Journey of a Dollar: Step 5, Ongoing Support & Training
August 3, 2020, Micaela Olson-Macgregor
Your gift makes a BIG impact. Follow the journey of your donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities.
Step 5: Ongoing Support & Training
Match Engagement Coordinators are in regular contact with the Big, Little and parent/guardian throughout the match to provide support. We offer in-person and on-demand training, videos and resources on relevant topics.
Ongoing Support
During the first year of a Match, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Match Engagement Coordinators check in monthly with the Big, Little, and the Little’s parent or guardian.
After celebrating their one-year Match anniversary, check-ins occur on a quarterly basis. However, Match Engagement Coordinators are always available to connect with mentors or parent/guardians to talk through questions or challenges.
These check-ins ensure the safety of our participants, help to work through any communications or scheduling issues, and connect Bigs and families with resources to help them continue to build a great relationship!
COVID-19 Relief Program Example
During monthly check-ins throughout March and April, BBBS Match Engagement Coordinators recognized our families were facing some of their most challenging times. Littles were away from trusted friends, teachers and coaches. Families with limited financial resources now had fewer options for basic needs such as food, hygiene items, housing and technology.
Match Engagement Coordinators worked with families to navigate critical needs and connect them with other organizations in their community for food, access to technology, housing assistance, and more.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities also responded to these needs by creating a mini-grant program to help fill in the gaps for families, such as grocery store gift cards, technology for distance learning and gas cards.
Because of generous donors, we were able to help over 160 families with emergency assistance. This shows the power of our Match Engagement Coordinator’s relationships with Little’s families!
On-Demand Training
Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities staff develop on-demand training videos for our mentors on a variety of topics like:
- Building Parent Relationships
- Preventing Summer Slide
- Celebrating Culture
- Noticing Youth Discomfort
These are offered to Bigs free-of-charge thanks to our donors. Match Engagement Coordinators share training ideas and resources with Bigs during their check-ins and as they navigate challenges. Trainings are also included in our monthly Bigs e-Newsletters and in our mentors-only Facebook Group.
This month, our video trainings focused on trauma and how to support youth who have been impacted by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in our three-part Trauma Training series:
- Understanding and Identifying ACEs
- Working with Children Who Have Experienced ACEs
- Responding, Not Reacting
Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities also shares outside resources on our blog. Most recently, this has included information for Bigs on how to support their Littles through the pandemic and how to talk to their Littles about racism & violence in our community:
- MPR News: Kids feel pandemic stress, too. Here’s how to help them thrive
- How to Respond When You Don’t Know What to Say
- Resources for Talking about Racism & Violence
- Washburn Center: Talking to Children About Community Violence
- 5 Tips for Having Meaningful Conversations with Children & Others
Our generous donors allow us to develop relevant, responsive trainings for our mentors – which builds even stronger relationships between our Bigs and Littles!
What’s next?
Curious what happens next? Follow along at BigsTwinCities.org/JourneyOfADollar.
Inspired and would like to make a gift? Visit BigsTwinCities.org/Donate.
