Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Overview
Focus
Specific Skills
- Decrease negative child behavior
- Increase positive child behavior
- Social skills
Program Length
Mentor/mentee meetings typically occur weekly for 45 minutes and last a year or more.
Program Description
"Since 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is incredible potential. As the nation’s largest donor- and volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers ("Bigs") and children ("Littles"), ages 5 through young adulthood in communities across the country. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people." BBBS operates several mentoring programs including community-based, school-based, children of military families, and children with incarcerated parents.
Visit Program WebsiteCost
No cost.
More Pricing DetailsDemographics & Delivery
Intended Population
- Intensified intervention
Grade
- Elementary School
- Middle School
- High School
Intended Group Size
- Individual
ELL/DLL
- Unspecified
Multisensory Applications
- Yes
Computer-Based Delivery
- None
Scripted
- None
Program Specifics
Comprehensive or Skill Specific
- Comprehensive
Placement Tests
- No
Accelerated Learning
- No
Assessment to Monitor Skills Mastery
- No
Error Correction Built In
- No
Fidelity Measures Provided by Publisher
- Unspecified
Research & Evaluation
Research Summary
Several peer-reviewed studies have reported positive and neutral effects of the BBBS community-based and school-based programs. Specifically, DeWit et al. (2007) found positive effects of the community-based program on children's social skills, emotional well-being, and teacher support. Herrera et al. (2011) found positive effects of the school-based program on academic performance and student's perceptions of their academic abilities, but found no effect on classroom effort, rates of problem behavior or quality of social relationships when compared to control students. Grossman and Tierney (1998) found that youth in the BBBS program were less likely to engage in negative behaviors and more likely to have better family relationships at 18 month follow up. Herrera et al. (2023) found BBBS to increase youth wellbeing and decrease problem behaviors when compared to control group peers. No efficacy studies reported negative effects, but DeWit et al. (2016) cautions that early termination of relationships (prior to 12 months) may negatively affect the potential impact of BBBS.
Study Citations
DeWit, D. J., DuBois, D., Erdem, G., Larose, S., Lipman, E. L., & Spencer, R. (2016). Mentoring relationship closures in Big Brothers Big Sisters community mentoring programs: Patterns and associated risk factors. American Journal of Community Psychology, 57(1-2), 60-72.https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12023
De Wit, D. J., Lipman, E., Manzano-Munguia, M., Bisanz, J., Graham, K., Offord, D. R., ... & Shaver, K. (2007). Feasibility of a randomized controlled trial for evaluating the effectiveness of the Big Brothers Big Sisters community match program at the national level. Children and Youth Services Review, 29(3), 383-404.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2006.09.003
Grossman, J. B., & Tierney, J. P. (1998). Does Mentoring Work?: An Impact Study of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. Evaluation Review, 22(3), 403–426. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193841X9802200304
Herrera, C., DuBois, D. L., Heubach, J., & Grossman, J. B. (2023). Effects of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Community-Based Mentoring Program on social-emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes of participating youth: A randomized controlled trial. Children and Youth Services Review, 144, 106742.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106742
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
Evidence Base (ESSA)
- Strong
Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
- Evidence-based practice