At Bigs & Littles NYC Mentoring, we believe mentoring should be both fun and transformative. With over 117 years of experience, Bigs & Littles NYC Mentoring has developed a holistic family approach to mentoring to ensure quality match relationships between you and adult mentors.

To qualify for our free mentoring services, the child(ren) must be between the ages of 7-17 and the family must live in one of the five boroughs of NYC. We ask the child commit to the match relationship for a minimum of one year and be willing and able to meet twice a month with their Big Sister/Brother. Once matched the Big and Little will communicate once a week via phone and a Program Manager will oversee and support their match relationship.

After completing the application process, it can take several months for your child to be matched with a mentor. We thoroughly screen our volunteers to ensure that we make the best possible match. Wait times vary and may be longer for boys.

We look forward to working with you!

FAQS

Who are bigs?

Our volunteers (Bigs) are from all walks of life. They are at least 21 years old, live within the NYC Metropolitan area and are interested in working with youth and giving back to their community.

What is the screening process for our Bigs?

Child's safety is our main priority. Our Bigs go through an extensive screening process and must successfully complete all application phases prior to being accepted as a Big.

• Phase 1: Complete an inquiry phone call with a Bigs & Littles NYC mentoring staff member

• Phase 2: Submit an application

• Phase 3: Participate in an interview with a Bigs & Littles NYC mentoring staff member

• Phase 4: Complete background screening which includes reference checks and fingerprint screening via Go Pass

• Phase 5: If accepted, applicants are required to attend a mandatory mentor training.

What is the Application/screening process for our Littles and families?

Phase 1: Inquiry → Once you indicate interest in our program we will contact you and complete an inquiry call to make sure you meet all program requirements and ensure our program is a good fit. If not, we will assist you in finding another organization that can meet your needs.

Phase 2: Intake → Family/Little will participate in an in person meeting at Bigs & Littles NYC mentoring office with a program manager. In this family interview we will:

• Get to know you and your child and gather necessary information

• Help us determine what kind of mentor would be the best fit for your child

• Offer the opportunity for you to ask questions and assess our program

Phase 3: Match Making → After the program manager makes a recommendation for a potential mentor, your family will be invited in for a match meeting at Bigs & Littles NYC mentoring's office. After approval from both parties, the match is then formalized

How does the matching process work?

At Bigs & Littles NYC we pride ourselves in our careful match making. Our program managers consider the preferences and compatibility of all participants involved in the potential match relationship. Once the program manager identifies a potential match, he/she will contact the family and the volunteer to provide background information. Finally, all parties must approve the match in order to proceed with scheduling a match Meeting.

Will my child be matched with a male or female Big?

We make same gender matches!

How much does the program cost?

Our mentoring services are offered at no cost to the family!

How long is the Match?

We ask that both Big and Little commit to one year but our goal is for these relationships last a lifetime!

Additional resources?

At Bigs & Littles NYC we know that mentoring is most effective when the family is being supported as well. Our agency offers comprehensive, family based services that support the mentoring match. Our program managers make referrals for other services in areas including counseling, health, legal, housing, after school, weekend and summer programs, and college access and success programs.

If you have additional questions that are not covered here, please do not hesitate to contact us at 212-475-3291 ext. 210 or families@bigslittlesnyc.org.

Inquiring about our services does not guarantee your family will move to the next phase as we want to make sure we’re the right organization for you; if not, we’ll work with you to find one that is.