Final Round! Round 5: Big Brothers Big Sisters
Program description. “Big Brothers Big Sisters’ community-based mentoring program matches youths age 6-18, predominantly from low-income, single-parent households, with adult volunteer mentors who are typically young (20-34) and well-educated (the majority are college graduates)… The mentor and youth typically meet for 2-4 times per month for at least a year, and engage in activities of their choosing (e.g., studying, cooking, playing sports). The typical meeting lasts 3-4 hours… For the first year, Big Brothers Big Sisters case workers maintain monthly contact with the mentor, as well as the youth and his or her parent, to insure a positive mentor-youth match, and to help resolve any problems in the relationship. Mentors are encouraged to form a supportive friendship with the youths, as opposed to modifying the youth’s behavior or character… In 2008, Big Brothers Big Sisters served 255,000 youths and 470 agencies nationwide. The national average cost of making and supporting a match is approximately $1,300 in 2009 dollars.”
With regard to drug use and violent behavior, do you think that Big Brothers Big Sisters had a good effect (i.e., decreased drug use and violent behavior), bad effect (i.e., increased drug use and violent behavior), or had no effect?
With regard to drug use and violent behavior, do you think that Big Brothers Big Sisters had a good effect (i.e., decreased drug use and violent behavior), bad effect (i.e., increased drug use and violent behavior), or had no effect?