Many of you have heard me talk about Anyssia, my "little" through Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), so I thought I'd share a picture with you. If you aren't familiar with BBBS, they provide one-to-one mentoring for any child who wishes to have a mentor. They are unique in the nonprofit sector because they have opened themselves up to outside program evaluation for years. The outcomes are incredible. "Littles" in the program are more likely to graduate from high school, less likely to engage in risky behaviors (alcohol and drug use and promiscuity), and less likely to end up in prison when compared to other children in similar circumstances who are not in the program. I know much of this because Eric works for BBBS here in Abilene, but I also know this from the position of a researcher. During my studies at Michigan State, I was on the positive youth development (PYD) research team. We conducted the type of program evaluations mentioned above and found repeatedly that a one-to-one relationship between a child and an adult other than his/her parents makes a significant difference in his/her pro-social development. Clearly, this is a program in which I really believe. Such a tangible difference can be made with such a small amount of time and effort. And while the research focuses on outcomes for the "littles," I think "bigs" would report significant positive outcomes as well. I know it's had positive effects in my life...joy, laughter, gratitude, opportunities to learn, and many others. If you've been thinking of getting involved in your community and have 4 hours per month to offer, try Big Brothers Big Sisters. You won't regret it.
