GET a BIg
Arm your child with another awesome adult in their life. Life is hard - we all experience ups and downs, and we know the more people you have in your corner, the better. We’d love the opportunity to provide your child with another positive, adult role model and help ignite their full potential.
GET a BIG
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois serves children and teens who want and need a mentor in their lives. We match Littles in 2nd-11th grade with Bigs in a one-to-one, life-changing friendship. Bigs and Littles hang out 1-4 times a month for a few hours doing normal, everyday activities, like going to see a movie, playing games, going out to eat, or just hanging out!
Each match is supported by a dedicated Match Support Specialist who is always there to provide resources and support specific to the Little’s age. With a Big in their life, children and teens in the program are empowered to ignite their potential as they grow in their self-esteem, earn better grades, and develop a lifelong friendship with their Big.
Basic Requiriments
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Must be 6 to 14 years old.
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Live in St. Clair, Madison, Clinton or Monroe counties
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Be willing to commit to a long-term friendship
(a minimum of one year)
Is this a good fit for my child?
Did you know children with a mentor for at least one year are 75% more likely to go to college and 40% more likely to make $75,000 per year?
If you are questioning whether this program is right for your child, take this quiz.
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Would you like your child to have more confidence?
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Would you like your child to have higher aspirations?
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Would you like your child to do better in school?
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Would you like your child to make healthy decisions as they grow?
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Would you like your child to have healthy relationships with you, their teachers, and their friends?
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Would you like your child to have the resilience to deal with life's challenges?
If you answered yes to any of these questions this program would be a good fit for your child.
How it works
We want to work together to keep your young person safe. To do so, we start by thoroughly screening potential Bigs and Littles. Each volunteer must complete a screening process that includes:
Step 1
Inquire
Step 2
Apply
Step 3
Interview
Step 4
Ready to
be matched
Step 5
build a
Friendship
Step 6
Stay in contact
Big memories
EVERY DAY WITH EVERY AGE
Frequently Questions
Bigs are volunteer mentors who are 18 years or older and want to make a difference in the life of a youth Little. These mentors are friends, role models, advocates and someone who stands with children as they realize their full potential.
We ask our Littles and families for a commitment to their Big and Little Match for one year, however the hope is that the Match will create a life-long bond! If the two create such a bond, the child would remain in the program officially until they turn 18 years old.
Life has many ups and downs, and the more support in life the better. We all need a role model in our lives. Many times, a non-parent role model can provide a trusted source in which Littles can confide. However, for an effective relationship to develop your child must have the desire and have the ability to form a friendship with an adult.
Together you, your child, the Big and our team will work together to make the perfect Match. Matches are made based on many factors. Our professional team looks for Bigs that they think will be a good fit based on where they live, preferences, personality, interests, life experiences and more.
One of the unique and important aspects to the program is that it is one-to-one. This is what makes the Match relationship strong and ultimately impactful for your child. If you feel that your other children could benefit from the program, consider enrolling them too!
Match activities are discussed and decided on primarily by the parent/guardian and the Big, of course with input from the Little. Our Matches spend time doing activities they’re both interested in, which could be anything such as fishing, going to the park, baking, making crafts, riding bikes, going to the library, and much more!
It is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to work with the Big to coordinate Match outings. We ask that Matches meet between 4–12 hours per month — this usually looks like 2–4 outings per month.
Child safety is our top priority. There is a thorough screening process including an application and an extensive one-on-one interview with a trained professional. We always confirm a volunteer's identity via social security number and driver's license. In addition, we run a layered criminal and driving background check along with auto insurance verification. We also review the volunteer’s social media and speak to at least three personal/family and work references, as well as provide ongoing training and support.
We typically have a waitlist of Littles. However, we don’t match on a first-come, first-served basis. Our team evaluates Bigs and Littles to determine a good fit for a lasting and effective relationship. Depending on your child’s needs and location, finding a Big can take anywhere from three months or longer. We are always recruiting new Bigs to meet the needs of our Littles and their families as quickly as possible.
The role of a family is very important: supporting the friendship, encouraging communication, developing your own relationship with the Big, and being responsive and communicative with the agency once your child is matched are all essential.
The program is free of cost to our families. We suggest that Matches engage in little to no cost activities.
Great! We are happy to welcome you and your child to the program! Simply fill out an inquiry form here to begin the process and you should hear from someone on our team in 1–2 days.