Impact Services facilitates group mentoring sessions designed to meet the needs of girls based on girls’ age and stage of child development through Life Choices and Real Choices Strong Voices. In addition to facilitating groups for Community-Based matches and adolescent girls, Impact Services provides training and support to Big Sister’s professional staff on girls’ issues and best practices in the field of mentoring. By utilizing evidence-based practice and examining current trends and themes affecting girls, the Impact Services department ensures Big Sister’s mentoring programs are meeting the needs of Boston’s girls today. Life Choices:
Life Choices groups focus on the developmental needs of girls ages 11-17: a time when peers begin to have a strong influence on a girl’s choices and decisions. Life Choices creates a safe space where Little Sisters can openly explore the choices and challenges they face in their lives. Life Choices groups meet once a week for 60-90 minutes in schools or community centers, as well as in the Boston Court Clinic and are facilitated by experienced Big Sister staff. Groups run for approximately 15 weeks. Real Choices Strong Voices:
Real Choices Strong Voices is a fun, engaging match activity designed to foster open communication between mentors and mentees and to develop girls’ life skills by developmental stages. Girls require varying support and information depending on their age and developmental stage. As such, the content of each program is customized according to the strengths, needs and learning abilities of girls in the following age groups: 7-10, 11-13, and 14+. Real Choices Strong Voices is designed to grow with the match so girls who attend the 7-10 year-old session will continue to benefit from programming as they age. With the support of their Big Sister, this program empowers girls to identify resources, develop strengths and build knowledge.
These match activities are free of charge and are attended by Community-Based Mentoring matches who have been together for at least six months. Real Choices Strong Voices is facilitated by Big Sister staff and includes interactive discussion and activities on topics such as Puberty, Sexual Health and Decision Making, Girls and Media Messages, Dating and Relationships, Navigating the Digital World, Building Positive Self-Esteem and others.
Click here to view the Impact Services curriculum. For more information, please contact Margot Phelps, Manager of Impact Services at mphelps@bigsister.org
|
