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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Indian River County-JUMP Into Reading-CSAC of Indian River County
<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 8 YY' 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.
<br /> The mission of Brothers Big Sisters of Indian River County (BBBS) is to foster positive
<br /> mentoring relationships and bonding with caring adult volunteers so that children grow to be
<br /> capable, confident, productive, caring, responsible men and women who reach their full
<br /> potential. The agency' s vision is to achieve the promise of mentoring through school-based,
<br /> community-based and AmeriCorps "matches" that build resiliency and literacy skills in children
<br /> while combating risky behaviors resulting in early educational failure, increased drop-out rates,
<br /> substance abuse, mental health issues, early and persistent antisocial behavior, delinquency,
<br /> truancy and teen pregnancy .
<br /> 2. Provide a brief summary of your organization including areas of expertise,
<br /> accomplishments, and population served.
<br /> Big Brothers Big Sisters has been serving Indian River County, providing one-to-one school-
<br /> based mentoring, since 2003 . Operating as a satellite office from St. Lucie County, BBBS is a
<br /> structured mentoring program intended to improve the capacity of children to succeed to
<br /> adulthood in a safe, healthy and productive manner. Based on the Social Development Strategy
<br /> Model, the mentoring is goal oriented toward the development of new leaming skills, healthy
<br /> beliefs, clear standards, bonding and social/emotional growth. Expertise in volunteer
<br /> recruitment, background screening, interviewing, assessment, training, matching, one-to-one
<br /> mentoring, case management, program evaluation and family literacy enables the Agency to
<br /> consistently achieve its goals and objectives. Volunteers undergo a careful screening process,
<br /> orientation and training prior to being matched, followed by ongoing supervision and support.
<br /> Matches meet weekly in two, thirty-minute sessions on school grounds, during the school day.
<br /> Regular contact is maintained among the Case Managers, volunteers, schools and clients. Goals
<br /> are set with the help of stakeholders. All aspects of the program are governed by Big Brothers
<br /> Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) Standards of Service. These are nationally adopted, strict
<br /> standards to ensure BBBS agencies are providing a quality, research-based mentoring service.
<br /> BBBS is outcome-based and has been acknowledged for its ability to promote bonding, healthy
<br /> beliefs, clear standards, positive attitudes and academic results by reputable researchers such as
<br /> Public Private Ventures and CTC Prevention Strategies: A Research Guide to What Works. Big
<br /> Brothers Big Sisters has a track record of local , state and national success . The Governor' s
<br /> Mentoring Initiative has just completed a statewide study of mentoring outcomes indicating that
<br /> Florida BBBS school-based clients have shown marked improvement in reading, math and
<br /> conduct as compared with non-mentored students (Grise, Florida State University; 2003 , 2004,
<br /> 2005). Our target population includes Kindergarten, I " and 2nd graders from varied ethnic
<br /> backgrounds . Volunteers also come from diverse backgrounds relative to age, ethnicity and
<br /> gender. This year, we will be adding an after-school and summer mentoring component at Boys
<br /> & Girls Club.
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