Table of Contents
History
Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of America is the largest non-profit, youth mentoring organization in the United States. However, before the organization started providing guidance to youth the idea started in two different states. A few people contributed to the initial plans for the organization, one person being Ernest Coulter. Coulter was a young court clerk from New York City who helped organize the first children’s court in his home state. He watched so many young boys pass through the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Courts that he had to do something. One day a young boy was in his court room awaiting a sentence from Coulter and he couldn’t make a decision. According to Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, Coulter made this famous plea in the courtroom, ‘There is only one possible way to save that youngster, and that is to have some earnest, true man volunteer to be his big brother. To look after him, to help him do right, to make the little chap feel that there is at least one human being in this great city who takes a personal interest in him, who cares whether he lives or dies. I call for a volunteer.’ His speech was so moving that a total 39 men volunteered that same day and Big Brother New York was formed.
Another person who was instrumental in the start of the organization is a businessman from Cincinnati, OH named Irvin F. Westheimer. One day he seen a young boy and his dog digging in a trash can for food. Westheimer introduced himself and brought the boy a meal. Later he met the boy’s family and realized they were in poverty. He also learned that his father recently passed away and that led to his family’s hardships. Soon he became the boy’s mentor. After Westheimer experience, he other children in Ohio could benefit by having a mentor. When he gathered with a group of friends, he proposed to them about forming an association. He explained that the association would help neglected or delinquent Jewish boys in Cincinnati. They agreed to become guardians of those individuals who needed special attention. 17 years later in 1920, Westheimer founded the Big Brother Association in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Currently the program partners with organizations that have the same values, goals and missions similar to their own. All the programs work together to address challenges and issues children face in America. The partnering programs include America’s Promise, Boys and Girls Club of America, Communities in schools, The First Tee, iCouldBe, iMentor, National 4-H Council, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and YMCA.
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Purpose
One slogan Big Brother Big Sisters of America is “Changing perspectives, changing lives”. Currently as the largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, their mission has always been to help children. The organization wants to provide children who are facing adversity with professional supported one-on-one relationship that helps change their lives for the better. The organization wants to help develop positive relationships that have a direct and long-lasting effect on the lives of young people. The organization focuses on problematic behavior, academic performance, and self-love and family relationships.
Elements
There are a few programs that help children succeed in life. The first is community-based programs. Kids placed in this program will be matched with a Big brother or sister. This program helps the mentor and mentee bond and build a relationship with fun and creative thing to do. There are outing and activities such as listening to music, visiting a museum, taking walks in the park etc. Anything that keeps the mentee busy and doing something fun yet positive. The community-based program allows youth to have exciting trips and visit fun with the mentor instead of doing negative things in the community. Another program that they have is the school based program. This program helps children reach their full potential in school.
Mentors help them with homework, reading, and anything academic wise. They even go to the gyms and playgrounds to play after their schoolwork is complete. This helps the mentee learn that school comes first and then play. The next program is for children who have incarcerated parents. The program is called Amachi program. This program helps broaden children’s perspectives on what they can be or do in life. Children are connected with role models who are from local religious organizations like churches. These places provide a safe and stable environment for children to develop into responsible mentor. “Bigs in blue” is another program that connects youth with police in varies communities throughout the world. This allows them to build strong lasting relationships filled with trust. The relationship helps children develop into confident adults. It also helps them build stronger bonds with police and law enforcement.
Theory
Through my research I found a theory that relates to Big Brothers Big Sister of America. Social Disorganization is a state of society characterized by the breakdown of effective social control resulting in a lack of functional integration between groups, conflicting social attitudes, and personal maladjustment (Social Disorganization, 2018). According to Gender, Social Disorganization Theory, and the Locations of Sexually Oriented Businesses journal “Sampson et al. found that the relationship between violence and concentrated disadvantage and residential instability was mediated by collective efficacy, defined as ‘‘social cohesion among neighbors combined with their willingness to intervene on behalf of the common good” (Sampson et al. 1997:918). (Edwards, 2010, p. 139). Big Brothers Big Sisters are considered as the collective efficacy in this case because they are willing to mentor the youth in their communities.
Empirical Study
Empirical research is based on observed and measured information and knowledge from actual experiences rather than coming from a theory or belief. People can distinguish an empirical study by looking if the article mentions a study that occurred. Also, observations, analysis or a number of people who participated. It is an empirical study if data, surveys or questionnaires were collected. If there were assessments or measurements used or an interview given it is considered to be an empirical study.
