Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati
2400 Reading Road
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Adopt-A-School/Site Based Mentoring
When no grant application was received by June 2023, the Foundation made a "renewal grant" for the program for which funding had been provided in the previous year. For more information about the program, see the Grants Section of the 2020-21 Dater Foundation Annual Report on this web site and/or go to the grantee organization's web site.
Program Results:
This "Sucess Narrative" was submitted about six months after the grant was made:
Grant funds are used to cover staff salaries for our Match Support Specialist, who facilitate the programs. Minor costs are incurred for supplies including board games, basic art and crafts items, and special projects (i.e. pumpkins, ornaments, Easter eggs). The demographics of those participating in our programs are: Black 51%, Caucasian- 35%, Hispanic- 5%, Mixed race- 5%, Other- 3%. Through our Site Based Mentoring programs, we are serving 215 youth in 18 schools currently.
They include:
St Francis Seraph
Harrison Elementary School
Greendale Middle School
Central Elementary School
South Dearborn
Lawrenceburg High School
Donovan Elementary
St. Boniface Elementary School
LaSalle High School
Howell Elementary School
Villa Hills High School
Alliance Academy
St. Ursula
Newport High School
Newport Intermediate School
Mason Intermediate School
Taft Boys and Girls Club
What's most significant are the outcomes that are experienced by those enrolled in our program. The results of our Youth Outcome Survey administered in late 2023 are:
87% improved/maintained academic performance and grades – Academic performance is linked to externalizing behaviors (i.e., aggression), internalizing behaviors (i.e., social withdrawal), and high school graduation rates, which are proven predictors of long-term success.
82% decreased/maintained depressive symptoms - Depression in childhood and adolescence can negatively impact interpersonal relationships, school performance, and social, emotional, and cognitive development. It is associated with substance abuse, criminal behavior, and unemployment in adulthood.
95% improved/maintained educational expectations - Educational expectations, such as plans to graduate high school and go to college, or vocational/technical school are linked to academic performance and educational attainment.
88% improved/maintained emotional regulation - Emotion regulation influences physical and mental health and is associated with greater social competence, school performance, and positive well-being. It is a proven predictor of long-term success. Emotion regulation is a skill that can be learned and is beneficial to successful one-on-one relationships, including parental, peer, and mentoring relationships.
77% improved/maintained family/parental connectedness - A positive relationship with one’s parents is linked to decreased risky behavior and improved school performance. Having a special adult in a child’s life who is not a parent is associated with improved school attendance, attitudes toward school, and parental trust; these are in turn linked to improved grades and decreased delinquency.
Youth improved/maintained avoidance of risky behaviors such as juvenile justice contact (99%), bullying (92%), school discipline (92%), status offenses and illegal activity (92%), and substance abuse (96%). Risky behavior in childhood and adolescence is associated with negative academic, health, and mental health outcomes later in life and avoidance of these behaviors is a proven predictor of long-term success.
82% improved/maintained school connectedness - School connectedness is associated with a wide range of youth outcomes including school achievement and overall health status. It is also a potential protective factor related to decreases in cigarette, alcohol, and drug use; decreased delinquency and gang membership; decreased emotional distress; decreased violence; and decreased suicidality.
88% improved/maintained social competence - Poor social competence in childhood is associated with poor mental health, low academic achievement and other school difficulties, poor employment history, and poor adult relationships.
It is important to note that the demographic of youth we serve typically sees a decrease in many of these positive outcome areas, such as academic performance, emotional regulation, and connectedness, and an increase in negative outcome areas, such as anxiety, depression, and risky behaviors. This is especially true as these youth move towards adolescence, with many lacking support at home, so both improvement and maintenance of maintenances of these outcomes is significant.
Website:
http://www.bigsforkids.org Amount: $35,000
Date: July 2023
