Proven Results
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Inc is always evaluating our programs and their outcomes to ensure we are achieving our goals with each child. While each child is different and requires individualized support from their Mentor and our Match Support Specialists, we have proven outcomes we achieve for each program.
- 85% Maintain or Improve Academically
- 85% Maintain or Improve School Attendance
- 80% Improve Behavior
- 90% Meet Case Plan Goals-Developmental Assets
On a national level, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) has been providing mentoring services to at-risk youth for over a century and has developed the world’s largest and most effective system for one-to-one youth mentoring with dramatic results. This model has become the gold standard due to structure and professionally staffed programs. In December 2003 Forbes named BBBSA as one of the top 10 organizations for efficiently collecting and distributing charity. The BBBSA mentoring program has years of proven results in promoting school success, building life skills, and strengthening developmental assets in youth.
- 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
- 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
- 52% less likely to skip school
- 37% less likely to skip a class
- More confident of their performance in schoolwork
- One-third less likely to hit someone
- Getting along better with their families
Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteers had the greatest impact in the area of alcohol and substance abuse prevention. For every 100 youth between ages 10 and 16 who start using drugs, the study found, only 54 similar youth who are matched will start using drugs. Minority boys and girls were the most strongly influenced; they were 70 percent less likely than their peers to initiate drug use.
In 2009 Harris Interactive conducted a survey of 200 adults who had previously participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters as “Littles” for at least one year during their childhood. These “Alumni Littles” responses were overwhelmingly positive. 90% agreed their mentor made them feel better about themselves. 77% reported doing better in school because of their mentor and 52% agreed their mentor kept them from dropping out of school. 90% reported their mentor relationship helped them make better choices through their childhood. And 42% of alumni achieved a four year college degree, compared to 25% of their parents. Alumni are also more likely to give back to their communities- 67% donate and/or volunteer for religious and charitable organizations, with 29% holding some kind of leadership position in a community group.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has set a high standard for their programs and evidenced based evaluation strategies. The Washington Institute for Public Policy reported in 2004 that every dollar spent on a Washington area Big Brothers Big Sisters program resulted in a benefit of $3.28, supporting the evidence based practices used by the organization.
