Get a
Big
Thanks for taking the first step to enroll a child in Big Brothers Big Sisters! We work closely with parents/guardians and educators to find the perfect Big. Before a child is matched, one of our Match Coordinators will meet with a parent or guardian and their child to learn about the child’s needs, interest, personality and preferences. As the person who knows your child best, we value your input. No match is made without the approval from the parent/guardian and child.
Thanks for taking the first step to enroll a child in Big Brothers Big Sisters! We work closely with parents/guardians and educators to find the perfect Big. Before a child is matched, one of our Match Coordinators will meet with a parent or guardian and their child to learn about the child’s needs, interest, personality and preferences. As the person who knows your child best, we value your input. No match is made without the approval from the parent/guardian and child.
The Process
Step 1
InquireInquire
Let us know you think BBBS can help your child. Some kids are referred from a counselor or teacher, but all kids must be enrolled by a parent/guardian.
Step 2
Guardian InterviewGuardian Interview
A Match Coordinator will schedule an interview. This allows us to learn more about your family & child. This information helps us in finding the best match for your child.
Step 3
Child InterviewChild Interview
A Match Coordinator schedules an interview with the child. This allows us to learn more about the child’s personality & interests, and is vital for making the best possible match.
Step 4
Home VisitHome Visit
Since safety is our top priority, a Match Coordinator will schedule a home visit to the child’s home. This helps us to learn where we are sending our volunteers and ensure their safety.
Step 5
WaitlistWaitlist
Once these steps are complete, your Match Coordinator completes an assessment and accepts the child into the program. They’re then placed on our waitlist until we are able to find a quality match.
The Process
Step 1: Inquire
Let us know you think BBBS can help your child. Some kids are referred from a counselor or teacher, but all kids must be enrolled by a parent/guardian.
Step 2: Guardian Interview
A Match Coordinator will schedule an interview. This allows us to learn more about your family & child. This information helps us in finding the best match for your child.
Step 3: Child interview
A Match Coordinator schedules an interview with the child. This allows us to learn more about the child’s personality & interests, and is vital for making the best possible match.
Step 4: Home Visit
Since safety is our top priority, a Match Coordinator will schedule a home visit to the child’s home. This helps us to learn where we are sending our volunteers and ensure their safety.
Step 5: Waitlist
Once these steps are complete, your Match Coordinator completes an assessment and accepts the child into the program. They’re then placed on our waitlist until we are able to find a quality match.
Eligibility Requirements
Community Based Mentoring
School age children up to 12 years old.
The child must be a resident of, or attend school in Midland, Bay, Saginaw or Isabella Counties.
The child must be from a family situation that lacks the involved and supportive participation of one or both parents – or be referred to the agency due to special circumstances creating a need for our services.
Examples of special circumstance may include but are not limited to the following:
- Children in foster care
- Or being raised by aged grandparents
- Incapacitated parent(s)
- Children in institutions
Legal custody issues must have been clearly determined at time of enrollment.
Children who have participated in the site-based Teaming Up with Youth program are eligible for the community-based program regardless of their family situation.
The child must want to participate in the program.
The parents/legal guardians must be capable of cooperating and supporting the development of the one-to-one relationship with a volunteer.
The child must demonstrate a need for service and must be appropriate for volunteer intervention in one or more of the following areas:
- The child demonstrates behavioral or emotional problems
- The child has chronic school problems or is an underachiever
- The child has been traumatized by a significant event
- The child has problems with peer relationships
- The child has poor self-concept
- The child is socially, culturally, or economically challenged
- The child lacks adequate support and attention of a stable adult
- The child has been abused or neglected
The child has an older sibling who has had significant problems with social and/or community adjustment - The child has a sibling currently in the program or referred and eligible for the program
The child must be capable of establishing a relationship with a volunteer.
The needs of the child must be appropriate for volunteer intervention.
Lunchbox Learners
Children must be in grades K-3.
The child must be a resident of, or attend school in Midland or Bay Counties.
The child must want to participate in the program.
