Building Positive Youth Relationships

Spotlight on Big Brothers Big Sisters Niagara

“One of the misconceptions we hear a lot in the community is that all of our littles must come from single-family households,” says Erin Graybiel, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Niagara. “The reality is there is a multitude of reasons why a young person would benefit from an extra adult mentor.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters Niagara (BBBSN) serves individuals from all different backgrounds, age groups and lifestyles. The goal is to represent all kinds of youth in Niagara and ensure everyone who might benefit from a consistent adult relationship in their life can have access to a big brother or sister.

BBBSN responds to a variety of issues in the community from a children and youth perspective. We know that for youth to have success at home and in the classroom, children need stable and consistent adult relationships in their lives. Familial issues, parents working multiple jobs to make ends meet or mental health issues stemming from extra stress at home are all symptoms that could lead to a child needing an additional stable and consistent relationship.

Programs offered by BBBSN give youth the chance to reach their full potential. One such program is the In-School Mentorship program. Working alongside local schools, this program can help bridge learning gaps for students who are less engaged or are struggling with attendance. Results have shown that students who may have been dealing with poor attendance do start to show up and become more engaged when they know their mentor will be present.

If youth can be supported throughout their early school-aged years, it can help better prepare them for post-secondary and employment. Last year, close to a thousand young lives were impacted through mentorship with BBBSN and those relationships have helped them thrive and be all they can be. The youth support network of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara is made possible by multi-year United Way funding, which wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated community of local donors.

Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara on their website.