Programs

  • Program 1 [2020]

    BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SOUTHWEST COLORADO HELPS AT RISK CHILDREN IN SOUTHWEST COLORADO OVERCOME ADVERSITY AT HOME, SCHOOL, AND IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES, WITH THE AREAS ONLY ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS. OUR VOLUNTEER MENTORS IGNITE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH. OUR VISION IS TO HELP ALL YOUTH IN OUR PROGRAM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. BY PARTNERING WITH PARENTS/GUARDIANS, EDUCATORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR EACH CHILD IN OUR PROGRAM ACHIEVING HIGHER GRADUATION RATES, ADVANCEMENT TO SECONDARY EDUCATION, LESS RISKY BEHAVIORS, HIGHER EARNINGS, AND A LIKELIHOOD OF HELPING OTHERS IN THEIR FUTURE LIVES. ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2020 INCLUDED: MAINTAINING OUR MATCH GOAL OF 100 MATCHES BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2020 AND DECEMBER 31, 2020; DECREASING OUR WAITLIST OF CHILDREN WAITING TO BE MATCHED FROM 20 CHILDREN (13 MALES AND 7 FEMALES) AT THE START OF 2020 TO 7 (5 MALES AND 2 FEMALES), MOST OF WHICH WERE NEW TO THE WAITLIST; AND MOST STRIKINGLY, THE REINSTITUTION OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL BIGS PROGRAM (HSB). THE HSB PROGRAM MATCHES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE AREA'S THREE MAJOR HIGH SCHOOLS WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN A STAFF-SUPERVISED AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOCUSED ON ACADEMIC GROWTH AND ENRICHMENT. ADDITIONALLY, OUR STAFF OF PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM DIRECTORS SUCCESSFULLY MIGRATED TO A NEW SYSTEM, MATCHFORCE, FOR MENTOR SCREENING, CHILD SUPPORT AND MONITORING, MATCH MANAGEMENT, AND REPORTING FROM OUR NATIONAL ORGANIZATION. SINCE SWITCHING TO MATCHFORCE, THE ADMINISTRATION OF SCHEDULED MATCH SUPPORT CONTACTS, YOUTH OUTCOMES SURVEYS (YOS), AND MATCH RELATIONSHIP ASSESSMENTS WITH PARENTS/ GUARDIANS, BIGS, AND LITTLES, HAS BECOME MORE ACCURATE, WITH DATA THAT IS MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE. MATCHFORCE HAS INSURED A SAFE AND POSITIVE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL MATCHES. STATISTICALLY, BBBS SW CO HAD A 12-MONTH RETENTION RATE OF 71.4%, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 58.4%. THIS NUMBER INDICATES THAT ALMOST THREE-QUARTERS OF OUR MATCHES STAY TOGETHER FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR, WHICH IS THE MINIMUM RECOMMENDED MATCH LENGTH BASED ON BBBS NATIONAL MENTORING BEST PRACTICES. OUR AVERAGE MATCH LENGTH IS 31 MONTHS, WHICH IS STILL HIGHER THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. BBBS OF SW CO IS SERVING 11 YOUTH WHO WERE VICTIMS OF CRIME DURING THE PAST GRANT SERVICE PERIOD. OF CHILDREN SERVED, OVER 68.3% HAVE IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND GREATER THAN 59.7% OF CHILDREN HAVE AN IMPROVED ATTITUDE TOWARD SCHOOL. BBBS SW CO HAS SEEN AN INCREASE BY 9.2% IN CHILDREN SURVEYED WHO ARE LESS LIKELY TO ABUSE SUBSTANCES, AN INCREASE FROM 2019, AND AN INCREASE OF 77.0% MORE LIKELY TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. ALL BUT FIVE OF OUR FAMILIES RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED LUNCHES, SO HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND QUALITY MENTORSHIP IS A TESTED AND DOCUMENTED PATH TO A BETTER LIFE FOR THE YOUTH IN OUR PROGRAM.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $189.4K

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program

    BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SOUTHWEST COLORADO CREATES AND SUPPORTS ONE- TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT INSPIRE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH. OUR VISION IS TO HELP ALL YOUTH IN OUR PROGRAM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. BY PARTNERING WITH PARENTS/GUARDIANS, EDUCATORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR EACH YOUTH IN OUR PROGRAM, AGES 6 YEARS+, IN ACHIEVING HIGHER GRADUATION RATES, INCREASING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND CONFIDENCE, MITIGATE RISKY BEHAVIORS, AND INCREASE A DESIRE TO ACHIEVE THEIR OWN SUCCESS. IN 2022, OUR PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED STAFF CONTINUED TO ENGAGE 70 YOUTH AS MENTORS OR MENTEES IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES AND "RE-OPENINGS" POST-PANDEMIC (SCHOOLS, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES), WE REASSESSED THE PROGRAMS BEING DELIVERED TO OUR YOUTH BY OUR VOLUNTEERS, BASED ON THE NEEDS OF BOTH VOLUNTEERS, YOUTH, AND THE SCHOOLS. THIS HAS DRIVEN US TO DELIVER THE HIGH SCHOOL BIGS AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS IN LA PLATA COUNTY IN 2022 AND MATCHED 21 NEW YOUTH WITH THEIR MENTORS IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING EXISTING MATCH RELATIONSHIPS THAT CONTINUE TO GO STRONG. OUR AGENCY UTILIZED 2022 AS A TIME OF STABILIZING TO THE SOCIETY THAT CONTINUES TO DEVELOP AFTER SCHOOL CLOSURES AND THE AFTERMATH OF THE IMPACT ON OUR YOUTH. WITH A 3-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN IDENTIFIED IN 2022, CLOSURES OF MATCHES THAT HAD DISCONNECTED DUE TO THE IMPACT OF LESS PERSONAL CONTACT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY IN HOW THEY'D LIKE TO MENTOR OUR YOUTH, WE HAVE SET AMBITIOUS AND ACHIEVABLE GOALS TO SERVE AGAIN 100 YOUTH WITH QUALITY AND INTENTIONAL STRATEGIES IN YEARS TO COME. 62% OF OUR YOUTH SERVED WERE RAISED IN FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT TWO PARENTS AND INCLUDED YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE, RAISED BY GRANDPARENTS, OR ONE- PARENT HOUSEHOLDS. 10% OF OUR YOUTH HAVE AT LEAST ONE PARENT INCARCERATED, AND 75% OF OUR YOUTH ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE/REDUCED LUNCH. AS OUR AVERAGE AGE OF YOUTH SERVED INCREASES, OUR MATCH TIME AVERAGED JUST OVER 3 YEARS. OF NEW YOUTH BEING MATCHED WITH A MENTOR, THE AVERAGE AGE INCREASED TO OVER 11 YEARS OLD, IN COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS YEARS WHERE THE AVERAGE AGE WAS UNDER 9 YEARS OLD.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $202.5K