Reporting Relationship:  Executive Director

FLSA Exempt:  Full-Time, Exempt

Essential Functions:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge helps children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with caring adult volunteers.  This position will be responsible for supporting and expanding our existing Site-Based Mentoring Program, as well as providing support to a small percentage of our Community-Based Mentors.  This individual must provide high-level customer service with a focus on child safety at all times.  The primary functions include:

• Identifying and developing new Site-Based mentoring opportunities within our service area.
• Assisting in the recruitment and enrollment of Site-Based children and volunteers.
• Providing match support to ensure child safety, positive impacts for youth, constructive and satisfying relationships between children and volunteers, and a strong sense of affiliation with BBBS on the part of volunteers.
• Serving as the liaison between BBBS and our partnering sites to ensure quality and consistency in program delivery.

Responsibilities:

• Identify and establish new partnerships for Site-Based mentoring programs within our service area.
• As with the recruitment of volunteer mentors through distribution of marketing materials, presentations to targeted organizations and ensuring      presence at key community events.
• Collaborate with assigned site liaisons to ensure successful recruitment of children for each program.
• Assist Enrollment and Match Specialist with the interview, assessment and matching of children
• Assist Enrollment and Match Specialist with the recruitment, screening, and training of Site-Based volunteers.
• Continually assess the match relationship focusing on: child safety, match relationship development, positive youth development and volunteer satisfaction. Develop strategic interventions to identify and strengthen match relationships that require extra support to continue to grow.
• Assess and provide for individual training needs, information and support needs for each match participant to assure a positive youth      development experience for the child, and successful and satisfying experience for the volunteer
• Ensure high-level expertise in applying child safety and risk management knowledge, policies and procedures throughout all aspects of job function.
• Develop, promote and implement individual and group match activities to support ongoing volunteer involvement with the child and agency affiliation through individualized recognition, annual events, and reengagement strategies.
• Effectively utilize evaluation tools to assess match impact on youth development.
• To ensure quality services and measurable outcomes, maintain accurate and timely records for each match according to standards and utilize      technology to report, synthesize and analyze data.
• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with faith-based, community, school and business leaders in the service area to educate them regarding the agency’s mission, promote involvement in agency activities, and gain their support of the agency.
• Contribute to team projects when needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Minimum Bachelor’s degree in social services, human resources or related field (required).

Minimum of 6 months experience in nonprofit programming with a preferred focus in assessment and relationship development and/or understanding of child development and family dynamics.  Must have car, valid driver’s license, and meet state required automobile insurance minimums.

Interested in applying?  Please forward your resume and cover letter to:  jbright@blueridgebigs.org

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS CELEBRATES NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH - CALLS ON BIG AND LITTLE ALUMS FOR STORIES

Charlottesville, VA.   Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge is celebrating National Mentoring Month by inviting program alumni to share how the BBBS program has changed their lives. “We invite anyone who has participated in the Big Brothers Big Sister program to contact us with their story,” said BBBS Executive Director Jackie Bright. “We want to celebrate the Bigs, Littles, families and providers who have been part of the Big Brother Big Sister program and its proven track record of success.”

Recognizing that “a supportive mentor can mean the difference between struggle and success” for a child, President Obama declared January 2013 as National Mentoring Month. As part of the national celebration, Big Brothers Big Sisters America has launched the alumni search, and is offering incentives to alumni through its website at www.bbbs.org.

The local alumni search is part of this effort, and the Central Blue Ridge chapter hopes that some of the alumni will want to rekindle their relationship with the local agency. “The local need is great,” says Bright.  “We have more than 100 children waiting for that one adult who, by giving a couple of hours a week, can make a real difference in the life of that child, and make our community a better and more productive place.”

Ms. Bright is hoping to hear from anyone who has been part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, whether or not it was here in Central Virginia. Please contact her at jbright@blueridgebigs.org or call 434-­‐ 244-­‐0882. Plans are underway for a current and former volunteer appreciation event later in the spring.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge was founded in 1981, and has served more than 800 children in Central Virginia. The mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-­‐to-­‐one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.  Big Brothers Big Sisters model of long-­‐term mentoring services has a proven track record of success, including rigorously documented results that show how both the individuals involved and local communities benefit from the transformative mentoring relationships. Children enrolled in the program achieve academic success, improved socio-­‐emotional competencies, and avoid risky behaviors.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Jackie Bright at jbright@blueridgebigs.org or call 434-­‐409-­‐0453.

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Full text of Presidential Proclamation of National Mentoring Month January 2013

Our American family is bound together by caring individuals who make it their mission to serve others. During National Mentoring Month, we pay special tribute to the men and women who enrich the lives of our young people and fortify the unbreakable bonds between one generation and the next.

Mentors know that helping a child unlock their full potential begins with care, guidance, and support -­‐-­‐ which is why my Administration is proud to celebrate mentorship nationwide through programs that help young people see the strength within themselves. We created the Corporate Mentoring Challenge, which encourages businesses across our country to open or expand mentoring programs that equip our youth with the tools to achieve. We have connected young men and women in the Washington, D.C., area with mentors at the White House, and we have partnered with groups across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build pathways to summer job opportunities for low-­‐ income and disconnected youth. And since 2010, we have worked to build strong connections between children and responsible adults through our Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative.

A supportive mentor can mean the difference between struggle and success. As we mark this important occasion, I encourage all Americans to spend time as a mentor and help lift our next generation toward their hopes and dreams. To learn more about how to get involved, visit www.Serve.gov/Mentor.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 2013 as National Mentoring Month. I call upon public officials, business and community leaders, educators, and Americans across the country to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-­‐first day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-­‐seventh.

Barack Obama

And so, we are very excited to announce open enrollment for both kids and volunteer mentors!  Help us reach our initial goal of 60 Bigs for 60 Kids by emailing Stephanie Bolton today!

