Enroll a Child
Interested in Finding a Mentor for Your Child?
Our Enrollment Specialist will meet with you and your child to learn about your child’s needs. We will discover your child’s interests, personality, and preferences. As the person who knows your child best, we value your input. No match is made without approval from the parent/guardian(s) and child.
To be eligible to participate in our community-based program, a child must:
- Be between the ages of 7-14
- Reside in Rhode Island
- Want to have a mentor and participate in the program
- Be available to meet with a mentor two times per month for at least 18 months
- Have a parent/guardian willing and capable of supporting the match relationship
To be eligible to participate in our Little Brotherhood (LBH) program, a child must:
- Must identify as male
- Be between the ages of 7-14
- Live in Rhode Island
- Have transportation to and from the program site (BBBSRI can support transportation costs)
- Demonstrate interest in participating
- Have a parent/guardian willing to provide consent and engage in the enrollment process
- Be able to participate safely in a group setting with peers
You Have Questions. We Have Answers.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to pairing adult Mentors with children between the ages of 7 and 14 years of age. Our mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Our vision is that all youth would reach their full potential. We at Big Brothers Big Sisters are constantly working to create a community where all children achieve success, because when our children succeed, we are all better off.
Yes. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is our parent organization and they’ve been serving youth nationally for more than a 100 years. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island continues that tradition by matching volunteer mentors with children facing adversity, enabling them to realize their full potential.
Yes! Mentoring is one of the most effective means of positively influencing the future of a child. In fact, local outcomes for Mentees are impressive. In 2024,
- 100% of Mentees reported moving on to the next grade.
- 86%of parents shared that their child had improved in self-confidence and social skills.
Our goals are simple—to develop caring, confident, and competent children who stay in school, off drugs, and out of trouble, by matching them with the caring, consistent, safe role models they need.
Briefing on the Impact of Mentoring: Insights from Recent Research
Children and parents may hear about Big Brothers Big Sisters from a teacher, a counselor, a community group, a friend, commercials, etc. All children and their parents must want to be in our program.
Who are the children in the program? Our Mentees come from many types of home environments and family structures, different socio-economic levels, ethnic backgrounds, neighborhoods and schools throughout the state. Their backgrounds and personalities are unique, but they all have a need for friendship with a caring adult who believes in them.
When it comes to the future of our children and the well-being of our community, we’re all in this together. So it should come as no surprise that we need the parents and guardians of Littles to be involved every step of the way, starting with the initial match. Not only will you provide information about your child’s strengths and needs, but you’ll also approve the selection of the Mentor. Once the Match is made, you remain closely involved in many ways, including:
- Approving activities and outings for your child and their Mentor
- Asking your child questions about those outings, and sharing what you learn with the agency staff
- Reporting your child’s progress and milestones to the agency on a regular basis (Big Brothers Big Sisters will contact you, but we welcome your feedback any time)
- Participating in training on child safety offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island staff, and communicating with your child about that training.
No cost! Our program is offered to families free of charge.
Your child may be on our waiting list after either inquiring to be a ‘Mentee’ or after they have been enrolled for several reasons. We may not have a Mentor ready to be matched within proximity to where you are located or with the same interests. Also, we receive a greater number of potential female Mentors and so male Mentees may wait a bit longer to be interviewed or matched. We do appreciate your patience. Please know that we are doing everything we can to find the right mentor for your child.
BBBSRI asks our volunteers to meet with their Mentee 4-6 hours a month in the Community-Based Program. This can be done weekly or every other week. An average Mentor/Mentee pair meets 2xs/month.
Big Brothers Big Sisters National Standards of Excellence require each volunteer to complete an extensive screening process that includes:
- Completion of a formal written application
- Background and reference checks
- An in-person interview
- An orientation and training process that outlines the individualized needs of your child and provides information and resources on how to encourage your child’s development
Our Match Support Specialist (MSS – Case Manager) spends considerable time getting to know our volunteers and our children in order to make the best possible Match. Mentors and Mentees are matched on the basis of proximity, personality, common interests, while at the same time considering the needs of the child and our volunteers’ strengths.
Just about anything they both enjoy. Mentors are friends, and with a friend you can play sports, watch a movie, bake cookies, hike, do schoolwork, wash the car, volunteer in the community, or just sit and talk. Additionally, the agency provides one free group match activity per month that you and your Little may participate in if you like.
Each volunteer is provided with an orientation prior to being introduced to their Mentee. A MSS is assigned and is available to answer questions or provide additional training and resources for concerns of particular interest to your Match. Your MSS will provide support throughout your Match relationship, and will touch base with you, your Mentee, and the Mentee’s parent/guardian regularly.
Please email Mentoring@bigsri.org or call 401-921-2434.
