Being a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters is not only FUN, but extremely rewarding. Soon you’ll have the chance to impact the lives of local youth in our community. 

BUT FIRST… here’s a few Big Requirements to assure our Littles have the most positive and effective experience:

• Be at least a 9th grader or older 
• Are committed to meeting with your little 2-4 times a month for a minimum of 12 months
• Will connect with your Program Coordinator each month
• Are not going through major life changes that would impact your Match

Not sure if you’re ready? We’d love to talk more. Please reach out to Tasha Bruns-Notsch @ 320.310.1276 or Tasha@BigDefenders.org. 

READY TO GO BIG? APPLY NOW BELOW!

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 child 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, sex, race, religion, interests, hobbies, marriage, family status, sexual orientation, living situation, etc. Information about the child may include such items as age, sex, race, religion, interests, hobbies, family situation, etc.

We're glad and honored you joined us! Here are the important components that every volunteer must understand and agree to before becoming a Big.

After you have looked over the information in the handbook, please review and sign this document.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN provides children and youth with safe, quality mentoring relationships with caring adults who serve as volunteers. Our Bigs teach by example the importance of giving and giving back, of staying in school, and of having respect for family, peers, and community. As a Big, you share with your Little, their parents/guardians, and the agency, a commitment to fostering a safe, enjoyable, meaningful, and healthy mentoring relationship by observing our code of conduct. 

As a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), I understand that seeing my Little consistently is one of the most important things that I can do as a mentor;  therefore I will keep my commitment to see my Little two to four times per month for a minimum of one year.   I also agree to:   

Conduct myself in a manner consistent with my position as a positive role model to a child/youth, and as a representative of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN. 

Not inflict any physical, sexual, emotional, or other abuse or exploitation on children and/or youth. 

Use respectful and appropriate language in all interactions with my Little and avoid use of the following: profanity, derogatory terms, inappropriate jokes, name calling, or discussion of intimate personal details of my life. 

Respect my Little's personal space and boundaries and avoid inappropriate physical contact, including tickling, wrestling, sitting on laps, back rubs, etc. 

Provide fair treatment to youth and their family, no matter gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, medical needs, and/or sexual orientation. 

Treat my Little and their family in a respectful manner at all times. The Big-Little relationship is based on mutual respect. 

Notify BBBS immediately of any safety issues in the life of my Little that I become aware of in the course of volunteering. 

Have an open mind and understand that all youth are different; therefore all matches will be different.  I will not have unrealistic expectations going into my match.

Maintain confidentiality with my match.  This includes using first names only when talking to others about my match and keeping my Little’s family information private.

Keep the agency informed of any changes in address and/or phone number.

Keep in contact with my Program Coordinator for monthly supervision (Match Support), which is required by BBBS national standards. 

Inform the agency if I am arrested and/or break any laws, regardless of if there is a conviction or not.   This includes any traffic violations, accidents, and moving violations.  The agency will review the arrest and the circumstance to determine the status of my match.  Failure to inform the agency can result in immediate termination of the match.

Consult with my Program Coordinator prior to giving my Little any significant gifts (significant is anything above $25).

Never ask my Little to keep any secrets and understand that all activities and conversations have to be considered open territory to my Little’s Parent/Guardian and Program Coordinator.

Not interact with my Little on social media sites unless I and my Little’s Parent/Guardian have signed BBBSCM's social media policy.  I will adhere to all guidelines outlined in the social media policy.

I understand that as a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters I am a mandated reporter of suspected/known abuse and agree to make all necessary reports if/when needed.  I will make my Program Coordinator aware of all reports I make.

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. 

I understand that:

• I am expected to be a role model in and out of school and agree to be chemical free.  If I am adjudicated/cited for any type of alcohol/drug related offense or other offenses I understand I will lose my privilege to be a Big.  I agree to not violate any Minnesota High School League rules; please refer to the MN State High School League Handbook;

• The references I listed may be contacted by mail, telephone or email;

• I am in no way obligated to perform any services;

• The information I provided may be used to conduct a background check, to include driving records check, criminal background check, and other records where required by local, state, or federal law for volunteers working with youth;

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN utilizes text messages to communicate with participants in our program.  At any time, you wish not to receive these texts please reply STOP. You will not receive any texts from us after that. 

• The Big Brothers Big Sisters agency is not obligated to match me with a youth; and,

• As part of my enrollment process, I will be asked to provide additional personal information prior to making any recommendations for a match.