News
Exceeding National Quality Measures
11/06/2008
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma (BBBSOK) has been recognized by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for the quality of its programs in Oklahoma. The state agency exceeded the national average on quality measures which include the average match length (the average time a match lasts), the six month retention rate (the average number of matches that last at least six months) and the average match support percentage, (which is the percentage of contacts made by professionals who contact Big Brothers and Big Sisters on a prescribed basis to monitor the progress of the matches).
Big Brothers Big Sisters matches caring adults with children who can benefit from having an adult role model in their lives. BBBSOK offers a community based program where volunteer mentors are matched with children in the community and they meet with them for two to three hours a few times a month. A special program within in the community based offerings is the Amachi program, where volunteers are provided for children, where one or both parents are incarcerated. The school based program matches school children with volunteer mentors who meet with the children at their school one hour per week during the school year.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma compared very favorably with the average national figures for agencies across the country.
Average Match Lengths
National Average BBBSOK
Community based program 20.4 months 24 months
School based program 10.2 months 15 months
Average Six Month Retention Rate
National Averarge BBBSOK
Community based program 79% 81%
School based program 74% 83%
Match Support Contacts Completed on Time
National Average BBBSOK
Completed 88% 91%
On Time 64% 71%
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma was one of only seven agencies in the nation that exceeded the national average in all three areas. Other agencies that were recognized for their quality along with BBBSOK were Eastern Missouri, Michigan Capital Region, Central Texas, Kansas, Northwest Arkansas and Puget Sound.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is the nation's largest and most respected mentoring organization. Children who benefit from a mentoring relationship are less likely to begin drug and alcohol, less likely to skip class or school or engage in violence to settle an argument. They also have better relationships with their families and peers.