We already have 10 children waiting to be matched and anticipate many more as we expand the program to include more schools.  Are you ready to be a Big?  All it takes is 1 hour a week, during your lunch break.  To learn more about becoming a Big, contact Stephanie Bolton.

Our new space provides plenty of offices for our growing team, a volunteer training room, and intern workstations! (To inquire about internships with BBBS, please contact info@blueridgebigs.org.)

We will be throwing an office warming/open house party January 31st from 5 – 7:30pm.  This event is open to the public and refreshments will be provided. Come tour our space, learn more about our work, help us make our new space home.

To see more photos of the move, click here!

As you are aware, our nation is facing extraordinary and complex economic challenges.  Government funding for social programs like ours is being severely curtailed or entirely eliminated at the federal, state and local levels.  What this has meant for BBBS of the Central Blue Ridge is a reduction of nearly half of its operating budget.

In recent years, we intentionally and strategically pursued governmental sources of revenue because our work with children facing adversity saves the government money by reducing the burden on the juvenile justice, criminal justice and public welfare systems. Additionally, we have leveraged these public sources of funding dollar for dollar. This support has been instrumental in helping us serve nearly 1,000 children since our inception in 1980 and we believe it has been an excellent use of taxpayer’s money.

Despite the successes of our program, the federal government eliminated funding to our agency, along with hundreds of other Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the nation, due to budget cutbacks.  As a result, we regrettably no longer have the resources available to continue providing services to Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta Valley.

“It is very painful to close programs and say goodbye to dedicated volunteers, but given the economic reality, we feel this is the prudent course of action at this time.”  Says Jackie Bright, Executive Director.  “By making this difficult decision today, we will ensure that Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge is well positioned for another 25 years of service to the vulnerable youth in our region.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. Bigs meet with their Little Brother or Little Sister for about two hours each week to share activities that focus on fun and positive youth development. To learn more about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, contact info@blueridgebigs.org or call 434-244-0882. More information is available at www.blueridgebigs.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge regularly partners with area organizations and other youth-serving agencies to provide programming for Bigs and Littles. Programs in the arts offer a special opportunity for youth and their mentors to identify skills and strengths that will help them succeed in school, peer relationships and risk avoidance. “Trying new activities together helps Bigs and Littles develop long-lasting relationships built on trust and sharing that have a big impact,” said Jackie Bright, Executive Director. “We know that when a child finds his or her spark or passion, that helps them build the confidence to excel in other areas too, and seeing their works on display will be an exciting opportunity for all of us!”

Light House Studio partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge to offer a six-week course in filmmaking focusing on animation, interviewing and editing. Big and Little matches created films that focused on various themes selected by the students, including “Getting to Know You,” which builds on the unique relationships each match shares. There will be a running loop of selected videos on display. This partnership was made possible by a grant from the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charlottesville. For more information about Light House Studio, please visit http://lighthousestudio.org/.

Piedmont Council for the Arts partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Ridge to create “Nature Sculptures.” Big and Little matches recently participated in an Arts Inspire workshop with Patrick Costello, the New City Arts Initiative’s Artist-in-Resident at The Haven. After a discussion of natural landscape and Charlottesville’s green spaces, the group branched out to Lee Park to create temporary sculptures out of materials found in nature. The gallery will feature an exhibit of photographs documenting the “Nature Sculptures” program. This workshop was part of PCA’s Arts Inspire Workshop & Exhibit Series. Arts Inspire is funded by the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band in the CACF, Celebrate250!, and  the Virginia Commission for the Arts. For more information about Piedmont Council for the Arts, please visit http://charlottesvillearts.org/.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. Bigs meet with their Little Brother or Little Sister for a few hours a month to share activities that focus on fun and positive youth development. Although the program is currently serving about 90 children in Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville, there is still a waiting list of 100 more children. To learn more about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, contact info@blueridgebigs.org or call 434-244-0882. More information is available at www.blueridgebigs.org.

Big Brother Bill Kelley has been matched with Little Brother Marcel for eleven years. A mentor with BBBS of the Central Blue Ridge for over a decade, Kelley recognizes Marcel as a family member, noting that even as their commitment to the program ends when Marcel turns 18, their bond is lifelong. Matching and Outreach Coordinator Tosha Russock shares, “We consider Bill and Marcel a team. Bill has been such a great example of leadership, showing his support to our agency over the years of their match. Mentoring is infectious; we have watched Marcel develop into a young man who is now acting as a mentor to Bill’s grandchildren. Their relationship is what you hope for.”

Big Sister Heather Welsh has been a mentor for eight years to Amanda. Early in their experience, Welsh used to go by her Little Sister’s house and leave notes on the door the day before an outing, just to remind Amanda that Welsh was committed and cared about their time together. Juli Ferrell, Executive Director, shares “Heather has great goals for her little sister, guiding her to finish school, learn how to drive and make plans for her next stage in life. Mentors impact children and may not realize that their commitment is remembered by adults who were once part of the program. I can see Heather and Amanda sharing stories for many years to come.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. Bigs meet with their Little Brother or Little Sister for about two hours each week to share activities that focus on fun and positive youth development. Serving about 100 children in Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville, they still have a waiting list of 100 more children. To learn more about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, contact info@blueridgebigs.org or call 434-244-0882. More information is available at www.blueridgebigs.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winchester, Frederick & Clarke Counties is helping local children facing adversity reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring. The vision for 2012 is to serve more than 100 children who have the highest risk factors in Winchester City, Frederick & Clarke Counties by providing mentoring relationships thereby contributing to better schools, brighter futures and stronger communities. Visit www.bbbswinchester.org or facebook.com/BBBSWFC to learn more. Start Something BIG, donate or volunteer today.