Steps to becoming a Big
We are excited that you are considering becoming a Big. You are on the verge of changing the life of a child for the better, forever. Here’s what you can expect in the enrollment process:
- Complete a Volunteer Inquiry online.
- Complete the Volunteer Application online.
- We will check your references.
- Attend an in-person interview with an Enrollment Specialist.
- We conduct background checks.
- Ready to meet your MATCH!
Would you be interested in being a mentor Big Couple?
A Big Couple mentors one child together as a team. Talk to your enrollment specialist about being a Big Couple.
What happens after I have been accepted?
Once accepted into the Community-Based Program, the Enrollment Specialist will contact you to discuss a child that fits into your preferences and interests. Once you have accepted this child and the parent accepts you as the mentor a match introduction will be set up. The match intros are cause for great celebration! You will be met by smiling staff and maybe a fist bump or two. At the match intro, you will meet your new Little, their guardian, and your Match Support Specialist. The group will review match guidelines and become more familiar with one another. Many matches choose to have their first activity after this meeting.
Once accepted into the Site-Based Program, the Match Support Specialist will contact you to discuss a child that fits into your preferences and interests and is located at the preferred school or after-school site. Once you have accepted this child, a match introduction will be set up. At the match introduction, you will go to the child’s school or after-school site and meet with the child and your Match Support Specialist to review match guidelines and start the process of getting to know one another.
What happens after I have been matched?
Now the fun begins! Once you are matched, you will meet with your Little consistently. Based on the program you chose, this could be weekly at the child’s school or after school site or a couple times a month outside in the community.
You will be required stay in contact with your Match Support Specialist on a monthly basis for the first year of your match. This is to make sure everything is going great for you and your new Little.
To get you equipped for your new role as a Big, you will be invited to attend a Volunteer Orientation Workshop within the first three months of your match. Times and dates for these vary from site, your Match Support Specialist will give you information about this at your match introduction or soon thereafter.
Ready to start something BIG?
Complete step one now!