Get a Big
Could your little one use a Big? Enroll a child in Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County!
For over 100 years, due in large part to private donations, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been able to recruit, screen, match, and support mentoring relationships that have changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people across the country — one Little at a time. You’ll feel the impact as much as your child.
Enroll A Child
Take the first step to inspire potential by enrolling a child in Big Brothers Big Sisters:
Our Impact
A study for Big Brothers Big Sisters found that kids matched with Bigs…
- Are more confident
- Do better in school
- Get along better with their family and friends
- Are more likely to avoid drugs and alcohol
- Feel better about themselves
"Since becoming a Big, I now see the world through a different lens. I’ve learned to be more appreciative of my own life and have met other amazing Bigs along the way."
"What I like about my Big Brother, Conor, is how well we connected from the beginning of our match. I can speak with him about everything that is happening in my life. He will always be that person that supports me with love, kindness, and gives the best advice I could ever ask for. I truly believe that Conor has changed my life for the better. He has inspired me to keep myself in school until I get a college degree and reach my goals as a student and as a scholar athlete."
"Through our decades-long partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County, we’ve seen time and time again the enormous impact that one person and one relationship can have on a child’s mental health and personal trajectory. Jack in the Box is proud to invest in the Bigs and Littles who offer their guidance, support, and friendship to each other, while strengthening the broader San Diego community."
Safety & Match Information
Safety From the Start
The safety of your child is your highest priority. It’s no different at Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Making the best possible match between Little and Big is critical to the growth and development of a child. But before we begin the matching process, we start by thoroughly screening potential Bigs.
Big Brothers Big Sisters National Standards of Excellence require each volunteer to complete an extensive screening process that includes:
- Completion of a formal written application
- Background and reference checks
- An in-person interview
- An orientation and training process that outlines the individualized needs of your child with information and resources on how to encourage your child’s development
Big Brothers Big Sisters also provides child safety tips to you and your child, and we welcome your questions and feedback.
Finally, our professional staff will be in ongoing communication with you, your child, and your child’s Big throughout the life of the match.
Your Role as a Parent
You know what’s best for your child, and we’ll need your help.
We’ll ask you to provide information about your child’s strengths and needs, and you’ll need to approve the Big Brother or Big Sister match along with your child. But your role doesn’t end there.
Once the match is made, you remain closely involved in many ways, including:
- Approving activities and outings for your child and their Big
- Asking your child questions about those outings and sharing what you learn with the agency staff
- Reporting your child’s progress and milestones to the agency on a regular basis (Big Brothers Big Sisters will contact you, but we welcome your feedback any time)
- Participating in training on child safety offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters staff and communicating with your child about the training he or she receives.
Parents wanted. You know what’s best for your child. So we’ll need your help from the start, providing information about your child’s strengths and needs, and ultimately approving the Big Brother or Big Sister match. But your role doesn’t end there. Learn more about your role >
Safety from the start. Your child’s safety is extremely important to us. Big Brothers Big Sisters conducts a thorough background check on every volunteer in our program, and every relationship is closely monitored and supported by a professionally trained match coordinator. Learn more about child safety >
For more information about enrolling a child, please click here or contact our Customer Relations Specialist, at (858) 536-4900 x213 or email CommunityRecruitment@SDBigs.org.
1Tierney, J.P., Grossman, J.B., and Resch, N.L. (1995) Making a Difference: An Impact Study of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Philadelphia: Public/Private Ventures
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