MENTORING

Mentoring



Introduction to the Social Service Practicum Context

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this project was to explore a non-profit agency and obtain an understanding of administrative practices utilized to operate a powerful functioning program. This included exploring the recruitment process of volunteers and children, observing the enrollment process with the volunteers and children, observing the customer relations specialist for candidate screening, witnessed the introduction of volunteers and children once the matches were chosen. Participation took place from September 2011 to November 2011. I did an in-depth analysis of the recruitment, enrollment, customer relations, and the match support department and produced this comprehensive research report.

I found all positions to be crucial in the success of the program. The relationships, which were formed due to this program, impacted the success of the child's future (Lankau, Scandura, 2002). These relationships between the child and volunteer have shown to keep children occupied in school and off the streets, increased self confidence in the child, and formed better relationships with his or her parent or guardian. These relationships have also shown to give children a sense a meaning for them, so they may not end up in prison or without an education as one of their guardians may have.

Organizational Context

Setting of the practicum site. Big Brothers Big Sisters was a non-profit organization located downtown, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. BBBS was formed in Oklahoma with the merger of the BBBS agencies in Cleveland county, Green County (including Bartlesville, Claremore, and Tulsa), Oklahoma City, Shawnee (including Ada), and Stillwater. BBBS of Oklahoma was affiliated with BBBS of America, which was recorded as the nation's premiere youth mentoring organization. Big Brothers was the original name of the organization, which was founded in New York City in 1904. In 1977, Big Brothers decided to combine efforts with a local group called Ladies of Charity. This is where the name Big Brothers Big Sisters evolved from. BBBS is now in 50 states and 12 countries around the world (Page, 2008).

The staff in the Oklahoma City office encompassed Recruiting Department, Customer Relations, Enrollment Department, and Match Support Specialist. All of the positions played a vital role in the delicate matching of volunteers with the clients. The staff had levels of education, ranging from two year undergraduate degrees working towards bachelor degrees in Psychology to those holding masters' degrees in Human Relations. The staff also had varied levels of experience, ranging from none to seven years.

The mission statement of BBBS described the organization as matching mentors up with children, in which relationships could flourish from and was displayed in the first few pages of the Parent and Caregiver Orientation Handout as noted in Figure 1.

Mission Statement

Big Brothers Big Sisters works hard to support the relationship between the volunteers and the clients. The goal is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. The relationship should be as successful as possible for everyone by providing a high level of customer service ...