IT TAKES LITTLE
TO BE BIG
be over the
age of 18
reliable
transportation
stable
address
background
check
Complete a quick interest form, and a member of our team will follow up to guide you through the next steps.
BECOMING A BIG STARTS HERE.
Building a meaningful mentoring relationship doesn't require special skills or experience. It starts with a willingness to show up, listen, and be a consistent presence in a young person's life.
YOUR FIRST STEP IS SIMPLE.
Tell us a little about yourself by completing our volunteer interest form. Once you’ve completed the form, you can connect with our staff to answer questions and help you take the next step, or watch a brief Big orientation video at your convenience.
REQUIREMENTS
To be a Big, we ask that you commit to meeting with your Little at least two times per month for at least one year.
be over the age of 18
have reliable transportation
plan to live at your address for at least one year
consent to a criminal background check.
You must live in one of the counties we serve: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding or Rockdale Counties.
Mentoring brings people of different ages and backgrounds together, and we believe that strengthens the fabric of our community. We work to defend and affirm the potential of all youth and seek volunteers who are dedicated to creating an inclusive and safe space for youth.
Take the first step towards becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister by attending a Big Orientation.
Each step in the process moves you closer to standing with us as a Defender of Potential.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Our Bigs come from diverse backgrounds just like our Littles. They are regular people, just like you. You don’t need any special degrees or job skills. You just have to want to positively impact a young person. Role models come in all shapes and sizes, and you could be a perfect fit.
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In order to apply to be a Big, you must be over the age of 18 and able to commit to meeting with your Little a couple of times a month for at least one year. We also ask that you:
have reliable transportation
plan to live at your address for at least 1 year
consent to a criminal background check
be drug-free
live in our service area: Butts, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale counties
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As a Big/Little team, you decide together what you want to do and then your Little gets approval from his or her parent. We recommend that you keep a consistent schedule of outings and get together on a regular basis. Your local agency will provide more guidance on this. The outings will also depend on the comfort level of your Little’s parents, your Little, and you.
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The quality of the time you invest with your Little is more important than the amount of money you spend. That’s why we don’t encourage spending a lot of money on your outings. The goal of the relationship is to help your Little see the world through a different lens so you can inspire your Little to become something they never thought possible. If you are going to spend money, we encourage you to seek out low-cost activities, especially in the beginning. Play a game together or share that pizza that you were going to have for lunch anyway. As a Big, you may also receive notices for free tickets to cultural and sports activities for you both to enjoy.
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Share an activity that gives you something in common to talk about. Go to the library, check out a book and read together. Buy a comic book to read together. Play a board game. Go on a nature walk. Hit a bucket of golf balls at the local driving range. You want to select activities that give each of you a chance to learn more about one another. For children, playing can be learning. Most important: keep it simple and enjoy yourselves!
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Once you are matched with your Little, a Match Support Specialist from the agency will be in regular contact with you to provide assistance and give feedback. Any time you are unsure about what to do or how to handle a situation, you will have a Match Support Specialist there to help. They’ll help you with ideas for activities, guidance for handling possible difficult situations, and feedback on how you are making a difference.
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A Big Couple is a pair of Bigs who are married and want to be matched together to the same Little Brother. This a great option for couples that would prefer a shared experience as opposed to each of them having their own Little. The benefit of a Big Couple is that the child gets to build a relationship with both parties and gain different perspectives from his mentors.
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Head to our Donate and Events pages and read about ways you can financially support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta - our mission, our cause and our kids.
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Absolutely! Whenever you are interested in having one of our agency representatives share our mission with others, contact us. We can provide audio-visual presentations, videos, speeches, e-presentations and materials about Big Brothers Big Sisters. Contact us at 404-601-7000.
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NOW SEEKING Big Brothers
At this time, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta is temporarily pausing new applications for Little Brothers. We currently have a significant number of boys in our pipeline and on our waiting list, and our focus is on matching and serving those families as quickly and thoughtfully as possible. We are still accepting applications for Little Sisters. If you are interested in enrolling a child, please check back soon for updates or contact our team with any questions.