It's the community support and involvement that's helped the non-profit organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters succeed for 25 years in Innisfail, explained Lucille Paquette-Lohmann, mentoring coordinator.
Paquette-Lohmann has been with the local chapter since it first opened the doors in 1987. She was the only employee hired by a steering committee after the Red Deer chapter felt there was enough interest for Innisfail to run on its own.
"The first year there were a couple of matches," she said of the traditional big brother and big sister program that matches adult volunteers with younger children. Within the second year there were 23. Now, 25 years later, the organizations boasts 80 matches and four staff with more than just the traditional matching program.
"There's so much more," explained Adele McKechnie, volunteer and chair of the Big Brother Big Sister volunteer committee. "The majority now is in the school. Often, it was traditionally families with a single parent and that's not necessarily the same now. The student might be identified by a family school wellness worker or teacher as someone who would benefit from getting some one on one," she said.
McKechnie is one of the volunteers who visits students in the school. The student, spends about an hour with their mentor in the school playing games, making crafts or sometimes baking in the kitchen.
"Teachers will come and say they see the benefits. They miss one hour of class but the benefits more makes up for it ó either they're more social, or show a better interest in school and more engaged," she said.
Studies conducted by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health show that youth who have been matched with a mentor are 48 per cent less likely to have behaviour problems in school, 43 per cent less likely to have conduct problems in school and 34 per cent less likely to allow themselves to be victimized or bullied by peers. Conversely, the students are twice as likely to have high levels of school bonding and commitment, high academic achievement and participate in extra-curricular school activities.
"Probably the most encouraging aspect of these findings is the lack of focus of the Big Brother Big Sister program on these specific outcomes," a 1995 report, "Mentoring: A Synthesis Public/Private Venture's Research" reads. "Volunteers are instructed to gain the trust of and become friends with the youth to whom they are matched. These volunteers are not trained in drug prevention, remedial tutoring, anti-violence counselling or family therapy. And yet, by becoming a friend and providing support to these youth, the mentors positively influence their lives in many ways."
McKechnie agrees. "We believe children do best with mentor whether it's someone within their family or outside. Just someone to be there to walk along side them."
Over the years, the organization has taken on new programming promoted through the national office such as the in school mentoring program. More recently, they've started a teen mentoring program that has high school students meeting up with middle school students.
"We started it this year at the Innisfail middle school. There's a classroom that is the meeting area and then they'll break off and play a game or do a craft, go to the gym or computer lab," said Paquette-Lohmann. This is the first year for Innisfail but the second year for the program in at Bowden Grandview School. "It's great for teens but there's not necessarily a lot of places to get work or volunteer experience."
Other programs include the Go Girls! course that focuses on increasing girls self esteem and healthy living. It's run by two Red Deer College social work students who are completing their practicum. There's also programs run at the office once a month after school.
"In some bigger cities there's waiting lists. Instead of having a waiting list we do a monthly activity for kids whether they're match or not. It gives the case workers a good idea of who to match the kids with," said Linda Doering, program assistant.
"We are very diverse in programming," added Teresa Ainscough, rural mentoring coordinator.
"There's the traditional matches, go girls, kids and cops. Ultimately, we respond to community needs and offer what we can do within the parameter of our program."
She said the Innisfail chapter reaches out to Penhold, Bowden and Spruce View.
The group, always looking for volunteers, said it's the community support, and the families they meet that keep them coming back year after year. Paquette-Lohmann has been there the longest ó with the full 25 years under her belt. Cynthia Webber, executive director comes right behind with 20 years, Ainscough with 10 and Doering with five.
"I think the consistency helps. Every time an organization loses staff, it typically loses a few volunteers as well," said Webber. "We are all about our relationships with the children but our relationship with our volunteers is just as important," she said explaining the group would be no where without them.
The benefits of staying so long are also evident for the workers as well added Paquette-Lohmann.
"Over the years children who were in the program come back as adults to volunteer or stop in to tell them how important the program was," she said. "It's great, and for us, we still have the passion. I will stay here until the day comes I don't have the passion anymore," said Paquette-Lohmann.
The organization will host an open house from 1 to 6p.m. this Saturday with ribbon cutting at 4p.m.
