Our Impact

Each time Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs a child with a role model, we start something incredible: a one-to-one relationship built on trust and friendship that can blossom into a future of unlimited potential. Thanks to the first-ever nationwide impact study of a mentoring organization, we have the facts to prove it.

The Study

Public/Private Ventures, an independent 30-year-old Philadelphia-based national research organization, looked at over 950 boys and girls from eight Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the country selected for their large size and geographic diversity. This study concluded that of approximately half of the children who were randomly chosen to be matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister were:

• 46% less likely to initiate using illegal drugs
• 27% less likely to initiate using alcohol
• 52% less likely to play truant
• 37% less likely to not attend class
• 3% less likely to become violent
• They also found that the Littles were more confident of their performance in schoolwork and getting along better with their families.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters Match

According to the study, our one-to-one matches are the driving force behind making an impact on children. A Big Brothers Big Sisters match is carefully administered and held to the strictest standards. Agency staff strives for matches that are not only safe and well suited to each child’s needs, but also harmonious and built to last. The entire matching process, from the initial screening to the final pairing—and beyond—is made possible by your financial support.

Don’t just think of us as simply matchmakers. We provide ongoing support and supervision to the Big, the Little, and the Little’s family. We offer training and advice to help ensure that the match is working for everyone involved. The study found that Big Brothers Big Sisters’ matches consistently spend more time together, and continue as a match for longer periods, than those in other mentoring programs which Public/Private Ventures has studied.

“In mentoring programs without this infrastructure, we have found that relationships evaporate too soon for effects to be possible,” said Walker.

The Impact

According to the study, Big Brothers Big Sisters programs were found to “focus less on specific problems after they occur, and more on meeting youths’ most basic developmental needs.”

The matches that were observed shared everyday activities: eating out, playing sports or attending sports events, going to movies, sightseeing, and just hanging out together.

What mattered to the children were not the activities, however, it was the fact that they had a caring adult in their lives. Because they had someone to confide in and to look up to, youth were, in turn, doing better in school and at home. At a time in their lives when even small choices can change the course of their future, the Littles were also avoiding violence and substance abuse.

In addition to the lives of Littles being changed for the better, the impact is contagious.

Click here to read the full study.

Accomplishments

2023       Rockland County Executive’s Proclamation of Service

2023       Rockland County Legislature’s Certificate of Distinction

2019        NYS Approval for creation of the Rockland Youth Empowerment Center

2019        Collaboration of services with the Lexington Center for Recovery

2019        Collaboration of services with The Rockland Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependence

2019        Community expansion of the Rockland Court Ordered Visitation Program

2018        Recipient of federal grant from OJJDP to service youth impacted/misuse of opioids

2018        7^th accreditation from NYS Better Business

2018        Partnership with Step Up mentoring program

2018        Validated Contract Agency with the Rockland County Department of Mental Health

2018        Expansion of Court Ordered Visitation Program via Family Court

2017        Collaboration with Center for Safety and Change for Domestic Violence

2016        6^th accreditation from the NYS Better Business Bureau

2015        NYS endorsement for programming

2014        4^th accreditation from the NYS Better Business Bureau

2013        Community Impact Award, United Way of Rockland County

2013        Certificate of Achievement, Senator Carlucci

2012        Certificate of Achievement, Senator Carlucci

2012        Distinguished Service Award, Assemblywoman Jaffee

2012        Accreditation from the NYS Better Business Bureau

2011        Rockland Family Court Endorsement

2011        Spring Valley Justice Court Endorsement

2010        Gold Star Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

2010        NYS Assembly Citation: Assemblywoman Jaffee/Assemblyman Zebrowski

2010        Rockland County Executive Proclamation for Program Excellence

2010        Certificate of Merit, Senator T. Morahan

2009       NYS Legislative Resolution of recognition for 25 years of service

NYS Assembly Citation for 25 years of service

2009       Towns of Clarkstown, Ramapo, Haverstraw and Stony Point Proclamation and Tributes for exemplary service to Rockland

2009       NYS Legislative Resolution-Recognition as “lead provider of long-term, one to one mentoring throughout Rockland

2009        Boys Council Federal Award

2008/9    NYS Anti-Crime Prevention Award (gang awareness education)

2008/9    Mental Health Disorders Award (community-based)

2008/9    Fostering Positive Futures (Children in foster care)

2008/9    NYS Fit for Life Award (focus on child obesity)

2008        Kraft Healthy Choice Award

2008        United Way of Rockland County Mentoring Collaborative Award

2008        NYS Community Block Funding

2008        Village of Haverstraw Agreement for program sustainability

2007        Distinguished Service Award – Rockland County Legislature

2007        Preservation, Perpetuating and promoting Academic Excellence, the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa

2007         New York State Better Business Bureau accreditation

2007         New York State Assembly Citation for Program Excellence

2007         Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition

2007         Mentoring Children of Prisoners, NYS OCFS Award

2007          Multi-year award from the Village of Haverstraw

2007          NYS Legislative Anti-Crime Award

2007          Kraft Healthy Choice Award

2007          United Way of Rockland County Mentoring Collaborative Award

2007          Letter of Merit from former NY Senator Hillary Rodham-Clinton

2006          Recognition from former President George Bush

2006          Letter of Merit from former NY Senator Hillary Rodham-Clinton

2005          Legislative Award to administer Court Ordered Supervised Visitation Program

2004          Community Block Funding for After School Program

2003/6      Federal Award from Office of Family and Children Services to provide life skills program to the Latino community

2003         Federal Award from the American Lung Assoc. to provide a smoking cessation programming for                         Rockland’s Single women

2002/3      Big Brothers Big Sisters of American Award for After School Programming

2002           BOCES Award for Early Parenting

2001/2        Prevention Award from County Executive addressing school violence and peer conflict

2001/2         Safe Rockland Award – Drug Prevention Program

2001/2         Safe Rockland Award – Violence Prevention Program

2001             School Based Mentoring Award – Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

2001             Induction into Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s Hall of Fame for increased direct service to at risk youth

2001             Dime Savings Banks of New York Award for service to at risk youth

2001             Tiger Woods Foundation Award for direct service to at risk youth

2001             School Based Mentoring Award – Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

2001            Vision Grant Award by the United Way in collaboration with Jewish Family Services

2000            Matching Grant Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for School Based Mentoring Program

2000           County Executive’s Blueprint for Prevention Award

2000           Vision Grant from the United Way to conduct workshops for at risk youth

2000           Agency transportation Award – Ronald McDonald House Charities

2000           Star Team Award – Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

1999            County Executive’s Blueprints for Prevention Award

1999            Rockland County’s Alliance Prevention Award

1999             Annie E. Casey Award – Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

1999             Star Team Award – Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

1998             Star Team Award – Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

1998             Father Peter F. Malet County Youth Award – Rockland County Youth Bureau

1998             Award Recognition – Rockland County’s BOCES

1997              Award recognition from the New York State Attorney General

Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program is now considered one of the model substance abuse prevention programs by the Federal Government and New York State as per OASAS Workplan.