Programs - Volunteer Process

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The steps to volunteering are very simple. After deciding which program is best for you, call us. Once we hear from you, our staff will forward you an application.

The Application

On the application to become a "Big" we request general contact information, some personal information (i.e. income, marital status, etc), For volunteers transporting youth in a vehicle, a valid driver's license and proof of insurance. It's somewhat similar to a job application. We also ask you to give us the contact information of three references. Once we receive your application, we will contact your three references to ask a series of questions about you. We want to get to know you so we make the best possible match for you in our mentoring programs. We ask them to tell us about you and how you would be as a mentor. This is a required step in the volunteer enrollment process-one that too often slows up the progress. So please tell your references that we will be contacting them to complete the process quickly. Depending on your references' needs, we can send the questionnaire by mail, fax and/or e-mail. We are prepared to receive it back by those methods, too. Once again, the sooner they complete it, the sooner you will travel through the volunteer process.

Background Check

An independent firm runs a Criminal Background Check for all of our volunteers and staff. Since we are working with children, we put their health and safety first. The background report may provide information that would alert us if someone desires to volunteer with the wrong intentions. There is a cost to background checks, so we ask our volunteers to offset the expense by making a $10 contribution to the agency. In some cases a volunteer's employer will cover this cost for the Big. If you are unable to meet this expense, simply let us know and we will seek a waiver on your behalf. We don't want this cost to be a reason for you not to volunteer.

Interview

A Big Brothers Big Sisters staff member will call you to set up a time to meet with you. We can conduct the interview at our offices or at a location that is convenient for you. At times the process may also call for a visit to your home, especially if your match activities might include spending time in your home.

 

During the interview we'll ask you questions about your background, hobbies and life goals. This helps us know you better and match you with the right Little Brother or Little Sister. Knowing you helps us create a much better mentoring relationship.

Application Review

Our panel of professionals carefully reviews each volunteer application. These seasoned professionals make the determination if this mentoring program is appropriate for each volunteer. We realize that this volunteer is not right for all people, so on occasion applicants are referred elsewhere, but our focus is on the child and our intent is to create positive, safe, long-lasting relationships. Volunteers are asked to realize that as a matter of policy and procedure, applicants who are referred elsewhere are done so without further explanation. This allows the agency professionals to maintain their child focus without outside pressure. In all cases, confidentially is strictly maintained.

Orientation

Each volunteer receives training and orientation throughout his/her interactions with the agency, beginning with their initial inquiry, including the one-on-one interview session and the Match Introduction meeting. Additional training is provided upon request and through provided literature on subjects that are relevant to the match. Community-Based matches cannot spend time at the Big's home until after the Big has received the Volunteer Training session offered by our staff.

Making a Match

After the volunteer matching process is complete, one of our staff members will call you to set up an introduction to meet the Little and family members. The Match Specialist will cover some details about the relationship and you will spend some time with your Little. After that, you begin planning activities on your own. In the case of Lunch Buddies program, the staff member will set a time for you to meet your "Little" at their school.

 

While the length of the process usually takes about four weeks, it seems to go by quickly and you will find yourself enjoying magical moments with your Little Brother or Little Sister before you know it!