Seeking Big Brothers and Big Sisters for Silver Springs, Nevada
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 7:25pm
Event Date:
February 28, 2017 (All day) Silver Springs, Nevada - Patty Sanborn, one of Healthy Communities Coalition’s school-based resource coordinators, is working with Big Brothers Big Sisters Northern Nevada (BBBSNN) to find mentors for children in the Silver Springs/Stagecoach region. The mission of BBBSNN is “to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.” If you’d like to participate in this rewarding volunteer program, please call Patty at 721-8676. Below is a description of how it all works:
About the Program:
Big Brothers Big Sisters site-based mentoring program takes place at school, during lunch. You get to eat lunch together, play games, help with homework, etc. This program is for Big Brothers and Big Sisters ages 18 and older, and is easy to fit into a busy schedule.
Enrollment Process:
The program’s first priority is child safety. For that reason, there are 4 enrollment steps to help determine whether a volunteer is ready for the program. These steps include:
1. Interview, which takes about 1 hour
2. Reference check
3. Background check
4. Training
Volunteer Eligibility:
1. At least 18 years old
2. Have own means of transportation
3. Plan to live in the area for at least the next 18 months
4. Can commit to meeting with a child once a week for at least a year (not including school breaks and summer vacation)
Big Brothers Big Sisters Partners with Healthy Communities Coalition to find Mentors
Big Brothers Big Sisters Northern Nevada is partnering with Healthy Communities Coalition’s school-based resource coordinator Patty Sanborn at the Silver Stage schools in Silver Springs to identify potential adult volunteers. In return, they are generously offering their full program--from the enrollment process for both volunteers and children, the matching of approved adults with children, to the ongoing professional support that they provide (and require) to ensure the best possible results. Big Brothers Big Sisters staff will interview potential volunteers. After reviewing the results of background checks, they’ll invite potential volunteers to a 2-hour training.
What Does a Big Brother or Big Sister Do? Typically, a volunteer commits to meeting with a child for one hour, one day a week, for a minimum of one full year. They do not meet during school vacations or over the summer, but may stay in contact by phone or other ways. They do not meet off the school grounds. This version of the program provides the same quality of program as their community-based program, and they’ve seen measurable improvements, both socially and academically, with the children served. This program is limited to elementary school age for now (beginning at age 6).
Eligibility requirements for children entering the program: The youngest children they enroll are 6 years old. Participating families are living below the poverty level as determined by national guidelines, and families must intend to remain in the area for at least the next 12 months, after being matched with a mentor. Each family completes and signs an application form and each child is interviewed so that they understand the program.
More Information: Please visit BBBSNN website at http://www.bbbsnn.org for further information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, or call Patty Sanborn at Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey Counties (721-8676 or 246-7550) if you’d like to become a mentor for children from the Silver Springs region.
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