Big Brothers Big Sisters is partnering with Hamilton Child and Family Supports (formerly Hamilton CAS) to provide 1:1 Mentoring to children and youth involved in care in the Hamilton area.
The Community Matching Program pairs an adult mentor with a young person currently involved with Hamilton Child and Family Supports (HCFS). Matches are made with consideration of interests, personality and geographic location.
We are committed to serving traditionally underserved young people who may also face adversities. We refer to adversities as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) which can include exposures to abuse, mental health challenges in the family, housing or financial insecurities, or community violence. Our programming is also centred around serving youth from the BIPOC community, newcomer youth, youth in care, as well as youth from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
The program connects its participants with a Mentor who they can talk to and share new experiences with. This program will also focus specifically on goal setting in educational engagement and employment readiness.
Through weekly outings, a supportive relationship is established between the Mentor and the Mentee. All matches are supported regularly by our experienced Case Managers to ensure the health and safety of the friendship. The result is a life-changing experience for both the Mentor and the Mentee.
Commitment Length:
– Mentors will meet with their Mentee in the community 1/week for 2-4 hours for 1-year
Additional Requirements:
– We ask that mentors have a tie to the community (work or home) that will remain consistent for at least 18 months
– Access to reliable transportation is a requirement for this program
To learn more, contact the Big Brothers Big Sisters Volunteer Intake Team!
Phone: (905) 525-3860 ext. 309
