With the branch that I'm working with, essentially kids become part of the program mostly through their parents signing them up. Parents recognize that they can't always spend enough time with their kids and see that this is a great opportunity to add a positive influence into their life.

Kids can also be "recommended" through social workers and school guidance councilors, but ultimately it has to be the parents who take the step to sign their kid(s) up with the program.

Most of the kids come from tough backgrounds - A pretty common scenario is a single parent with multiple children who doesn't want their son/daughter to be ignored while the parent focuses on, say, a new baby or younger sibling, so they sign them up to the program. It's all voluntary, though, so it's not like I represent an organization like the Department of Social Services who's taking kids away from their parents.

In terms of the actual scenario, it's all about one-on-one time with you and your Little, so while they'll have the occasional group activity (like picnics, that sort of thing), BBBS really wants you to take your Little out and spend quality time like them. So, it's not like you just go to a Center or YMCA and partner up... BBBS actually anticipates you bringing your Little to your house or apartment a lot to bond with them there. The activity really depends on what your Little is interested in.

Personally, I would LOVE to be paired with a little sister who wants to swim - There's a YMCA close by and I'd love to give her swim lessons. I did that with my parents when I was small. :D

Good to hear, I hope you have a BLAST. You're only the second person I know to join this program and the first didn't have a great experience. Keep us posted.

Sounds like a really good thing you're doing here. Be sure to introduce your little to us! :p

This is awesome. Hope it works out well for the two of you and lots of fun is had.

Wow! pretty much good initiative made by you. Go ahead. Best wished from my side.

Thanks again for all of the support!!

I finally got matched with my Little - Her name is Dolly, she's 9, and a twin! I met her last week and took her out last night to a laser tag place called LASER ZONE (for the record we TOTALLY schooled two teenage boys in laser tag)... She definitely plays tough, but I think she had a lot of fun with me.

Going pretty well so far... :D

Excellent...

:-)

Glad to hear your first outing with her went well. I hope it continues. You're a good person, Chrono.

Can you be a violent felon and do that? And who is AI? Is she gonna fuck those kids up???

This seems like a really great idea-I wish there was something like this here-anything to save kids from the real horrors of the "care" system *shudders at flashbacks*