Be a Big Friend

Community-Based Mentoring

Big Friend Requirements

Age: At least 18 years old

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Application Process:

• Fully complete and submit Big Friend application

• Provide four potential references

• Schedule an in-person interview

• Provide proof of a driver's license and auto insurance 

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*Final approval for all applications is dependent on the successful completion of a criminal background check 

Approved Big Friend 

Expectations

Time Commitment:

• Mentor will meet with the Little once a week for at least one hour

• Mentor will commit to mentoring for at least one year  ​​

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Communication: 

• Mentor will communicate with the BFLF office about how the match is going (activities completed, time spent together, any concerns about the match, etc.)

• Mentor will communicate with the Little's parents about what kind of activity they will be completing and when they plan to return 

• Mentor will work with the Little Friend to plan activities both parties will enjoy

• Mentor will let the parent and Little Friend know if they will not be able to meet and need to reschedule a match outing

“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.”

Steven Spielberg

Get a Big Friend

Community-Based Mentoring

Little Friend Requirements

To receive services from the Big Friend Little Friend mentoring program, a child must: 
 

• Be between the ages of 7 and 14 years. Exceptions to take children under the age of 7 will be made based on the number of volunteers available and the child's family situation. 

• Reside within a 30 mile radius of Mitchell. 

• Have a desire to participate in the program. 

• Have a custodial parent/guardian who is capable of supporting a match relationship. 

• If parents are divorced, there must be a clear resolution of all custodial issues. 

• The needs of the child must be appropriate for volunteer intervention as determined by the Big Friend Little Friend staff. 
   

Guidelines for determining eligibility include: 

• Has poor self-esteem​

• Culturally and/or economically disadvantaged 

• Exhibits poor social skills

• Has few friends his/her own age

• Lacks adequate support and attention of a stable adult

• Is an underachiever academically

• Is overly dependent on a parent

• Has a sibling who has had significant problems with social or community adjustments

• Is insecure and does not trust adults

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A child may live in one of the following situations: 

• A single-parent or no-parent home where the parent/guardian has legal custody

• A family situation where one or both parents/guardians are mentally or physically disabled

• A two-parent family experiencing crisis-related stress

• A foster home where the child is in the care of a legal guardian

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A child may not be accepted if: 

• Contact with the child's parent is frequent, consistent, and appropriate

• The child receives adequate contact or role modeling from another source on a regular basis

• The child's problems are so severe that services from a volunteer mentor are inappropriate or inadequate

• The parent/guardian is unwilling to give their consent for the child to participate

• The child is unwilling to participate

Parent Expectations

Here are the expectations BFLF holds for parents whose child is approved and enrolled in community-based mentoring: 

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• Communicate with the Big Friend to schedule match outings

• Ensure their child is dressed appropriately for the match outing

• Talk to the child about the child's time with their Big Friend

• Provide adequate money for outings

• Be flexible about family plans to accommodate the match relationship

• Will not use restriction from seeing their Big as punishment

• Contact the Big Friend immediately if an outing needs to be rescheduled

• Contact BFLF staff each month for match support

• Will not ask the Big Friend to babysit

• Will not send additional children (siblings, cousins, etc.) with their approved child for match outings

Interview