Empirical Study #1
The first study I found asks the question: Does mentoring work? Research done by Jean Grossman tries to figure out if mentoring works specifically for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America organization. “A random assignment evaluation found that Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring had a significant positive effect on youth ages 10-16 years old” (Grossman, 1998). Research shows that 1,138 children in the program, both male and female ranging from ages 10-16 were evaluated. The data collected shows that youth refrain from using drugs or alcohol, skipping school and using violence while under the mentorship. Research also showed that youth gained more confidence about school performances and have better family relationships through the mentorship.
“During the study’s intake period, half of the applicants to the agencies were randomly selected for the control group and put on the waiting list for a Big Brother or Big Sister for 18 months, whereas case managers attempted to match the other randomly selected group (the treatment group) as soon as possible” (Grossman, 1998). The main information from the data source came from baselines and follow-up questionnaires. The data that is collected checks background information about the subject’s families. Out of the 1,138 children 84.3% of them were headed in good directions. Some youth had better results in school others built stronger family connections. Data was conducted based on race, age, gender, social class etc. There really conducted a great study in my opinion. I didn’t see any limitations of the study.
Empirical Study #2
The next study I found asks the question: Is there an impact on youth development when using mentorship programs such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America? The population that was studied were youth (male and female) who was matched with the same sex and with the opposite sex. The ages ranged from 6 to 13 years old. Another group that was studied is youth who participated in community based programs. “In this study, we examined these mentoring relationships, assessing whether gender match types and program types are associated with the developmental areas of school-aged children in the BBBSA program” (Park, 2017).
Researchers wanted to measure the mentees confidence, compassion and competence, by using 267 matched mentors and mentees. Agency data files were used from BBBSA’s Program Based Outcome Evaluation (POE) they used the survey from the years 2005 through 2009 where mentors reported and rated the outcomes. The sample included 267 matches, 199 being same gender matches and 65 cross gender matches. Out of the 267 matches, 3 of the match genders were unidentified. The findings showed that same gender matches showed low levels of competence than cross gender matches.
It also proved that same gender matches most likely won’t improve confidence. It also showed that same gender matches didn’t have a huge impact on positivity. Same gender matches negatively associated with competency. Community based programs had higher competency and care results than school based programs. I would say that one limitation is using race as a part of the study. I feel like it takes away from the results. The study was to see if same gender matches would impact youth better than cross gender matches. To me race didn’t apply to the study.
Empirical Study #3
The next study asks the question: Wil big brothers have any impact on little brothers’ self-concept and behaviors. The population studied included 45 boys ages 7-15 that came from single parent homes. The boy’s mothers also had data collected on them. All the boys who participated came from Oklahoma. The experimental group (n=23) consisted of boys from ages 9-15 who were matched with a big brother for at least 6 months. The control group (n=22) consisted of boys from ages 7-13 who weren’t matched with a big brother yet, but have been on the waiting list for no more than a year.
“Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale: This is a self-report measure that is completed by the child. The instrument consists of 80 ‘yes-no’ items that form six clusters (Behavior; Intellectual and School Status; Physical Appearance and Attributes; Anxiety; Popularity; and Happiness and Satisfaction)” (Turner, 1996). Parents of the boys also filled out a self-report questionnaire that rated their son’s behavior. Both of the surveys were mailed to all who were participating along with consent forms. 92 surveys were sent out and 45 were mailed back and used for the study.
In percentages, 48% of the boys had sent in data. Results came back to show that boys who had big brothers had higher self-concepts than boys who haven’t been matched yet. “Analysis of four selected subscales indicated that matched boys reported significantly higher ratings of their physical appearance and popularity” (Turner, 1996). They also reported that boys who had mentors felt less anxiety. When conducting the study they only used boys from one state. In order for this study to be more effective, each state should conduct one. Girls with big sisters should also be studied and then the comparison between the two populations.
Conclusion
I believe that the program is effective. Again BBBSA is the biggest mentoring organization in America it has helped so many youth. There are many success stories form mentees of the program. 90% of “littles” agreed that their “Big” made them feel better about themselves. 86% of “littles” agreed they lead a more fulfilling life. And 72% said they are satisfied or extremely satisfied with their relationships with friends. 94% of Littles said they have a lot or some confidence that they will achieve their goals since being in the program.
The studies that I have found show that BBBSA is an effective mentorship that has a great impact on its mentees. Less kids in the program are skipping classes or school and feel firm in their school abilities. Others have gain higher aspirations and want to accomplish personal goals. Because of the program kids are less likely to use drugs or alcohol or violence. The program allows kids to have a mentor to help guide them in the right direction. It keeps kids off the streets and doing something positive and productive.
