Dear Parent/Guardian,

Your child has the opportunity to participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters School-Based Mentoring program.  School-Based Mentoring is a free program offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota.  Your youth will be matched with a Big (mentor)  who will meet with your child two to four times per month (length of time will vary depending on the age of your youth and schedules).   

• These matches will meet in person or virtually depending on the CDC, MN Department of Health and /or School District recommendations.  The meeting time may be before school, during the school day or after school (depending on schedules and the school district).

• The Big (mentor) and Little (mentee) will connect with one another, two to four times per month in person or virtually (via Google Meet or Zoom).  This will allow your child to build and share a friendship within a structured setting facilitated by a Big Brothers Big Sisters Program Coordinator.

• Each “match” will focus on fun, activities (virtual or in person) with their Big, others Bigs and Littles (at times), and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program Coordinator. The match will also work on building positive communication and social skills during their time together.  We will work with your child's teacher to get their feedback on suggested activities your child could work on with their Big.

• Every volunteer “Big”, is interviewed, screened, and assessed for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program prior to being approved to be a mentor.  These mentors are adults from the community or high school students.

• We will contact parents/guardians to give updates on the match relationships, acquire parental insight on each child's needs and help support each child to have a positive experience with their mentor. 

• Matches will have the opportunity to communicate with each other outside the structured virtually mentoring times.  They are able to communicate through the Big Brothers Big Sisters Communication platform and by sending letters/post cards to each other.

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is an integral part of our values and mission.  We recognize, affirm, and celebrate the diverse backgrounds, lives, and experiences of our stakeholders, including youth, families, board members, donors, volunteers, and staff.  We ensure the opportunity for voices and perspectives to be heard and honored.  In the community, we foster an environment where people can be their best selves.

We affirm that every person [regardless of ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, gender expression, income, national origin, race or sexual orientation, marital or veteran status] has the opportunity to reach their full potential.  We strive to realize the full potential that is within all of us by ensuring that voices and perspectives are heard and honored.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota respects the confidentiality of client and volunteer records and, with the exception of situations listed below, shares information about clients and volunteers only among the agency professional staff.

All records are considered the property of the agency and not the agency workers, clients or volunteers themselves. Records are not available for review by the clients or volunteers.

1. Information will be released to other individuals or non-BBBS organizations only with the client or volunteer's written consent.

2. For purposes of program evaluation, audit, or accreditation, and with the prior approval of the Board of Directors, certain outside bodies such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America may have access to client and volunteer records.

3. Members of the Board of Directors or evaluators appointed by the Board have access to client files upon authorization of the Board of Directors.

4. Information shall only be provided to law enforcement officials or the courts pursuant to a valid and enforceable subpoena.

5. Information shall be provided to an agency's legal counsel in the event of litigation or potential litigation involving the agency.

6. State law mandates that suspected child abuse be reported to the appropriate authorities (law enforcement or social services).

7. If an agency worker receives information indicating that a client or volunteer may be dangerous to themselves or to others, necessary steps may be taken to protect the appropriate party. This may include a medical referral or report to the local law enforcement authorities. 

8. At the time a youth or volunteer is considered as a match candidate, information is shared between the prospective match parties. The information about the volunteer may include such items as: age, gender, race, religion, interests, hobbies, marriage, family status, sexual orientation, living situation, etc. Information about the child may include such items as age, sex, sexual identity, race, religion, interests, hobbies, family situation, etc.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN recognizes that social media, and other digital technology is an integral communication tool. In general, personal use of social media sites is typically for communications between peers, including friends and family. Not all social networking sites are designed to support mentoring relationships. BBBSCM encourages volunteers to interact with their youth on a one-to-one, in-person basis, but understands that there are certain circumstances where the use of social media is acceptable with specific authorizations and safeguards to ensure a mentee’s safety, confidentiality, and privacy. When necessary to communicate outside of face to face, BBBS encourages matches to communicate on a BBBS provided or approved platform.

It is the policy of BBBSCM that all agency volunteers, youth, and Parent/Guardians who engage in the use of digital technology (texting, video chats) and/or social networking, which includes, but not limited to social media, blogs, wikis, Twitter, Facebook, etc., agree:

1. To remain a positive role model in all postings and/or communications.
2. To respect our youth, families, staff and volunteers’ privacy and dignity.
3. To honor privacy and confidentiality by not sharing confidential information about a youth, family, volunteer, employee or BBBS, or use their image without consent, even in a private forum.
4. To model healthy boundaries when communicating over social media/digital technology. Examples: To use prudent judgement in the time and manner in which you are contacting each other.
5. To be transparent in interactions.
6. To be aware of surroundings especially when utilizing video technology.
7. To ensure privacy controls and settings restrict accessibility of youth in the program to only age-appropriate content when using any device while in the care of the volunteer.
8. To speak respectfully about BBBS and those affiliated with BBBS and refrain from posting information that reflects negatively on BBBS or any match participants.
9. To report any potentially inappropriate content immediately to BBBS.
10. To abide by any other policy or procedure that BBBS may put into effect regarding social media, social networking and/or digital technology.
11. Most social media platforms have requirements that minors be age 13 before using the service. Mentors should not connect with youth under the age of 13 on social media.
12. To adhere to all local, state and federal laws.