Big Futures Mentoring at Quincy High School: Youth Information and Consent Form

To get the most out of the Big Futures program, your child can text, call or video chat with their mentor. Your child can also participate in pair outings with your permission. Pair outings may include, but are not limited to college tours, volunteer opportunities, and experiences that can build their resume and prepare them for success after high school. Your child will only go on outings if you approve them.

The full safety guidelines for this program can be found here https://emassbigs.org/fy23-safety-guidelines/.
All Mentors are required to follow these guidelines in their entirety at all times.

By clicking the box below I am confirming that I understand that:

1. I have used the web link to review the FAQs for guardians concerning Big Brothers Big Sisters, including child safety practices and policies, and I give my permission for my child to participate in the program: https://emassbigs.org/fy23-safety-guidelines/
2. My child will attend school events once per month at Quincy High School. You will be sent event details before each event.
3. Big Brothers Big Sisters will coordinate with me and Quincy High School to arrange safe transportation home for my child after Big Futures events.
4. Both myself and my child will exchange numbers with their Mentor and text, call, or video chat
5. My child has the option to go on pair outings with their mentor, only with my written permission for each outing and mutually agreed upon arrangements for picking up and dropping off my child
6. Mentors and BBBSEM staff have permission to drive my child to and from BBBSEM-sponsored and pair outing events as long as I am informed by writing or verbally. I can withdraw or modify this permission at any Aaron Gordon, of my transport preferences in writing.
7. I will communicate with my child's program coordinator, Aaron Gordon, if he reaches out to me to discuss Big Futures activities, the mentoring relationship, and any challenges or successes for your child
8. I will communicate with my child's mentor, once matched, as needed to discuss issues such as consistency, child behavior, scheduling, or other ways to support my child
9. This application in no way obligates BBBSEM to perform any volunteer services
10. All children enrolled in the program must demonstrate their interest in participating. We will not move forward in our process without consent from all active participants
11. BBBSEM is not obligated to match youth and cannot guarantee that we will find a suitable match pairing for every family we work with
12. As part of BBBSEM’s enrollment process, I understand that a program staff member will interview my child to learn more about their interests, personality and basic family information for the purpose of identifying the best possible Big Brother or Big Sister for them. This will happen prior to enrolling and matching them in the program.
13. Information gathered may be shared with a potential volunteer as part of the matching process
14. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts works in partnership with the parent or guardian regarding the creation and support of the Big/Little relationship. Big Brothers of Eastern Massachusetts will screen all Big Brother/Big Sister candidates prior to match and will maintain consistent contact with all participants of the match for its duration.
15. BBBSEM will complete ongoing confidential surveys that review the strength of the relationships we help create overall as well as outcomes for the youth in our program. Surveys cover topics including but not limited to how the child is doing in school, their expectations about their future, their relationships with their mentor and school community, and perceptions of the mentorship program. The survey results will be kept confidential (Note: not all children in the program are surveyed.)
16. I authorize my child’s school to release grades and attendance to program staff for the purposes of data collection and program evaluation. I understand my child’s name will not be used in any evaluation report
17. All records are considered the property of the agency and not the agency staff, the parents, the children, or the volunteers themselves. Records are considered confidential and are not available for review by parents, children or volunteers
18. State law mandates that suspected child abuse be reported to the appropriate authorities (i.e. Department of Children and Families). Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts staff are mandated reporters.
19. I will contact your child's program coordinator, Aaron Gordon, at agordon@emassbigs.org with any questions or concerns at any time during your child's participation in Big Futures Mentoring, including any significant changes that might affect the mentoring relationship (e.g., new phone numbers, address, change in family)

I agree to the terms above