HAGERSTOWN—Kevin, a Washington County youngster, had done well in school until after the pandemic when he faced academic and behavioral struggles. His mother, however, reached out to his assigned Big Brother, Theo, who worked with him to help turn the situation around.
That is just one of many stories that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County can cite as their volunteer Big Brothers and Big Sisters work with young people to provide a positive role model.
In Kevin’s case, according to Tom Kline, chief executive officer of the organization, “Kevin, who had been a good student before the pandemic, experienced some challenges last school year. His academic performance was well below his ability, and his behavior at home and school had been unruly. While he had a strong, engaged mother, she began to lose faith in her ability to appropriately meet his needs and steer him back on the right track.
“Thankfully, Little Brother Kevin had been matched with his Big Brother Theo for four years, so Kevin’s mother felt comfortable informing Theo of what was happening and asked for support,” Kline said. Following Theo’s intervention, Kevin has shown improvements in his behavior at school and home.
“The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth,” said Kline, who has been in his role since 2012.
The organization recruits adult volunteers from the region to serve as mentors (Bigs) for at-risk children and youth (Littles) residing in Washington County. By partnering with parents/guardians and other volunteers in the community, they help each child achieve three main goals:
1. Higher aspirations, greater self-confidence and better relationships;
2. Avoidance of risky behaviors;
3. And academic success.
Before being matched with a child, prospective Bigs go through a thorough vetting and training process. “Our evidence-based enrollment process for both prospective Bigs and Littles is designed to help us learn as much as possible about them and to assess their fitness for the program, as well as compatibility and considerations,” Kline explained.
A crucial part of the program is the dedicated support that every match receives. Match support specialists offer guidance, help navigate challenges and work with families to set meaningful goals for the Littles. “Our match support specialists assess child safety and ensure the agency’s safety policies are being followed,” Kline said.
While the main focus of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County is to nurture the relationship between mentor and mentee, the organization also strive to make a difference in the lives of the Littles’ families.
For example, when the organization learned that one of the families in the program was at risk of becoming homeless, they stepped in to help. The family had been living in an inexpensive motel but ran out of money due to family issues. A match support specialist connected with them to assess their situation and provide assistance. Understanding their urgent needs, the agency found temporary assistance and referred them to a family shelter where they secured housing and a caseworker for long-term support.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County remains committed to changing young lives through the power of mentorship. By fostering strong, supportive relationships, the organization helps Littles build confidence, make positive choices and work toward a brighter future. With dedicated volunteers, engaged families and a network of support, they continue to ignite potential in the next generation, one match at a time.
For more questions about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County, readers may visit www.bbbswcmd.org or call 301-739-4711.
