When the COVID-19 pandemic struck New Jersey in March, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal and Northern New Jersey suddenly had to plan for ways to provide services to families and youngsters in an increasingly virtual world.
Program Manager Brendan Ward acted by tapping into the Monmouth ACTS network, according to a press release from Monmouth County.
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides a community based program that features one-to-one mentoring for youngsters between the ages of 6 and 15, as well as workplace, college and school-based mentoring programs for students up to age 18.
Youngsters are matched with members of the community, or mentors, who provide them with the tools they need to reach their full potential. The program prides itself on being hands-on and developing impactful relationships through social interaction, according to the press release.
When the pandemic hit, Big Brothers Big Sisters had to shift its programming to meet the new standard of limited social contact.
“Typically, we have a long waiting list of children and a short list of mentors, but during COVID we experienced just the opposite,” Ward said.
Ward reached out to Monmouth ACTS’ Positive Youth Development Hub, whose COVID-19 response priority is to “increase opportunities for community connection and socialization among youth.”
Historically, Big Brothers Big Sisters relies heavily on schools to send referrals for children. In the wake of COVID and the strain on schools, referrals decreased and so Ward reached out to community connections, according to the press release.
Through the Monmouth ACTS Advisory Council (MAAC) and connections from the Positive Youth Development Hub, Ward was connected with local nonprofit Monmouth Cares and received seven referrals for children within two months.
“The connection we made with MAAC has helped us to stay informed and connected to families who may be struggling and need additional support,” Ward said.
Ward attributes the increase in mentors to the at-home lifestyle of COVID.
“People are looking at the world around them and seeing the challenges people are facing. It empowers them to do something to help and make a change,” he said.
“The partnerships developed through Monmouth ACTS position us to better respond to needs,” said Desiree Whyte, director, Monmouth County Division of Behavioral Health.
“This collaboration is a prime example of how community partnership benefits our residents. The creativity and dedication displayed by Big Brothers Big Sisters and other agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic has been amazing,” Whyte said.
The success is also due in part to the program’s creative shift to virtual events. In a typical year, Big Brothers Big Sisters hosts events like cooking classes, pool parties and hands-on activities.
Now, program members participate in web-based activities such as virtual movie nights, gaming sessions and Zoom meetups, as well as presentations from guest speakers, according to the press release.
