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Volunteer Application

Dear Volunteer,

Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami! We are grateful that you share our passion to empower Miami's youth to achieve their full potential. Please read the below information about our programs, volunteer requirements and how you can get involved.

We have four one-to-one mentoring programs through which you can volunteer:
  • Community-Based Mentoring: Bigs are matched with a Little (5-14 years old) in a one-to-one mentoring relationship. Bigs and Littles spend time together at least twice monthly, approximately four (4) hours each time. Bigs coordinate timing of outings with their Littles’ parent/guardian, and activities are those that both the Big and the Little enjoy, such as playing board games, visiting a museum, playing or watching sports, going fishing or any other child-safe, parent-approved activity. Activities may also take place online and include online games, virtual dance parties, taking a virtual tour of a national park or museum, discussing books, and more. Volunteers must have their own transportation and are required to provide a copy of their driver’s license and a copy of insurance card.

  • School to Work: Companies and organizations that would like to volunteer as a group recruit mentors from their pool of staff and host a group of high school students on a regular basis throughout the school year. Employee volunteers are paired with Littles in high school. Littles are transported to the worksite for four (4) hours on a monthly basis throughout the school year. Site visits consist of a college and career readiness workshop and one-to-one time for job shadowing and mentoring.
        Students gain valuable exposure to workplace practices, as well as career and scholarship                opportunities.

  • Bigs in Schools/Sites: Volunteers are matched with a child at a designated elementary, middle, or high school and meet for approximately an hour each week throughout the school year. Visits take place at school or at the Little’s after-school program. Alternatively, visits may take place online, with Bigs and Littles connecting via Zoom. Activities may include playing educational games, reading together, talking about life or any other activity that is available at the program site. For in-person programming, Bigs and Littles are required to stay at the designated program site, either the Little’s school or after-school program, and may not leave site grounds for any reason.

  • Take Stock in Children: Volunteers are matched with a student at a nearby middle or high school and mentor them at school at least twice monthly (ideally weekly). Students have been awarded a college scholarship, and mentoring serves to empower students to get on track and stay on track for an on-time high school graduation and enrollment in an institution of higher education. Activities include discussing ways to be successful in school and in the workplace, taking about life goals and/or completing activities from our Mentor Toolkit. 
We require that all mentors:

  • Commit to volunteering for at least one calendar year. 
    • Research shows that the impact of mentoring takes place at the 12-month mark of a relationship. Additionally, the longer a mentoring relationship lasts, the longer the impact on the mentee. Keep in mind that research shows that mentoring relationships that last fewer than six months can have a negative impact on youth. Therefore, we ask you to seriously consider your ability to make the commitment. 
  • Complete the enrollment process. This includes:
    • Completing a volunteer application. 
      • Volunteers participating in the Community-Based Mentoring program must include their driver’s license and car insurance information, as well as copies of each, on the application.
    • Agreeing to a national Level II background check.
    • Providing person references. 
    • Setting aside two (2) hours for an interview and training/orientation session with program staff. 
    • Volunteers who are interested in the School to Work program need to confirm with their employer that their workplace is a partner site. 
    • Volunteers participating in the Bigs in Schools/Sites program should review the list of participating schools and the days/times they accept volunteer visitors.
We look forward to providing you with a positive and impactful volunteer experience! Please feel free to contact us at (305) 644-0066 if you have any additional questions. 

Sincerely,

BBBS Miami Program Staff
Non-Discrimination Policy

Our participants come to us with a wide range of personal characteristics. We believe that participant eligibility shall be determined without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or disability. 

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Contact Information
Employer Information
Additional Information

References and Background Check

Previous Experience
Volunteer Experience
Youth Serving Organizations Reference
In addition to the references below, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami requires references from all youth serving organizations at which you have worked or volunteered in the past 5 years. 
Please provide at least three references below including:
  • Your spouse or domestic partner OR a family member if you do not have a spouse, partner, or significant other.
  • Current or former employee or co-worker you have known for at least one year or someone from your school if you are a student
  • A friend or neighbor you have known for at least two years
Spousal/Partner/Familial Reference
Professional Reference
Minimum 1 year
Personal Reference
Minimum 2 years
Coworker/Friend
Minimum 2 years
I consent to and understand that:
  1. The references and youth-serving organization(s) I listed may be contacted by mail, telephone, email, or in person;
  2. The information I provided may be used to conduct a background check, to include a search of public domain records, driving records check, juvenile and adult criminal history check (see attached authorization), military records, and other records where required by local, state, or federal law for volunteers working with youth;
  3. I am in no way obligated to perform any volunteer services;
  4. The BBBS agency is not obligated to match me with a youth and may deny my application or close my match at any time, and to protect all participants’ confidentiality, BBBS is not required to disclose reasons for doing so; 
  5. Other BBBS agencies and youth organizations where I have worked or volunteered may be contacted as references;
  6. As part of the enrollment processes, I will be required to provide additional personal information, including completion of an in-person interview;
  7. I understand that the information I provide in the enrollment process will be kept confidential, unless disclosure is required by law.  
  8. I understand that detailed accounts of child abuse or neglect, past or present, will be reported to proper authorities;
  9. I understand that certain relevant information about me will be discussed with the parent/guardian of a child who is a prospective match (this might include demographic information, information relevant to parent/child preferences, and any information relevant to a child’s safety or well-being);  
  10. It is my responsibility to update the agency if any of the information I provide on this application, in my interview, or any other information provided during the enrollment process changes (i.e. address, phone number, auto-insurance, new criminal charges, etc.)
  11. I agree to complete questionnaires throughout my time in the program to evaluate and improve program services;
  12. I agree to timely communication and follow-up with all agency staff as required by the agency.

