Big Brothers Big Sisters

As Canada’s leading child and youth mentoring charity, Big Brothers Big Sisters facilitates life-changing relationships that inspire and empower children and youth to reach their potential, both as individuals and citizens.

                                   Mission

"We commit to Canada's young people that we will be leaders in providing them with the highest quality, volunteer based mentoring programs"

Experience Update

My Biggest Challenge:
My biggest challenge with BBBS was something that hit me at the end. I did truely connect with some kids and did form relationships with them. It was hard have proper closure with the children.I am sad to leave this intenship but I am so thankful I got to do this.
Obviously, there were many small daily challenges like orgainzing, planning, time management but, I did learn something everyday and found my routine.

If I Could Change One Thing:
This is difficult for me to answer because each day brought something different and it was never the same. I would have liked to organize one big event that all the children went to. We did plan on the BBQ and games day but had to cancel due to rain. It would have been nice to have the time to have gotten that done.

How This Has Impacted My Career:
I cannot explain how much this impacted my career. It has put a positive reinforcement on the fact that I want to work with kids. I gained so much knowledge about working with people and even learned a thing or two about myself and the way I do things. My supervisor was great and I developed great relationships during my time with BBBS. Potenially, in the future I would like to work with BBBS. If not, I know I will be involed with this agency in someway.

Internship Objectives

1. Demonstrate proficiency in at least four of the seven areas of responsibility that include

Assess needs, assets, and capacity for health education

Plan health education

Implement health education

Conduct evaluation and research related to health education

Administer and manage health education

Serve as a health education resource person

Communicate and advocate for health and health education

Objective met: During my internship I was able to touch on every responsibility in one way or another.

2. Become familiar with the operations and management of Big Brothers/Big Sisters program

          Objective met: I was given a lot fo independence during my time at Big Brothers Big Sisters but my supervison and other caseworker were very helpful at ALL times and happy to answer any question I ever had. By having independence and having to resources to offer knowledge, I think I now have a good grasp on the operations and management of BBBS.

3. Increase knowledge and understanding of children and young adults healthy development

           Objective met: Again, I worked with the kids every day. I had a total of 17 kids that I saw each at least once a week. I really got to know them and understand the differences in each of the children. I tried to apply health knowledge to each kid in a way they would understand and gain from what we were doing. I learned that resources and knowledge can play a huge factor in the habits of different people.

4. Explain the role of Big Brothers/Big Sisters in promoting overall health for children and young adults.

             Objective met: There are so many areas of health. My eyes have really been opened to a different world and how one person can be a big difference in the world of someone else. BBBS offers kids the opportunity to have friendship and a mentor. Some kids may not be going down the right path. If that takes place, many health issues can arise. But, having a positive role model can make a big difference in helping a child choose a positive path. Which would lead to potentially less health risks.

5. Develop a portfolio of your experiences to document achieving competence.

              Objective met: Much of my work is confidential. But I did create a binder that holds different information that I gathered throughout my internship. I am also creating this blog!!

6. Demonstrate professional behaviors and make meaningful contributions to Big Brothers/Big Sisters where they are interning.

               Objective met: I feel like I was able to accomplish this objective because in my situation, being profession was being able to act silly, relate to the kids on their level, and when in office be able to turn and relate to adults. I feel I did make contributions the BBBS and to all the kids that I was fortunate to work with! I learned for them and I hope they learned something from me!

Internship Accomplishments

Responsibility I: Asses Needs, Assests, Capacity for Health Education
     *Competency 1.4-Examine Relationships Among Behavioral, Environmental and Genetic Factors That Enhance or Compromise Health
    **Sub Competencies- 1.4.1 Identify Factors that Influence Health Behaviors
                                          1.4.2 Analyze Factors that Influence Health Behaviors
                                          1.4.3 Identify Factors that Enhance or Compromise Health
                                          1.4.4 Analyze Factors that Enhance or Compromise Health

I did home visits during the first couple weeks to meet the children and their families to assess their  home environment. During this time I got an idea of their interests and which program would be best suited for the child.

Responsibility II: Plan Health Education
      *Competency 2.3 Select or Design Strategies and Interventions
     **Sub Compentency- 2.3.2 Design Theory Based Strategies and Interventions to Achieve Stated Objectives

I was responsibile to plan and organize various outings with the children in groups and indiviually, depends on the indivuals needs. I was also the co-ordinator of a new program called Go Girls! wich is a Active Living, Balanced Eating and Feeling good program that was held once a week.

Responsibility III: Implement Health Education
      *Competency 3.1 Implenent Plan of Action
     **Sub Compentecy- 3.1.7 Launch Plan of Action

While co-ordinating the two programs, Go Girls! and Big Bunch. I had to develop a plan of action geared towards the children getting the most of each program. Each week I implemented what I had planned the week before and then assessed how it went and what needed improvement and what was successful with each child individually and in group settings.

Responsibility IV: Conduction Evaluation and Research Related to Health Education
      *Competency 4.3 Collect and Analyze EvaluationéResearch Data
     **Sub Competency 4.3.1 Collect Data Based on the Evaluation Research Plan

I was responsible to have paperwork filled out by children and parents. I collected data on the childrens interests, behaviour concerns, medications, and group setting capability. During the internship I refered back to this to see if there were any changes or how the child was developing within the program. I had to make changes to the individual files when I campared notes and data from previous research.

Responsibility V: Administer and Manage Health Education
      *Competency 5.1 Manage Fiscal Resources
     **Sub Compentency 5.1.4 Manage Program Budgets

I was given X amount of dollars every couple of weeks. It was my job to budget this money, keep receipts, then balance at the end of each couple weeks. this money was to fund the programs and outings I ran with the acency and programs.

Responsibility VI: Serve as a Health Education Resource Person
     *Competency  6.1 Obtain and Disseminate Health Related Information
    **Sub Competency 6.1.4  Convey Health Related information to Priority Populations

I feel by teach the Go Girls! program I have fulfilled responsibility VI. I was the teach of seven girls who were eager to discuss different issue that all girls face. We developed a strong bond within this group and all learned from eachother. After each session, I had to report to my supervison with information on what the children learn and what topics arouse and how we would approach the next session.

Responsibility VII: Communicate and Advocate For Health and Health Education
      *Competency 7.4 Engage in Health Education Advocacy
    **Sub Competency 7.4.1 Engage Stakeholders in Advocacy

I and organized an event to get all the children on the waiting list to particiapte in a BBQ and an activity day. During this time we were able to find sponsours from different companies and agencies in the city. They were involved and one even became a Big Brother.

Final Time Sheet

Responsibility I: Assess Needs, Assests, Capacity for Health Education

Hours- 49


Responsibility II: Plan Health Education

Hours- 123


Responsibility III: Implement Health Education

Hours- 48


Responsibility IV: Conduct Evaluation and Research Related to Health Education

Hours- 35


Responsibility V: Administer and Manage Health Education

Hours- 12


Responsibilty VI: Serve as a Health Education Resource Person

Hours- 6


Responsibility VII: Communicate and Advocate for Health and Health Education

Hours- 4


Other:

Hours- 7


Total:

284