Eligibility And Application Process For A Big

The adult volunteer must be carefully screened.  Naturally, the Association does not want to accept pedophiles (adults who seek a sexual relationship with a child) as volunteers, but we do not wish to have unstable, unreliable, inconsistent individuals as volunteers either.  Volunteers must be at least 19 years of age and committed to spending 3-4 hours per week with a Little for a minimum of 18 months. 

The volunteer screening process includes:

1)  the acquisition, in confidence, of at least 3 personal references, 1 family reference, employer and volunteer references, and a police check; additional references are sought if necessary.

2)  medical clearance

3)  a 90 minute to 2 hour in-depth interview with a service worker

4)  a home study assessment

5)  a recommendation by the social worker as to the acceptability of the volunteer

6)  a review of all references, a written interview, and recommendations and a decision on acceptability by the Executive Director

Eligibility And Application Process For A Little

Age:

Girls and boys from their 6th to their 16th birthday from all family constellations are eligible.  The service is provided on a child by child basis, not on a group or family basis.  In a family where there is more than one eligible child, each child would normally have a different Big Brother/Big Sister.

Service Constraints:

Children are ineligibile for service when their level of intellectual impairment, physical disability, communication deficits, or behavioural disturbances are such that their ability to sustain a relationship with an adult volunteer is substantially inhibited. 

Absent Parent Permission:

Children whose absent parent is opposed to service if, in the opinion of the Executive Director, service provision would not benefit the child or would endanger the volunteer, are ineligible.

Child Empowerment & Safety Program:

Participation by both the child and parent in the Association's Child Empowerment & Safety Program is mandatory, unless determined clinically inappropriate by the Executive Director.

Motivation and Cooperation:


The child must want a Big Sister/Big Brother and the Association must have the full cooperation of the child and parent(s).  Therefore, children who do not want the service or whose parent(s) do(es) not cooperate fully with the Association during the service assessment, matching and match monitoring processes, are ineligible. 

Application Process:

The process for applying to be a Little involves a number of steps:

1)  Assessment Interviews are held with parent/guardian and especially the child - not just at the agency, but in the home.

2)  A report from the child's school is sought.

3)  Clinical Assessments, etc. are sought when applicable.

4)  Counselling (group or individual) is provided as appropriate to the child and the parent/guardian.

5)  Single outings are arranged with special volunteers to help assess the child's match readiness.

6)  Consultation or advocacy with other service providers to the child or family takes place.

7)  Referral to other community services may happen.

8)  Referral involvement in the Association's Child Safety and Empowerment Program is mandatory.