Pre-Interview Questionnaire

Prior to your in-person interview, please answer the questions below. The information you provide will also help us make a better match for you and assure we can support you during your involvement with our program. Please note that you will have an opportunity to discuss these questions and your responses more thoroughly during your in-person interview.  
If no, please input N/A
If no, please input N/A
If no, please input N/A
If no, please input N/A
Please provide the name, age, and relationship to you for anyone else residing in your home.

Release of Information Authorization

Document Overview

Prior to your in-person interview, we would like you to complete the sections below.
Parents/Guardians of youth in our programs often ask us questions about someone with whom
their child will be matched; we will release information to a parent/guardian only with your
expressed permission. The information you provide in this document will also help us make the
best possible match for you and assure that we can support you throughout your time as a Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Miami (BBBS Miami) volunteer.

Background check 

I hearby authorize BBBS Miami to secure any information staff deem necessary from law enforcement agencies; medical, psychiatric, and psychological professionals; current and past employers; educational institutions; social contracts and any other sources to evaluate my potential as a Big Brother/Big Sister. As fully set forth in the Confidentiality Policy, I understand that this information is confidential. 

Confidentiality and Digital Platform Policies

Confidentiality Policy

In order for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, Inc., (the “Agency”) to provide a responsible and

professional service to clients, it is necessary for volunteers, clients and parents/guardians to

divulge extensive personal information about themselves and their families. Additionally, the

Agency collects information from outside sources, including confidential references, which become part of client, parent/guardian, or volunteer files. All records are the property of the Agency and are not property of any Agency employee, client, parent/guardian, or volunteer. Therefore, records are not available for review by clients, parents/guardians, or volunteers. The Agency respects the confidentiality of clients and volunteers and, with the exception of the situations listed below, shares collected information only among Agency staff who need to know the information to responsibly complete their job duties.



Limits of Confidentiality

  1. Information will be released to other individuals or organizations only upon presentation of an authorized "Consent to Release Information" form appropriately signed by (i) the client’s parent/guardian when the information requested relates to the client, or (ii) the volunteer when the information requested relates to the volunteer. 
  2. Identifying information regarding clients and volunteers may be used in Agency publications or promotional materials if the client or volunteer has given permission. 
  3. For purposes of program evaluation, audit, or accreditation, and with the prior approval of the Board of Directors, certain outside organizations, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, may have access to client and volunteer records. These outside organizations shall be required to respect the Agency’s Confidentiality Policy. Outside parties shall use such information only for the purpose(s) approved by the Board of Directors. Known violations of Agency’s Confidentiality Policy will be reported to the supervisor of the individual involved, or to the President, and appropriate disciplinary action shall be taken. 
  4. Members of the Board of Directors have access to client files for various reasons, including (i) program evaluation, audit and case planning, (ii) under circumstances that may adversely impact the Agency to evaluate the impact and the Agency’s response, and (iii) at the discretion of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and/or the Agency’s Management Team. 
  5. Information shall be provided to (i) Agency legal counsel or any counsel selected by the Agency and/or (ii) the Agency’s insurance carrier in the event of litigation or potential litigation or at the discretion of the President and CEO or the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for any matter involving the Agency. Such information provided to legal counsel is privileged information, and its confidentiality is protected by law. 
  6. Information shall only be provided to law enforcement officials or the courts pursuant to a valid and enforceable subpoena.
  7. During the pre-matching process, information about the client and parent/guardian will be shared with the potential volunteer, and vice-versa. After a match has been created, information about the matched volunteer will be shared with the client and parent/guardian, and vice-versa. 
  8. State law mandates that suspected child abuse be reported to the Florida Department of Children & Families. Agency workers shall comply with mandated procedures. 
  9. If an Agency worker receives information indicating that a client or volunteer may be dangerous to himself/herself or to others, necessary steps may be taken to protect the appropriate party. This may include a medical referral or a report to the local law enforcement authorities.



BBBS Miami is committed to providing positive guidance and support to the youth we serve.

Because of the impactful and significant friendship our volunteers usually establish with program participants, we wish to stress the importance of our volunteers’ reliable and consistent

participation in the program and ongoing communication with BBBS Miami staff during all phases of program involvement. Therefore, we require volunteers to agree to the following:

  1. I agree to be a reliable and consistent participant in the program
  2. I agree to maintain ongoing communication with BBBS Miami Staff - including returning phone calls, emails, text messages and other attempts to contact - during all phases of my involvement with the program.
Are you willing to follow these guidelines? 

