Take the Next Step to Become a Mentor
By coming here, you’ve taken the first step toward making a lasting impact on improving a child’s life. We are here to help guide you to your next step!
If you’d like to learn more about our need for mentors and how you can get involved, send us your contact info below.
You might be wondering, what do mentors do with our kids?
Matches plan outings together in their community or at the BBBS Offices.
You can chat or play games, go to the park, community events, run errands, go to the library, or work towards a goal together like running a 5k or learning a new skill.
We are about sharing time rather than creating time. We cant wait to hear from you.
*Requirements: Meet with your Mentee at least once a month and live in the San Antonio and Surrounding Areas.
FAQ’S
Once a volunteer submits their application, a Big Brothers Big Sisters professional will reach out to answer questions and set up an interview. The interview serves to explore the volunteer’s understanding of mentoring and ability to commit to the program, learn about their personal interests and experiences that will inform the selection of their “Little,” and vet them for safety. Additionally, BBBS completes layered, national background checks on all volunteer mentors. Once the enrollment process and all pre-match training are completed and a potential mentee is identified, the volunteer is given the opportunity to “accept” the recommendation, enabling the match to meet for the first time.
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WHAT ARE THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A BIG?
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Bigs in our Community Based program must be 18 years of age or older, have a valid driver’s license and be willing to commit to a long-term volunteer experience of at least one year, although most friendships last much longer. Once matched, Bigs are expected to see their Littles two-to-four times per month–minimally reaching out with a call or text to check on their Littles. Adults in our School and Site Based programs have similar requirements and expectations, their contact is limited to time spent together at their Little’s school or the designated Site-Based partner location.
Mentor2.0 Mentors most often are graduates from college and/or have life experience in a career field. These Mentors communicate with their mentees virtually each week and meet in person once a month at their Mentee’s school throughout the school year.
High school students who are at least 16 years old are able to serve as “Bigs” when part of a specific high school partnership program with BBBS and a local elementary school.
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Anything you like! Activities are up to each match to schedule and participate in. Common activities include going to get ice cream, going to a movie, playing catch or a video game, attending a sporting event or concert, or running errands. BBBS also hosts great match activities and parties that all Bigs/Littles are invited to. Our Bigs are also occasionally given free tickets to events that Match Support Specialists are able to distribute to matches.
Our School/Site Based matches meet at the Littles’ school or at a designated partnership location. Staff typically plan activities or make available things for the Bigs and Littles to do together.
Mentor2.0 pairs focus their conversations on college and career exploration and preparation, and they talk about the full range of things that matter to high schoolers. Online conversations are guided by programmatic prompts, and the in-person gatherings are organized by the mentor2.0 staff.
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