HPM1s: Evaluation - Big Brother-Big Sister - Research Paper Example

Evaluation of the “Big Brother Big Sister” Evaluation of the “Big Brother Big Sister Mission of the Organization Responsible forImplementing the ProgramThe mission of Big-Brothers Big Sisters’ as a community-based organization is to offer mentoring programs aimed at matching youths between the age of 6 and 18 especially those who hail from poor families with low-income or single parent households, with mature well-educated adult volunteer mentors within the age group of 20 and 34 (Blautein & Matatov, 2011).

The adult who volunteer as mentors in this case are mainly college graduates. The aim of this mentoring program is to help mold the behaviors of youths so that they may grow up in an upright manner. The mentoring usually covers area do with drugs and alcohol abuse and violent behaviors which are unacceptable in the society (Blautein & Matatov, 2011). For instance, a survey reveals that the work of Big Brothers Big sisters’ mentoring program for the youth has seen a reasonable decline in the number of youths using drugs and alcohol or engaging in violent behaviors such as stealing of fighting.

The mission of the organization is also to provide the youths facing diversity problem with a strong and enduring, professionally mentored one-on-one relationships aimed at changing their lives for their future well-being. For instance, the mentorship program provided by the organization has contributed significantly in reducing the number of school drop out rates. This was witnessed among Hispanic schools. This has helped raise the level of education among many youths who would have otherwise dropped out of school, thus contributing to their well-being and better future (Blautein & Matatov, 2011).2. The Programs Short and/or Long Term GoalsThe objective of the organization’s programs include: safety and security, emotional support, social skills, information and technical and academic skill improvements.

In this regard, the program’s short term goals entails reduction in the incidences of anti-social behaviors like alcohol and drug abuse and violent acts aimed at improving relationships with peers and parents, improving motivation, attitude and schoolwork achievement, providing social, recreational and cultural enrichments among the youths. Other short-term objectives include improving relationships and self-concept among peers (Blautein & Matatov, 2011).The long term objective of the organization is defined by the organization’s vision statement, “changing lives for the Better, Forever.

” In this regard, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ long term goals is to change the lives of youths faced with diversity for a better future for ever. For this reason, the organization operates in communities all over United States, both in urban and rural areas (Blautein, Matatov, 2011). 3. Programs (Measurable) ObjectivesThe program’s measurable objectives pertains to assessment of whether the program reduces improves academic performance, reduce antisocial behaviors, improve self esteem and attitude, improves parent peer relationships and increases cultural awareness.

In this regard, a study conducted by Tierney, Grosssman and Resch (1995) found out that those who participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters’ were less likely to engage in alcohol or drug abuse. They were also less likely to fight someone; had improved school performance and attendance; had boosted attitudes towards finishing school assignments; and had improved parent and peer relationships. However, they were less improvement in self-esteem or exposure to cultural awareness (Programs for Teens, n.d). Other objectives that are measurable include:Genre of youth/adult relationships that form under Big Brothers Big Sisters programParent-child Relationships through which mentoring relationships impact on adolescents’ academic performance.

Establishes whether BB/BS programs are effective with regard to facilitation of meetings between adults and youths (Programs for Teens, n.d).ReferencesBlautein, A., & Matatov, H. (2011). Democracy is not a specter sport: The Ultimate Volunteer handbook. New York: Skyhorse Publishing Inc.Meissen, G. J., & Lounsbury, J. W. (2006). A comparison of expectations of volunteers, children, and parents in a big brother-sister program: Journal of Community Psychology. 10 February, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp250-256.

Programs for Teens (n.d). Program: Big Brothers/Big Sisters: Child Trends. The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation.