Founded in 1995, we currently are providing three programs: Community-based, Site-Based and our Empowering Potential program (for educational success and college readiness). To assist with a healthy development of relationships between our Bigs and Littles, we offer several group activities throughout the year.
We are the only youth development program providing one-to-one mentoring in the Coachella Valley. Our volunteers are carefully screened and trained prior to being matched with a Little (child). Once matched, a Big and Little are assigned a program staff person who is in contact with them along with the Little's parent on a regular basis to provide ongoing training, support and child safety to ensure a safe, healthy and long-lasting relationship is developed.
We work with all Coachella Valley youth with the majority of the children served living in some of the poorest communities in the Eastern part of the Coachella Valley. 79% of youth in our program are living in a single parent household and qualify for free or reduce lunch programs at school. 9% of the youth in our program have an incarcerated parent. These two factors put the youth in our program at greater risk of dropping out of school, getting involved in gangs and drug and alcohol abuse.
The impact of our program is measured using surveys to evaluate the 40 developmental assets of a child as well as through our monthly Match Support contact. At the start of each match, we administer a Youth Outcome Survey (YOS) or Child Outcome Survey (COS) (depending on the child's age) which establishes a baseline. This survey is then taken at the 1-year anniversary and annually thereafter. The Big and Little receive a Strength of Relationship Survey at the 3 and 12 month point of in the program. The data gathered from both of these surveys is tracked in Matchforce (our program database) and analyzed for impact. A Youth Outcome Development Plan (YODP) is developed for each child. Required match support is conducted monthly with the Little and Big where we address child safety, relationship development, educational success and review the goals established in the YODP. Adjustments will be made to the YODP as needed. 100% of our Littles who are matched more than 4 years, graduate from High School on time and have a plan for their future post high school which includes college, vocational training, workforce or military service.