2.  The Big Brother Big Sister program is the largest donor and volunteer supported network in the country. For over a hundred years the Big Brother Big Sister program has matched children with adults who volunteer to be mentors and strong influences in the lives of others.

3.  In Georgia there are an estimated 38% of single parent households- one of the highest rates in the country. As teachers how can we support these families?

4. There are several programs to meet specific needs: Community-based mentoring School-based mentoring Ethnic background specific Military families Children of Promise

5. Spending time together out in the local community.

6. Sometimes children need a role model in their school to help them stay motivated and on track. The school-based mentoring program allows the mentor to help inside the school.

7.  We all need someone we can relate to and sometimes the best person has the same ethnic background as the child. The mentors will be able to connect with the child and the struggles that they may be having.

8.  Georgia has several large military bases and children of service men or woman have very special needs. The Big Brother Big Sister Program is sensitive to this and they try to match retired military members with the children.

9.  The child of promise program helps children who’s parents are incarcerated. Having a parent incarcerated is no fault of the child yet there is a stigma against them, the Big Brother Big Sister program is sensitive to this and they are a friend to the child.  Does the Big Brother Big Sister Program really work?

10. When Children are paired with strong role models at the Big Brother Big Sister Program they are:  45% less likely to begin using illegal drugs  27% less likely to use alcohol  52% less likely to skip school

11. “Both in school and in the community, children learn more about who they are and how to behave in society from their peers” (Barbour, Barbour, Scully p.256).

12. The choices that are made in a child’s life now will affect them in the future; they deserve every advantage that they can get. -Jordan Hurd For information visit: http://www.bbbsheartga.org/site/c.8gL LKXMDLnI2F/b.7714625/k.EF4C/Home_ Page.htm