Statement of Understanding

Media Consent and Release

I irrevocably consent to any and all uses and displays of my name, image, likeness, appearance, basic biographical information, audio/video recordings, writings, artwork, and the like, in original form or in modified form, in whole or in part, in, on, or in connection with merchandise, advertising, publicity, marketing, fundraising, and the like, in printed or electronic media, of any type, throughout the world at any time by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and [BBBSA affiliate] in their sole discretion, and by any of their affiliates, successors, partners, sponsors, donors, any entities or persons with whom they conduct any public relations, marketing, or fund raising of any type, and any other authorized third parties, without further consent from me, without any royalty, payment, or other compensation to me, and with the release and waiver of any claims, actions, damages, losses, costs, expenses and liability of any kind arising from any such use (the “Released Material”).

In consideration of the mutual promises made herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which I hereby acknowledge, I hereby grant to BBBSA and its affiliates the right to use the Released Material as BBBSA and/or its affiliates may desire, in all media now existing or hereafter created and in all variations and forms including, but not limited to, internal or external publications or productions, informational or recruitment materials, marketing materials, fundraising materials, televised photography and/or recordings, advertisements, Public Service Announcements, and/or online and social media sites. The use of this information shall be at the sole discretion of BBBSA and/or its affiliates.

I further grant to BBBSA and its affiliates the absolute right to use the Released Material in whole or in part, alone or in conjunction with any other image, name, writings or reproduction, in color or otherwise, for art, advertising, business, trade, or any other lawful purpose whatsoever, in perpetuity throughout the world.

I understand and agree that all materials created by BBBSA and/or its affiliates that use the Released Materials are the property of and are owned by BBBSA, and that I cannot authorize their use by any other party.  I further understand that BBBSA may authorize their use by a third party. I hereby irrevocably transfer and assign to BBBSA my entire right, title and interest, if any, in and to the Released Materials and all copyrights in the Released Materials arising in any jurisdiction throughout the world, including the right to register and sue to enforce such copyrights against infringers.

I acknowledge and agree that I have no right to review or approve the Released Materials before they are used by BBBSA and/or its affiliates, and that BBBSA has no liability to me for any editing or alteration of the Released Materials or for any distortion or other effects resulting from BBBSA’s and/or its affiliates’ editing, alteration or use of the Released Materials.  BBBSA has no obligation to use the Released Materials or to exercise any rights given by this Consent and Release Form.

I hereby release BBBSA and its affiliates, employees, and agents, as well as any partner companies, from all claims, demands or liabilities and related financial costs that I may now or hereafter have arising in connection with BBBSA’s exercise of the rights hereby granted, and/or with the appearance or the Released Materials in any publication or production. These include, without limitation, claims for compensation, defamation, or invasion of privacy, or other infringements or violations of personal or property rights of any sort whatsoever.

Child Safety Guidelines and Ground Rules for Volunteers                                                                      

Safety

I agree to immediately report to a BBBS Miami staff member any concerns that I have about my Little's safety.

General Standard

I understand that I should use good sense during all mentoring sessions and when communicating with my Little. I understand that my behavior must be within the parameters of acceptable program standards. I must not engage in any activity that may have a negative effect on my Little. If I am in doubt about the appropriateness of an activity, I will consult with my dedicated Program Specialist and my Little's parent/guardian. I understand that BBBS Miami has informed both my Little and their parent/guardian regarding the child safety guidelines to be followed. 

Confidentiality and Social Networking

  • I understand that I must maintain as confidential all shared with me about my Little and my Little's family, except to discuss with BBBS Miami staff and/or appropriate authorities. 
  • I understand that I am not to publish or share photos (digital or print) or videos of my Little without my Little's parent/guardian's expressed consent. I understand that my Little should never be identified by name in any photo or video.
  • I understand that I should not chat with, associate, link with or "friend" my little in any social networking or other internet site without the permission of BBBS Miami Program Specialist. 
  • I understand that I should not chat with, associate, link with or "friend" my Little in any social networking or other internet site where youth-inappropriate material or language may be viewed by my Little. 

Application Acknowledgement

I understand that this is an application for a volunteer opportunity and is not a promise or commitment by Big Brothers Big Sisters.

I certify that all information I have provided or will provide to Big Brothers Big Sisters, including this application, is true, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge. I certify that I have and will answer all questions to the best of my ability and that I have not and will not withhold any information that would affect my application for a volunteer position. I understand that information contained in my application will be verified by Big Brothers Big Sisters. I understand that misrepresentations or omissions may be cause for my immediate rejection as an applicant or my termination as a volunteer.

At any time while involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, I agree to immediately inform my Big Brothers Big Sisters contact person of any and all infractions, violations, charges, and convictions related to any civil, domestic, or criminal matters.  I understand that BBBS staff needs to be fully informed to provide the best guidance or support possible.  

Contact Information