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Geauga County Board of Mental Health
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24-Hour Emergency Hotline
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Ohio provides after school mentoring programs to children in grades three through five in elementary schools located throughout Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties. The programs are designed to help the children develop positive attitudes towards school, build their self-esteem and have fun while improving natural abilities and social skills. The programs are held one day a week and last approximately 2 hours immediately after school during the school year. Children involved in the program are typically kids who need a little extra help or attention.  Children in the Big Brother/Big Sisters program are matched with an adult role model who serve as a mentor to them. These children, who come from single-parent families, benefit from having additional guidance and support in a one-to-one relationship. The School/Site Based Mentoring Program provides children with a positive friend and mentor. Weekly contact is encouraged to foster self-esteem, trust, and responsibility. However, unlike the traditional program, School/Site Based mentoring is done at a designated school or site and it is always in a group setting with a BBBS Program Manager facilitator. The volunteers for these programs are typically college or high school students and employees of area businesses who take time from their workday. The programs take place after school and run for an average of two hours. Most meet once a week for the duration of the school year. SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Ohio provides after school and Lunch Buddy mentoring programs to children in grades three through five in elementary schools located throughout Lake and Geauga counties. The programs are designed to help children develop positive attitudes towards school, build their self-esteem and have fun while improving their natural abilities and social skills. The programs are held one day a week during the school year. After school programs last approximately 2 hours immediately after school; Lunch Buddy programs are held during specified lunch periods in the elementary schools. How the Programs Work Children are recommended into the after school programs by their teachers, counselor or parents. An informational letter and application are sent home to the child's parent/guardian. After the completed application is returned to the school, the school will add your child to the program. After school programs meet one day a week for two hours after regular school hours. The day of the program and the time (usually 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm) are determined by the school. There are no after school programs on Friday. High school students come directly to the elementary school to which they are assigned. They must provide their own transportation. These high school volunteer Bigs can be paired with the elementary school Littles to help with homework or to play games. Often both high school Bigs and elementary Littles participate in group activities designed to enhance social skills. No fees There are no fees associated with our after school programs. They are free to all children enrolled. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides all materials for activities and crafts. We also provide a snack and drink to each child. High School Volunteers To become a Big Brother or Big Sister in our after school or Lunch Buddy mentoring programs, volunteers should contact our office to find out which elementary schools are participating in the programs. The Volunteer Advantage Becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister in our after school programs not only offers you the opportunity to help a child, it is a great way to:
Today's high school students aren't often recognized for the amount of time they contribute to volunteering in their local communities. In USA Weekend a recent teen survey showed that over the course of a year: Volunteering touches everyone in some way. Both the volunteer and the recipient benefit, grow and are changed by the experience. Sometimes the result of volunteer efforts are immediately apparent. Often the effects are realized long after the experience is over. Big Brothers Big Sisters acknowledges all students who participate in our programs and we're happy to supply letters of recommendation whenever requested. If you are interested in being a positive role model, a friend, a tutor, or if you enjoy participating in recreational activities, our after school mentoring program could be perfect for you. In Geauga County, we will be holding after school programs in the following elementary schools: Lindsey, Westwood, Maple, Cardinal and Kenston. We are in need of high school students to volunteer to become Big Brothers and Big Sisters for these programs. They would require their own transportation and need to commit to 2 hours a week in the elementary school, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, with their Little Brother or Sister. It's always nice to note that the high school students will receive community service hours for their participation and their volunteer efforts are an attractive entry for college applications. As funding through grants and other sources becomes available, we plan to expand the program to additional area schools. If your school, business, or organization is interested in participating in a School/Site Based Mentoring Program, please contact Tim Kehres, Executive Director at 1(800)222-2440. "Little Moments/Big Magic" Children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program are matched with adult role models who serve as a mentor to them. These children come from single-parent families and benefit from having additional guidance and support in a one-to-one relationship. Our Bigs and Littles usually get together weekly for a few hours. We encourage simple activities. The key is just spending time together. Research and our program outcome evaluations show that mentoring works for children. Feedback from our Bigs shows that mentoring is a very rewarding service activity. Your contribution helps make it possible to provide the resources to match these children with role models in Geauga County. Or, if you are interested in mentoring a child, please contact Tim Kehres, Executive Director at 1-800-222-2440. Your child's safety is very important to us.
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