Executive summary big brothers big sisters of america (BBBS) provides professionally supported, long term, one-to-one life changing relationships with measurable impact to youth facing adversity

Big brothers big sisters of alabama believes that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and we have committed ourselves to serving children in alabama for over 45 years! BBBS of alabama recognizes the needs within our local communities to provide positive role models in hopes of boosting children's self-esteem and improving their chance to achieve success in their academic, social and family lives. Currently in alabama, there are six big brothers big sisters agencies and three satellite offices offering full time services to children in need throughout suburban, rural and urban alabama. Collectively, these organizations serve approximately 3,000 youth annually between five and 18 through a variety of programs including a community and site-based initiative. Each autonomous BBBS organization represents their service area through the big brothers big sisters of alabama state association that strives for a common goal -- to provide mentoring relationships for alabama youth that addresses issues such as education, safety, confidence, competence and caring. For the purposes of this request, BBBS of alabama will use americorps vista members to: 1) increase capacity for all BBBS of alabama?S immediate service areas; 2) research the most critical service areas in need of opioid awareness and education; 3) develop opioid curriculum for children ages 5-18; and 4) assist their service agency in creating a database for our adult mentors. The extent to which each individual BBBS agency implements each goal is based on the demographics of its service area. Project activities to be performed: americorps*vista members assigned to work with the various BBBS locations statewide will increase BBBS overall capacity to serve and enhance its services by: * helping with local community outreach, partnership development, drug awareness curriculum development and volunteer recruitment tasks; * providing assistance to agency staff directly involved in enrolling, matching and tracking the participating youth in alabama communities; * identifying partnerships with various community leaders and/or nonprofit/civic organizations to provide training activities and to identify youth in need of a mentor; * serving as a liaison for local BBBS agencies; * assisting with the evaluation of BBBS programs by utilizing various measurement tools and focusing on the short and long-term effects of the relationship on both mentors and mentees.