Bigs In Schools A partnership between Big Brothers

Big Sisters of Tampa Bay and the School District of Pasco County.

Pasco County

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Mentoring, by definition… The Florida Department of Education (DOE) has

embraced the following operational definition for mentoring:

“ A mentor is a caring person, either an adult or an older youth, giving a specified period of time to a youth in Florida’s schools or through a coordinated out-of-school, specified mentoring program. A mentor volunteers to work with a youth to help him/her succeed academically or in life, through tutoring, aid in goal-setting, counseling, advising and/or educating either one-to-one or in a small group setting.”

(Office of Family and Community Outreach/DOE and the Governor's Mentoring Initiative Office 12/2003)

Big Brothers Big Sisters Mission:

“To help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with measurable impact.”

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A history of success: Big Brothers Big Sisters launched its School Based Mentoring

Initiative with DOE in 1999 aiming to reach academically under-performing children. Utilizing our hallmark one-to-one mentoring program and our network of professionally supported, screened and trained mentors, we have provided academic and social/emotional support to 874 Pasco County schoolchildren during the last nine years.

In the 2007-2008 school year, 180 children were provided Big Brothers or Big Sisters in 10 partnership schools and four PLACE centers across the county (a 36% increase over last year).

100+ students from Pasco County high schools volunteered to serve as Big Brothers or Big Sisters to children in nearby elementary schools. Participating high schools included Gulf, Land O’Lakes, Mitchell, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills).

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Cox Elementary Cypress

Elementary Marlowe

Elementary Moon Lake

Elementary Pasco Middle

Pine View Elementary Seven Oaks Elementary Seven Springs Elementary Wesley Chapel Elementary Woodland Elementary

BBBS/Partner Schools

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Average Level of Improvement Pasco School-Based Mentoring Program

2007-2008

0.7% 3.1%

22.5%17.5%

24.5%

76.8% 79.4%

72.9%

2.6%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

CONFIDENCE COMPETENCE CARING

% Worse

% No Change

% Better

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The Bigs In School program provides solid outcomes:

96% of the children mentored by Big Brothers Big Sisters improved or maintained academic performance.

95% improved or maintained school attendance.

96% improved behavioral evaluations.

96% were promoted to the next grade level.

88% of the children mentored by Big Brothers Big Sisters increased in levels of self-confidence

An Investment Resulting in a Solution…

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Changes in Confidence IndicatorsPasco School-Based Mentoring Program

2007-2008

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

100.0%

Self-confidence

Able toexpressfeelings

Can makedecisions

Has interestsor hobbies

Personalhygiene,

appearance

Sense of thefuture

% Worse % No Change % Better

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Changes in Competence IndicatorsPasco School-Based Mentoring Program

2007-2008

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

100.0%

Uses schoolresources

Academicperformance

Attitudetoward school

Schoolpreparedness

Classparticipation

Classroombehavior

% Worse

% No Change

% Better

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Changes in Caring IndicatorsPasco School-Based Mentoring Program

2007-2008

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

100.0%

Shows trusttoward you

Respects othercultures

Relationshipwith family

Relationshipwith peers

Relationshipwith other

adults

% Worse

% No Change

% Better

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Dollar Value of BBBS ResourcesBig Brothers Big Sisters Volunteer Hours 4,780

Value per Hour* $19.51

Total Value of Volunteer Support Through BBBS $93,257.80

Countywide in-kind contributions & local matching funds $154,406.20

Program ValueProgram Value $247,644.00$247,644.00

*Source: www.independentsector.org

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Demographics; Pasco Children Served

49

131

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Males Females

18

106

26 25

5

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

47

120

13

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Age 5-8 Age 9-11 Age 12-14

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Proven, turn-key efficient system that is cost-effective and reliable (average cost of a match is $1000 per year)

Builds, supports, and maintains partnerships between schools, teachers, counselors and children

Designates a local case management team in every school

Recruits, screens, and trains volunteers with safety in mind

Handles day-to-day oversight to ensure smooth operation and monitor program quality as well as student progress: oversees matches, support teachers

Provides reports and updates on student achievement

BBBS: Reliable Program Management

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