Thank you so much for your interest in enrolling your child into Big Brothers Big Sisters Southern Lake Michigan Region mentoring program! 

We appreciate your desire for your child to have a mentor "Big."  Our goal is to provide youth with a caring adult who can be a part of their support system.  All Bigs are volunteers, and because we rely heavily on volunteers, the length of time before your child will be matched can vary.

We also match based on mutual interests, age, and locations. Unfortunately, this means some youth wait longer than others, but it gives each match the best chance to build a friendship with their Big. As soon as you submit this application, your child will be placed on our waiting list. While you are waiting for your child to be matched, please keep us updated with any changes to your address and phone number. This is very important because we will use this information to reach out to you to schedule an intake interview. If we cannot reach you, your child's application will have to be closed. 

FOR ELKHART COUNTY RESIDENTS: We have a partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Elkhart County. Once a child is added to our waiting list, they can have a free scholarship to attend one of the clubs! Please visit https://www.greatfutures.club/clubhouses for more information or call (574) 534-5933 to learn how your child may attend one of the four B&G Club locations in Middlebury, Elkhart, Goshen, and Nappanee.  This scholarship is for the clubs only, not Kids Care.

Please don't hesitate to reach ou tto us with any questions or concerns. If you need resources for your family, please email enrollment@becomeabig.com

Thank you!

BBBS Enrollment Team

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southern Lake Michigan Region follows a non-discrimination policy that prohibits exclusion of potential volunteer Bigs, youth, parents/guardians, board members, or agency staff on the basis of race, color, religion, age, pregnancy, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other protected class.

Gender and Sexual Orientation

1. For my child to participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program.

2. For the volunteer matched with my child, who has been screened and approved by Big Brothers Big Sisters, has permission to transport my child to events and match activities.(Community-Based match only) 

3. For the school to provide social and academic information about my child to Big Brothers Big Sisters (e.g. report cards, behavior reports);

4. To have my child participate in an in-take interview conducted by Big Brothers Big Sisters staff and complete questionnaires throughout their time in the program containing questions about school, home life, and personal interests.

5. To have my child talk with a Big Brothers Big Sisters staff person about personal safety.

6. BBBS staff may provide contact information for me and my child to the volunteer. (Community-Based match only)

7. For Big Brothers Big Sisters staff to meet with my child at their school and/or afterschool program center to conduct an interview and/or match support.

8. For my child’s Big to meet with them at their school.

I understand that the program is not obligated to match my child with a volunteer and that as part of the enrollment process, I will be asked to complete needed surveys to track my child's progress in the program. If my child is enrolling into the Community-Based mentoring program, I will be asked additional information through an in-person interview. I understand that the information I provide in the enrollment process will be kept confidential unless disclosure is required by law and with exceptions noted.  I understand that incidents of child abuse or neglect, past or present, must be reported to proper authorities. I understand that certain relevant information about my child will be discussed with the volunteer who is a prospective match (i.e., demographic information, information relevant to volunteer preferences, and information relevant to child-safety and well-being).

I certify that all of the information on this form is true and correct and that all income is reported.  I understand this information is being given for the receipt of federal funds, that the information on this application may be verified, and that deliberate misrepresentation of the information may subject me to prosecution under applicable state and federal laws. I understand this information will not affect my child's qualification for the program.

I do hereby release the organization and its employees, agents, members, volunteers, and all other persons on its behalf from any and all liability for any damage or injury which such child might sustain while participating in said program and activities, including but not limited to any liability to any right of action that may occur to such child directly, or to me as their guardian. I understand that this information may be shared with the school or with partnership agencies when applicable.

1. All information that I may encounter about any child, child’s family, volunteer Big, the volunteer Big's family or anything else of a confidential nature about any child or volunteer in any way connected with Big Brothers Big Sisters WILL BE HELD CONFIDENTIAL.

2. Any information that reveals or tends to reveal the identity of any person who is the subject of the record WILL BE HELD CONFIDENTIAL.

3. The identity of any person who contributes information to the subject record WILL BE HELD CONFIDENTIAL.

4. The results of any inquiry into school records or medical records of any description WILL BE HELD CONFIDENTIAL.

5. I will NOT discuss any information that I am privileged to receive with any other person without the verbal or written permission of the program staff.

6. I will only release prior approved information to the individual to whom I have been given permission to release the information.

7. I agree to hold all related information confidential and, except as I may be legally required, I will NOT disclose or release it to any individual or corporation at anytime.

8. I understand that Big Brothers Big Sisters agrees to hold all related information confidential and, except as we may be legally required, we will NOT disclose or release it to any individual or corporation at anytime.

