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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Indian River County, Jump into Reading, Children's Services Advisory Committee
<br /> PROPOSAL NARRATIVE
<br /> Please respond to each question in the allotted space for each section . In responding to each section of
<br /> the proposal narrative, please retain the section-label and/or question that you are addressing. Type
<br /> using 12 pt . font on 81/z" X 11 " paper and number each page. These directions and the graphic boxes
<br /> may be deleted if space is needed.
<br /> A. ORGANIZATION CAPABILITY (Entire Section A not to exceed one page)
<br /> 1 . Provide the mission statement and vision of your organization. The mission of Big
<br /> Brothers Big Sisters of Indian River County (BBBS) is to foster positive mentoring relationships
<br /> and bonding with caring adult volunteers so that children grow to be capable, confident,
<br /> productive, caring, responsible men and women who reach their full potential . The agency ' s
<br /> vision is to achieve the promise of mentoring through school-based "matches" that build
<br /> resiliency and literacy skills in children while combating risky behaviors resulting in early
<br /> educational failure, increased drop-out rates, substance abuse, mental health issues, gang
<br /> participation, early and persistent antisocial behavior, delinquency, truancy and teen pregnancy .
<br /> 2 . Provide a brief summary of your organization including areas of expertise,
<br /> accomplishments, and population served . BBBS is a structured mentoring program intended
<br /> to improve the capacity of children in Indian River County to succeed to adulthood in a safe,
<br /> healthy and productive manner. It is based on the Social Development Strategy Model that is
<br /> goal oriented toward the development of healthy behaviors, communication of healthy beliefs
<br /> and clear standards, bonding, social and emotional growth, opportunities to contribute, learning
<br /> skills and recognition . Primary prevention services are provided through school-based
<br /> mentoring . Expertise in volunteer recruitment, background screening, interviewing, assessment,
<br /> training, matching, one-to-one mentoring, case management, program evaluation and family
<br /> literacy enables the Agency to consistently achieve its goals and objectives. Volunteers undergo
<br /> a careful screening process, orientation and training prior to being matched, followed by ongoing
<br /> supervision and support . Matches meet weekly in two, thirty-minute sessions on school grounds,
<br /> during the school day . Regular contact is maintained among the Case Managers, volunteers,
<br /> schools and clients . Goals are set with the help of stakeholders. All aspects of the program are
<br /> governed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) Standards of Service. These are
<br /> nationally adopted, strict standards to ensure BBBS agencies are providing a quality, research-
<br /> based mentoring service. BBBS is outcome-based and has been acknowledged for its ability to
<br /> promote bonding, healthy beliefs, clear standards, positive attitudes and academic results by
<br /> reputable researchers such as Public Private Ventures and CTC Prevention Strategies: A
<br /> Research Guide to What Works. Big Brothers Big Sisters has a track record of local, state and
<br /> national success. The Governor' s Mentoring Initiative has just completed a statewide study of
<br /> mentoring outcomes indicating that Florida BBBS clients have shown marked improvement in
<br /> reading, math and conduct as compared with non-mentored students �Grise, Florida State
<br /> University, 2003 ) . Our target population includes Kindergarten, I " and 2n graders from varied
<br /> ethnic backgrounds . Volunteers also come from diverse backgrounds relative to age, ethnicity
<br /> and gender,
<br /> Al
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