Our Purpose
At the heart of our mission is the creation and nurturing of one-to-one mentoring connections that unlock the potential and promise within every young person. We hold ourselves responsible for ensuring that each child in our program attains:
- Ambitious aspirations
- Steering clear of risky behaviors
- Achieving educational milestones
Why Mentoring Matters
A solid mentoring relationship can serve as a stabilizing force amid the various challenges many children encounter, including:
- Family transitions like divorce
- Economic hardship
- Substance misuse concerns
- Academic struggles
- Peer relationship issues
How We Operate
We enroll children facing multiple risk factors who express a desire for mentorship. Upon enrollment, we provide comprehensive safety and program guideline training for both parents/guardians and children. Our team carefully vets and trains mentors to ensure compatibility and readiness. Once approved, we facilitate the matching process between a child and their mentor.
Our one-to-one mentoring model thrives on:
- Commitment from all parties involved, including parents, guardians, children and mentors
- Rigorous screening of potential volunteers to ensure child safety
- Thoughtful pairing based on shared interests and preferences
- Cultivation of strong mentoring bonds intended to last at least one year
- Ongoing engagement among the child, mentor, team and caregiver
Parent/Guardian and Child Expectations
Both mentors and children are required to commit to the program for 12 months.
Parents and children are encouraged to maintain open lines of communication with their mentor to schedule regular activities (typically two to four times per month) and address any concerns as they arise.
Regular check-ins with our team are required monthly for the first year and quarterly thereafter.
Parent/Guardian Responsibilities
- Facilitate communication between your child, their mentor and our staff
- Confirm activity plans and ensure punctuality
- Debrief with your child after each activity
- Maintain regular contact with us to monitor progress and ensure safety
- Encourage cost-effective activities to emphasize the value of the relationship over extravagance
- Prompt your child to express gratitude to their mentor
Enrollment Process for Your Child
Our team conducts thorough interviews with both the parent and child to assess suitability for the program. This includes:
- In-depth discussions with both parents and children
- Pre-match training sessions
- Safety education
- Completion of necessary applications
Acceptance into the program hinges on several factors, including the alignment of risk factors in the child’s life with our mentoring model, the child’s eagerness to engage with a mentor and the parent’s ability to support the relationship and maintain regular contact with our team.
Child Safety Measures
We prioritize child safety above all else. Parents play a crucial role in this effort by:
- Empowering their child through education
- Maintaining open communication
- Monitoring changes in behavior
- Encouraging disclosure of any safety concerns
Upon acceptance into the program, both parent and child will receive comprehensive safety training from our staff. Regular safety check-ins will occur throughout the mentorship and parents are encouraged to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Following the initial interview with our team, all parents will be invited to complete Your Child’s Personal Safety Training online, facilitated by our team.
Complete Orientation
Have questions? We can answer them. Simply contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah in Salt Lake City, Murray, Roy, Park City and St. George, Utah.