Social Media Policy

A.            Purpose & Scope of Policy

When used appropriately, BBBS believes that social media is a tool that can be utilized in the communication and strengthening of the bond between the Big, Little, Parent and agency. Social Media includes, but is not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Myspace, blogs, buzzfeeds, snapchats and other sites.

As a condition of being a Volunteer Big, volunteer Bigs must read, understand, and agree to abide by this Policy.  Failure to adhere to this Policy may result in the early termination of a match relationship.

B.            Affiliate Position on Use of Social Media

BBBS encourages volunteer Bigs to using age appropriate Social Media with Littles, Little’s parent/guardian(s), family members in accordance with the guidelines of this policy.

BBBS requires volunteer Bigs and parent/legal guardian(s) of the Little to actively opt-in or opt-out of participation in social media with regards to the match relationship. In order for the Big to post any picture or name, the primary parent/guardian’s consent must be given. Otherwise, only generic information may be used.

If either party does not consent, the other party may not specifically identify or communicate with said party within the context of social media.

If a Parent/Guardian or Big chooses to not opt-in and sign the Photo/Social Media Release form, examples of prohibited activities include:

                -Posting photos of person

                -Tagging or Listing of name in a post or photo

                -Checking in at particular locations, specifically identifying the Big or Little

C.            Overall Monitoring of Safety, Confidentiality & Privacy

If a Big or Parent/Guardian chooses to use social media within the context of the match relationship, the Big and Parent/Guardian shall agree to the following:

a.            Terms of use of specific Social Media sites

Upon opting in, each Volunteer Big/Parent/Guardian will certify that s/he has reviewed the terms of use/service and any applicable privacy policy and /or provisions on minors of the Social Media sites that they intend on using with the Littles.

b.            Privacy settings

Upon opting in, each volunteer Big, if using Social Media with their Little, has customized their Social Media settings to ensure that no personal information is viewed by the general public, in order to protect the Little from searches by or contact from the general public.

c.             Monitoring for legal, respectful, appropriate content

Upon opting in, each volunteer Big will monitor their Social Media sites to ensure that all posts and posted materials, whether by the volunteer Big or a third party, are respectful, legal, and appropriate.  If a party observes any social media interactions that are disrespectful, illegal, or inappropriate material, the other party is instructed to contact MSS immediately.

d.            Enhanced restrictions for access to site by Little

Upon opting in, each volunteer Big will use Social media privacy controls and settings to restrict accessibility of the Little to age appropriate content, including wall comments.

e.            Process for reporting misuse, endangerment

Upon opting in, each volunteer Big understands what to do in the case of viewing any information on the Little’s Social Media site that may endanger that Little’s health, safety, and welfare.  Volunteer Big should contact MSS immediately and understand that it is required by Indiana State law to report child abuse to law enforcement personnel.

f.             Confidentiality / Privacy of Little/Little’s family

Upon opting in, volunteer Bigs should not disclose personal information about the Little or their family. Information might include but are not limited to: address, phone number, first and last names, private locations, occupations, other members of the family or problems and concerns that would required match support conversations. Volunteer Bigs are permitted to share match activities, success stories and positive feedback about the program.

g.            Access to information and reposting from the affiliate’s site

Whether opting in or opting out, volunteer Bigs are not allowed to repost content from any “Bigs Only” pages on BBBS’s Facebook page or private section on the BBBS website, particularly if the content not available to the general public. However, volunteer Bigs are permitted and encouraged to share and repost information from the BBBS’s public Facebook page and website, especially promoting fundraising and recruitment efforts of the agency.

h.            Promotion and attribution

When a participant posts something regarding the agency, BBBS requests that participants consider the impact (positive or negative) of such posts. Volunteer Bigs should represent that their opinion(s), belief(s) and statements are personal, and do not represent the opinion(s), belief(s) or statements of BBBS.

D.            Compliance

a.            Investigation non-compliance

BBBS will not actively monitor the volunteer Bigs Social media sites; however, if there is a complaint or inquiry, or BBBS becomes aware of a potential violation of this policy or any other, then BBBS has the right to access the volunteer Big’s Social Media site for compliance purposes.

b.            Consequences of non-compliance

Based on the severity of non-compliance, consequences may range from putting the match on hold to termination of match relationship. If at any time BBBS observes anything that it suspects might put the child’s safety at risk, the agency will exhaust all methods to protect the safety of the child.

E.            Process for distribution of Social Media Policy

This policy will be distributed to volunteer Bigs and Parent/Guardians at the time of Enrollment. A copy of the Photo/Social Media will also be available at that time.

Use of Social Media Consent

After clicking SUBMIT you will be prompted to sign this form and enter your email address. Then you will receive an email with a confirmation and a copy of this document. Thank you!