Running head: Agency Report

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware

Sheliah E. Smith
Wilmington University

Agency Report

The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware (BBBSDE) is to make a positive
difference in the lives of children and youth through a professionally supported one-to-one
relationship with a caring adult. The organization aims to assist them in achieving their highest
potential as they become confident, competent and caring individuals. The services provided are
quality, case management, based on one-on-one programs for at risk youth. This will be
accomplished by providing quality staff, committed volunteers, and maintaining standards of
excellence in all areas of service.
Demographics
Even though times have changed problems of poverty, crime and drop-out rates continue
to exist. Currently, the membership consists of about 51% African Americans, 40% percent
whites and 8 or 9 percent Hispanics based off of the census report. The client demographics for
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware (BBBSDE) currently serves 74 matches which is 74
youth the agency calls Littles and 74 mentors the agency refers to as Bigs. That totals
number of participants within Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware (BBBSDE) agency is 148.
Ages 6-12 58%

Males 68%

1 parent household 56%

Foster, incarcerated

Ages 13-18 46%

Females 36%

2 parent household 6%

Parent, grandparent 38%

Policy & Procedures

The people of Big Brother Big Sisters of Delaware follow the highest standards of
performance and ethical behavior. There are set policies and procedures in place to follow and

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implement to establish boundaries for acceptable behavior and guidelines in the workplace.
These policies and procedures help define Big Brother Big Sisters of Delaware (BBBSDE)
expectations and standards. Some of the policy and procedures that pertain to the agency
administration are: attendance, confidentiality of agency records, employee conduct, dress code,
recruitment, discipline termination, internet and email and personal telephone calls/ mobile
phone usage.
Structure
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware (BBBSDE) has a sound structure within the agency.
Beginning with the very first Agency Director, Demo Carros; Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Delaware (BBBSDE) has been led by caring and committed individuals including Bill Webb,
Dick Colosi, and current Executive Director Mary Fox. The agency is embedded within the
structure so its supported not only by the Executive Director, Board of Directors and all of the
Support Services as well. With the three offices in Delaware (Wilmington, Dover, and
Georgetown), Kent County has one Program Manager, Senior Social Worker and Mentor Case
Manager. In addition, many community and industry leaders from across the state have served on
the Agency Board of Directors to continue this important work with our youth.
Governance
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware, Inc. (BBBSDE) is a non profit corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. The corporation operates in consistency with
those laws, its articles of incorporations, and its bylaws. The Board of Directors and the

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management of the corporations consist of a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary
along with 12 Directors and 6 Honorary Board members. The agency is in compliance with the
requirements of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) and in compliance with the
requirements of the United Way of Delaware (UWD).
Funding
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware (BBBSDE) is a private, non-profit organization. Its
primary funding sources include United Way; agency sponsored fundraising events such as Bowl
for Kids Sake, governmental grants and private and corporate contributions. Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Delaware (BBBSDE) is a full member affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
and adheres to 65 program standards and required procedures, developed by BBBSA.
In 2003, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware (BBBSDE) received a federal grant to start
a new project to serve children of incarcerated parents. The new Mentoring Children of Promise
Program currently provides mentors to children whose mothers are incarcerated at the Baylor
Womens Correctional Institution.
Partnerships
Big Brother Big Sisters of Delaware (BBBSDE) is the only agency within the Capital
School district that offers a school based mentoring program that matches at risk youth with a
caring adult role model. The people that offer their services to Big Brother Big Sisters of
Delaware (BBBSDE) are non-paid (volunteers) workers. Parents and children of Big Bother Big
Sisters request to be a part of the program. Other human agencies have other components

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(employed) that require referrals from outside agencies such as schools, therapist workers and
case managers. The relationship between the two is to help impact the lives of children and to put
them on the right path. However, Big Brothers Big Sisters target academics, and performance
within a school setting to improve students grades.
Strengths
There are a lot of strengths that proves Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring really works.
A national research study conducted by Public Private Ventures showed that children matched
with a Big Brother or Big Sister volunteer:

Were 46% less likely to use drugs an 27% less to use alcohol

Skipped half as many days of school, felt more competent about doing schoolwork,
skipped fewer classes and showed gains in their grade point averages

Showed improved relationships with parents, due to higher level of trust in the parent.

Got along better with peers.

Challenges
One of the many challenges that the agency has faced is that a lot of the local schools
have their own mentoring program inside the school with employed staff members. Therefore,
the services needed from Big Brothers Big Sisters are not needed. Several other challenges affect
the agency as well such as:

Low parental involvement

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Parental substance abuse or criminality

Poor behavior control

Associated with delinquent peers

Low commitment to schools

Diminished economic opportunities

Exposure to conflict in the family

In closing, my role as an intern at Big Brother Big Sisters of Delaware is to develop

workplace skills in an experienced job life setting. By doing so, absorbing as much information
on how to become an effective leader/administrator and applying those skills given to me by my
site supervisor to carry out. I have gained knowledge on how to Evaluate Program Services,

Agency Report

Organizational Chart

Executive Director
Mary Fox

Public Relations & Fund

Development Manager

Manager of
Adminstrative Services

Jeanne Kasey

Mary Snyder Walton

Kent County Program

Manager

Onita Wells

Senior Social Worker

Yvonne Workman
Younger

Mentor Case Manager

Brittany Wilson

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References

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware. (2014, 9 22). Retrieved from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware:
http://www.BigBrothersBigSistersofDelaware.com
Wells, O. (2014, 10 2). Kent County Program Manager. (S. Smith, Interviewer) Dover, Delaware.