alfonso et al. (2019); Grossman, Chan, Schwartz, and Rhodes (2012); and Schwartz, Rhodes, and Herrera (2012).
Grossman, J. B., Chan, C. S., Schwartz, S. E. O., & Rhodes, J. E. (2011). The test of time in school-based mentoring: The role of relationship duration and re-matching on academic outcomes. American Journal of Community Psychology, 49(1-2), 43-54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-011-9435-0
Herrera, C., Grossman, J. B., Kauh, T. J., & McMaken, J. (2011). Mentoring in schools: An impact study of Big Brothers Big Sisters school-based mentoring. Child Development, 82(1), 346-361. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01559.x
Schwartz, S. E. O., Rhodes, J. E., & Herrera, C. (2012). The influence of meeting time on academic outcomes in school-based mentoring. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(12), 2319-2326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.08.012
Alfonso, Y. N., Lindstrom Johnson, S., Cheng, T., Jones, V., Ryan, L., Fein, J., & Bishai, D. (2019). A marginal cost analysis of a Big Brothers Big Sisters of America youth mentoring program: New evidence using statistical analysis. Children and Youth Services Review, 101, 23-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.03.002
