Recruitment of adult volunteers continues to be an ongoing process. Volunteers are sought from all areas of the county; male, female, couples, and families. Along with a written application and references, volunteers specify their match preferences. Background checks are conducted, volunteers' homes are visited, and an in-depth interview is conducted. Once a volunteer has completed all of the in-take procedures and been accepted as a volunteer, they are notified and welcomed as a "Big".
Youth in need of a mentor are between the ages of 5 to 17; primarily, but not necessarily, from single-parent families. They may be referred by parents, teachers, counselors, social workers and others. The parent/guardian and child are interviewed separately and both must want to participate and be willing to make a commitment to the program. Visits are made to the homes of the youth who will be in the program. Once they have been enrolled, the children are placed on a waiting list as the Director searches for a suitable match.
A national study found that children with a Big Brother or Big Sister are:
46% less likely to start using illegal drugs
27% less likely to start drinking alcohol
52% less likely to skip school
33% less likely to use violence to resolve problems