mentor2.0 is a program offered through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee that combines in-person mentoring for high school students with safe, secure online communication and a comprehensive weekly curriculum focused on college and post-secondary readiness. Depending on your child’s school, the meetings may be in person or virtual.

Students in mentor2.0 develop a strong, personal relationship with an adult role model and mentor. Mentors are college-educated, career-focused adults dedicated to inspiring students to achieve educational and life goals. These relationships last through high school and into the first year post-high school.

The program focuses on preparing students to transition into to college, develop skills that get them ready for life after high school, and provides support to them to navigate the college application process effectively. Students in mentor2.0 are more likely to start and stay in college.

Our model provides the structure and support that every mentor and student needs to develop a close personal relationship. Because our mentors gain a holistic understanding of their mentee’s individual talents, aspirations, and challenges, they are able to provide a level of support that could not be achieved through traditional school counseling alone.

How does it work?

Students will receive weekly communication and curriculum instruction via email from a Big Brothers Big Sisters Staff Member. Additionally, during this time, they will communicate with their mentors over mentor2.0’s secure online platform. Students are responsible to engage in the curriculum and message their mentors at least once per week.

Students and their mentors will meet via a virtual platform with a BBBS Coordinator present at least once per month during social distancing orders. After social distancing orders are lifted, students and their mentors can meet in-person with parental guidance.

What Happens Next?
BBBS will identify a quality match for your child. Your child will be matched with a volunteer adult mentor of the same gender, based on shared career and/or personal interests.

I indicate that I have reviewed the program overview and I understand and agree to my responsibilities as outlined above. 

Communication:

• Interactions between mentors and mentees should only occur within the confines of the mentor2.0 program. All other interactions are not condoned by Big Brothers Big Sisters.
• Acceptable communications are limited to the secure and monitored mentor2.0 online Platform and at the monthly events.
• Other forms of communication which cannot be monitored for safety are strictly prohibited. This includes the exchange of emails, phone calls/texts or social media platforms.< li>

Match Support

• To ensure long and strong relationships, BBBS staff will regularly speak with your child, his/her mentor and school staff to ensure a safe, enjoyable experience and measure progress.
• BBBS staff will contact parents/caregivers once each semester and once over the summer to share updates and discuss progress. Please return calls/emails from BBBS staff within three business days.
• Please ensure your contact information is up to date at all times.
• If at any time, you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s match, do not hesitate to contact BBBS staff.

Safety:

• Your child’s mentor, prior to the time of the match, will have completed many levels of checks and balances to ensure the safety of your child. This includes background checks, reference checks, interviews and pre-match trainings to assure they will be a good role model and safe participant.
• Ongoing throughout the match, Big Brothers Big Sisters staff will monitor the communications between the match, both online and in person. The security of the Platform ensures privacy of your child’s information and the monitoring by staff ensures safe and strong relationship development.
• Every 3^rd year that a mentor is involved in our program, Big Brothers Big Sisters will conduct an annual background check to continually assure a high level of safety in the program.

I indicate that I have read the agency rules and policies and I understand and agree to my responsibilities outlined above. 

I authorize Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) employees, and/or BBBS volunteers to consent to such medical and/or surgical treatment as he/she deems necessary for my child in case of emergency, illness of my child, or accident involving my child. If possible under the circumstances, these medical services are to be performed by the below named physician or facility.

Big Brothers Big Sisters has developed a digital platform to help Mentors and Mentees stay in touch in a safe and secure way. Participation in this platform and use of other electronic communication tools requires permission.

I consent for the youth to having contact with his or her Mentor and/or BBBS staff through Big Brothers Big Sisters' digital platform.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee’s (BBBS) decisions involving persons who have communicable diseases shall be based on current and well-informed medical judgments concerning the disease, the risks of transmitting the illness to others, the symptoms and special circumstances of each individual who has a communicable disease, and a careful weighing of the identified risks and the available alternative for responding to a Volunteer or Child with a communicable disease.

Communicable diseases include, but are not limited to, measles, influenza, viral hepatitis-A (infectious hepatitis), viral hepatitis-B (serum hepatitis), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV infection), AIDS, AIDS-Related Complex (ARC), leprosy, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and tuberculosis. BBBS may choose to broaden this definition within its best interest and in accordance with information received through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

BBBS will not discriminate against any Volunteer or Child based on the individual having a communicable disease. BBBS reserves the right to exclude a person with a communicable disease from the programs and functions if the organization finds that, based on a medical determination, such restriction is necessary for the welfare of the person who has the communicable disease and/or the welfare of others.

BBBS will comply with all applicable statutes and regulations that protect the privacy of persons who have a communicable disease. Every effort will be made to ensure procedurally sufficient safeguards to maintain the personal confidence about persons who have communicable diseases.

I, as the legal parent or guardian of the child listed below, irrevocably consent for myself and Minor Child to any and all uses and displays of my or Minor Child’s 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 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee 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 or Minor Child, without any royalty, payment, or other compensation to me or Minor Child, 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 or Minor Child 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 or Minor Child 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.

I give permission:

• for the youth to participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee (BBBS) program.
• for the youth to complete surveys containing questions about topics including personal interests, peer relationships, feelings about school, grades, educational expectations, parental relationships, home life and attitudes toward risky behaviors.
• for the youth's school to release information about academic performance, behavior and grades to BBBS.

I understand that:

• BBBS is not obligated to match the youth with a volunteer.
• As part of the enrollment process the youth and I will be asked to provide additional personal information about the youth and my family.
• BBBS may share pertinent information with a volunteer to appropriately match the youth.
• If the youth is matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister I will support the match and immediately report any concerns I might have to the BBBS staff.
• Neither the agency nor the volunteer assumes legal or financial responsibility.
• BBBS staff are mandated reporters. This means BBBS is required by law to report any signs of child abuse or neglect.

I acknowledge that I have completed this enrollment form and that all information is correct to the best of my knowledge.

I have read and understand documents containing policies in the enrollment form including, but not limited to:

• Non-discrimination Policy
• Parent/Guardian Rules and Responsibilities
• Medical Release
• Virtual Communication Platform Consent
• Confidentiality Policy
• Communicable Disease Policy
• Media Release
  

PLEASE NOTE - After submitting this form with the electronic signature on the next page, you will receive an email with a link to verify the signature. YOU MUST CLICK THE LINK TO VERIFY SUBMISSION IN ORDER FOR THE FORM TO BE COMPLETE.