EngageCorp VISTA at Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Jersey

The BBBS mission is to create & support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Our vision is that all youth achieve their full potential. We partner with parents/guardians, volunteers, and others in the community and hold ourselves accountable for each child in our program achieving: (1) Higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships; (2) Avoidance of risky behaviors; and (3) Educational success.

BBBS offers a variety of mentoring programs to meet the needs of the children and families in the community and to accommodate the schedules of the volunteers we rely on to build quality mentoring relationships. Our CARES (Creating Access to Resources, Events & Services) Program provides resources, basic needs, and recreational/educational activities to youth who are waiting to be matched, Matches, and families. This program ensures that our participants receive support tailored to their needs in addition to resources/activities that stabilize households and enhance lifestyles.

The underserved youth who enroll in our programs are growing up in two of the poorest counties in NJ. Both areas score alarmingly low in Kids Count & Public Health Rankings surveys (Annie. E. Casey Foundation, County Health Rankings). Cumberland County has a 15.3% poverty rate, which is 25% higher than the national average, while Salem County's poverty rate is 10% higher than the NJ state's rate.

A VISTA member will be the face of our CARES program, as they connect youth and their families to BBBS, community & state/federal resources, and recreational activities. These connections will help relieve financial hardship as a long-term relationship with BBBS is formed, enhancing the quality of the mentoring relationships and helping to reduce poverty in the community.