A BBBS "Match"
is defined as a one to one relationship between a volunteer and a child with the expectation that they will meet regularly for a significant amount of time in order to reach positive youth development outcomes.
Community Based Mentoring
In the Community Based program, Big Brother and Big Sister volunteers provide children and youth – our "Littles" - individualized time and attention on a regular basis, typically 2 – 4 times a month, for two to three hours. During unstructured weekly or bi-weekly outings, filled with conversations and shared activities, they develop a relationship that helps youth manage the every day challenges that are part of "growing up." During the time with their Big, children gain new skills, explore new interests and test behaviors that expand their experience base beyond their family or neighborhood.
School (or site)Based Mentoring
Through Big Brothers Big Sisters in Schools, a core BBBS program initiated in the 1990s, volunteers offer children and youth individualized time and attention on a consistent basis, with the venue being the child's school rather than the community. Teachers identify those children who can most benefit from an extra caring adult in their lives. Volunteers and children meet regularly during the school year – typically each week, utilizing the resources available within the school: computer labs, the library, the gym, a classroom, or the schoolyard. The mentoring is "school based" when it occurs at the Little's school. "Site Based" is a similar arrangement, but the mentoring is occurs and is limited to another, non-school, location, such as at a Boys and Girls Club, a church, etc.
School PLUS Big Brother or Sister
The School PLUS Big Brother/Big Sister provides a volunteer to a young person in a local school. In addition to visiting with the Little one hour each week (two to four times a month) the Big has the opportunity to spend time with the Little outside of the school setting. This is a great way for the Big to encourage hobbies and outside interests while sharing valuable one-to-one time with their Little. BBBS prefers at least a one year commitment.
Big Brother/Big Sister and Little Brother/Little Sister
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) matches volunteers mentors, called Big Brothers and Big Sisters (or "Bigs"), with children/youth, called Little Brothers and Little Sisters (or "Littes"). The Bigs and Littles spend some of their free time together having fun and making memories. A Big Sister may be matched with a Little Sister or a Little Brother. Big Brothers are only matched to Little Brothers. The relationship is based on a classic one-to-one relationship between the adult and child. BBBS prefers a one-year commitment.
"BIG" Couple
A Big Couple is defined as two people in a committed relationship. A Little is matched with a couple to participate and share in activities together. Couples are free to do activities together and separately with their Little. BBBS prefers at least a one-year commitment.
"BIG" Family
The Big Family is a program for volunteers with families of their own. BBBSNT offers this opportunity for the entire family to mentor a Little. The entire family ensures that they are a positive role model for their Little. The Big Family combination can be a couple with children of their own or a Big Brother/Big Sister with children of their own.  BBBS prefers at least a one-year commitment.
High School "BIG" Brother or Sister
(mentoring through our TBI program – Teen Big Initiative)
The High School Big Brother/Big Sister is designed for teen volunteers (minimum age 16). A high school mentor is matched with a Little to allow each other to share great memories. This type of mentoring relationship may be either community or school-based. BBBS prefers at least a 1 year commitment.
Amachi Texas
The Amachi Texas program matches children who have a parent/guardian or close family member on probation, on parole, or incarcerated. Click here to learn more about Amachi.
Sports Buddies
The Sports Buddies program is a Community Based match that has a sports-oriented focus. Though not limited to men/boys, the program uses the draw of sports tickets and events to recruit male volunteers to mentor our longest waiting male Littles. Typically Littles involved will have had to be on the Waiting List for 1 year or more, and Bigs must commit to a two year match. New matches will become "members" of the Sports Buddies program for a year. Membership includes tickets to major and minor league sporting events, access to community sporting events, and participation in sports-related activities.
Match Support Specialist (MSS)

Each match is assigned a Match Support Specialist (or “MSS”) – who is dedicated to providing case management and support to their Bigs, Littles and families.  For Community Based matches, the MSS is to make contact with each Big and (alternatingly) each Little or Parent at least once a month during the first year, making sure that the match is going well, staying safe, and progressing toward goals.  Contact goes to quarterly after a match’s 1 year anniversary if everything is going well with the match.

The schedule for Match Support contacts for School Based is a little different.  For these matches the MSS contacts each the volunteer Big at least every other month throughout the life of the match.  Contact with the School Based Little is every month.  However, if the contact with the Little is in-person, then one month of contact can be skipped.
Match Support Coordinator
The Match Support Coordinators supervise teams of Match Support Specialists. So if a Big, Little or parent has trouble reaching their MSS or wishes to talk about anything in particular with someone other than their MSS, the Match Support Coordinators are available.
the "Link"
Big Brothers Big Sisters' match support communications with Bigs, Littles and parents are branded the link. The link comes to Bigs each week via an emailed newsletter, highlighting scheduled match activities, training opportunities, discounted and free event tickets, etc. BBBS' match support website is also called the link. Twice a year the link is printed and mailed to all of our Bigs and Littles/parents and includes, amongst other things, photos, stories, and other materials submitted by matches for publication.
Something Big
Big Brothers Big Sisters also sends out a second email each week to Bigs called "Something Big". This communication seeks to further engage our volunteer mentors with the organization at large. Through "Something Big" volunteers are given the opportunity to support the organization (through donations, volunteering with events, and helping us recruit new volunteer mentors) and to learn more about how Big Brothers Big Sisters seeks to impact the communities we serve.
   
 

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