Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island (BBBSRI) recently welcomed back a previous staff member, Tiana Ochoa, as our new Chief Program Officer. We asked her about what she has done in her time away and how she plans to lead a successful team of program staff to foster our mission — creating one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
Tiana is a bilingual, bicultural executive leader and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with over 20 years of experience advancing equity and well-being for children and families in Rhode Island. A first-generation immigrant from Guatemala and a graduate of Hope High School, she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work from Rhode Island College.
BBBSRI: What drew you back to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island? How has your perspective evolved since you were last here?
Tiana Ochoa: Returning to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island feels like a homecoming to me. This organization has always aligned with my belief in the transformative power of relationships, and my own trajectory has been impacted by mentors. I am very mindful of that.
I’m drawn back by the chance to help shape a future where every young person, regardless of ZIP code, feels seen, supported, and connected to opportunity. Since I was here last, I have had the opportunity to lead across multiple systems, serving children and families. From clinical work to executive leadership, my experiences have deepened my understanding of how housing, mental health, education, and economic stress intersect in young people’s lives.
I return with an even stronger conviction that mentorship is a protective factor and a pathway to belonging.
BBBSRI: What are the most pressing needs facing young people in Rhode Island today? How can organizations adapt to meet them?
Tiana: Young people are navigating a lot of stress, rising mental health needs, and social isolation, especially with the use of social media. Economic instability at home and concerns around identity and belonging are prevalent as well.
Many young people also carry the weight of systemic inequities. Youth of color and immigrant families are struggling significantly.
At the same time, I acknowledge that our youth are remarkably resilient, creative, and hopeful. I think about how we, as an organization, can evolve to meet the needs of our communities and our youth. Organizations have to move beyond the one-size-fits-all approach.
We need to listen to young people’s needs. That may mean building stronger partnerships with school systems, families, behavioral health providers, and our own employees. No one organization can meet those needs alone.
Above all, our programs must be accessible, culturally responsive, and grounded in relationships, which is at the core of our work. Young people thrive when they know they have adults who genuinely believe in their potential.
BBBSRI: You have led efforts to build culturally responsive programs and community partnerships. How will those priorities shape your strategy as chief program officer?
Tiana: Cultural responsiveness and partnerships are central to how I lead. When we think about Rhode Island’s youth and families, we must understand that we are deeply diverse, and our programs should reflect that.
Young people should see themselves in the spaces that we create for them and the adults with whom we match them. This means that we need to look at how we can deepen our partnerships with schools, grassroots organizations, behavioral health providers, and cultural groups to expand access and remove barriers. It also means building structures where families, youth, mentors, and staff feel like they can help shape programming.
It is important to ask questions and give people an opportunity to be involved. When organizations lead with a sense of humility and trust, the impact is stronger and more sustainable. Mentorship becomes a more powerful tool.
BBBSRI: Having most recently led large-scale initiatives at Children’s Friend, what lessons are you bringing with you to strengthen program quality and impact at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island?
Tiana: During my time at Children’s Friend, I reinforced that strong programs are built through not only vision, but also operational discipline. This means consistency, accountability, data-informed decisions, and a real investment in staff and families.
Workforce issues have been a major concern, especially in early education. Making a concerted effort to support, retain, and elevate staff is important.
Programs work best when we design them around the real challenges that they face. Cross-sector collaboration is essential. When we think about education and behavioral health in particular, we want to support families when they need it.
Staff and culture are also foundational, meaning that we’re supporting staff and connecting them to the mission. It’s really important to create a culture of support, especially for the team.
I’m excited to build on an already strong foundation here at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island to ensure that every match reflects excellence, care, and intentionality.
BBBSRI: What does success in this role look like for you over the next few years, both for our organization and the youth we serve?
Tiana: More young people across Rhode Island have access to caring, consistent relationships — that is one of the most important things. We need kids to know that they have someone who believes in them so that they can believe in their own potential.
For the organization, deeper community trust and an expanded footprint. Bringing services into communities and creating a sustainable model for mentorship that grows our reach while staying grounded in relationships. For a long time, we focused a lot on one-to-one mentorship, but we know that kids need several adults in their lives who care for them. It does not have to be so rigid.
For youth, success is bigger than being matched with a mentor. It’s gaining confidence. It’s improved mental wellness. It’s stronger academic engagement, and a real sense of hope — knowing that there is at least one trusted adult outside their family who can be there for them. I want our work to help build a Rhode Island where every young person, regardless of background or ZIP code, has the support to reach their full potential.
You can contact Tiana at tiana@bigsri.org for any questions about our mentorship programs.