The child must demonstrate a need for service and must be appropriate for volunteer intervention in one or more of the following areas:
- The child has chronic school problems or is an underachiever
- The child struggles to read at grade level
- The child has problems with peer relationships
- The child has a poor self-concept
- The child has a sibling currently in the program or referred and eligible for the program
- The child has an asset not currently served by the school system
- The child is socially, culturally, or economically challenged
- The child must be capable of establishing a relationship with a volunteer
The needs of the child must be appropriate for volunteer intervention.
The parents must be willing to follow program ground rules.
Teaming Up With Youth
Children must be in grades 1-5.
The child must be a resident of, or attend school in Midland or Bay Counties.
The child must want to participate in the program.
The child must demonstrate a need for service and must be appropriate for volunteer intervention in one or more of the following areas:
- The child has chronic school problems or is an under achiever
- The child has problems with peer relationships
- The child has a poor self-concept
- The child has a sibling currently in the program or referred and eligible for the program
- The child has an asset not currently served by the school system
- The child is socially, culturally, or economically challenged
- The child must be capable of establishing a relationship with a volunteer
The needs of the child must be appropriate for volunteer intervention.
The parents must be willing to follow program ground rules.
Eligibility Requirements
Community Based Mentoring
The child must be a resident of, or attend school in Midland, Bay, Saginaw or Isabella Counties.
The child must be from a family situation that lacks the involved and supportive participation of one or both parents – or be referred to the agency due to special circumstances creating a need for our services.
Examples of special circumstance may include but are not limited to the following:
- Children in foster care
- Or being raised by aged grandparents
- Incapacitated parent(s)
- Children in institutions
Legal custody issues must have been clearly determined at time of enrollment.
Children who have participated in the site-based Teaming Up with Youth program are eligible for the community-based program regardless of their family situation.
The child must want to participate in the program.
The parents/legal guardians must be capable of cooperating and supporting the development of the one-to-one relationship with a volunteer.
The child must demonstrate a need for service and must be appropriate for volunteer intervention in one or more of the following areas:
- The child demonstrates behavioral or emotional problems
- The child has chronic school problems or is an underachiever
- The child has been traumatized by a significant event
- The child has problems with peer relationships
- The child has poor self-concept
- The child is socially, culturally, or economically challenged
- The child lacks adequate support and attention of a stable adult
- The child has been abused or neglected
The child has an older sibling who has had significant problems with social and/or community adjustment - The child has a sibling currently in the program or referred and eligible for the program
The child must be capable of establishing a relationship with a volunteer.
The needs of the child must be appropriate for volunteer intervention.
Lunchbox Learners
The child must be a resident of, or attend school in Midland or Bay Counties.
The child must want to participate in the program.
The child must demonstrate a need for service and must be appropriate for volunteer intervention in one or more of the following areas:
- The child has chronic school problems or is an underachiever
- The child struggles to read at grade level
- The child has problems with peer relationships
- The child has a poor self-concept
- The child has a sibling currently in the program or referred and eligible for the program
- The child has an asset not currently served by the school system
- The child is socially, culturally, or economically challenged
- The child must be capable of establishing a relationship with a volunteer
The needs of the child must be appropriate for volunteer intervention.
The parents must be willing to follow program ground rules.
Teaming Up With Youth
Children must be in grades 1-5.
The child must be a resident of, or attend school in Midland or Bay Counties.
The child must want to participate in the program.
The child must demonstrate a need for service and must be appropriate for volunteer intervention in one or more of the following areas:
- The child has chronic school problems or is an under achiever
- The child has problems with peer relationships
- The child has a poor self-concept
- The child has a sibling currently in the program or referred and eligible for the program
- The child has an asset not currently served by the school system
- The child is socially, culturally, or economically challenged
- The child must be capable of establishing a relationship with a volunteer
The needs of the child must be appropriate for volunteer intervention.
The parents must be willing to follow program ground rules.
Register a Child
Thank you for your interest in enrolling a child in Big Brothers Big Sisters. Please fill out this form and a match coordinator will be in touch within a few days or weeks to navigate you through the next steps.