ABOUT US
ABOUT
Nationally, the BBBS model of youth mentoring has proven to be successful for over 100 years.
Since its formation in 1995, BBBSSM has matched 3,400 children and teens with a carefully screened, trained, and committed mentor. On average we serve over 350 children and youth from 27 communities throughout Cumberland and York counties. BBBSSM has seven full-time and one part-time staff and over 300 volunteer Bigs providing mentorship support.
As a local affiliate of BBBS of America, BBBSSM adheres to nationally adopted standards and best practices for child safety, staff/volunteer training, and match support for mentoring programs. Through the national office, BBBSSM uses a proprietary database for managing mentor-mentee matches and tracking outcomes of relationships between Bigs and Littles.
Volunteers are the backbone of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine. Interested volunteers go through a rigorous screening process and assessment to ensure they’re a good fit for the program.
BBBSSM relies heavily on referrals from area school staff (K-12) who know the positive impact the program has on the life of a child. A national study conducted by BBBS of America showed that after eighteen months of spending time with their Bigs, Littles were 52% less likely to skip school and 37% less likely to skip a class than children not in the program.
While many young people who join the program have experienced significant life challenges, BBBSSM recognizes (and data shows) that all young people can benefit from a mentor relationship with a caring, trusted adult.
OUR MISSION
Create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
OUR VISION
All youth achieve their full potential.
OUR BOLD GOAL
Empower every kid on the path to graduate with a plan for their future and a mentor whose impact will last a lifetime.
