Originally starting with basic community-based and school-based mentoring programs, BBBSJC has branched out to include programs that impact teenagers and children with incarcerated parents.  Currently the organization has two primary programs; community-based mentoring and site-based mentoring that incorporate many volunteers and youth, as well as nine different area schools.  BBBSJC's desire to help all Jackson County children has garnered success, including through its Children of Promise Excel (COPE) Program.

According to the organization's executive director, Erica Vogel, BBBSJC is also committed to supporting children with incarcerated parents.  They began mentoring this vulnerable population in 2005 with the start of its COPE Program and matched 38 kids in 2009.  Through COPE, Bigs of Jackson is also utilizing MENTOR's Caregiver's Choice program, benefitting from the financial gain it brings their organization.

"[Caregiver's Choice] helps us as an agency at a time when dollars are so few and far between," said Vogel.  "This program ensures our matches are supported."

BBBSJC also strives to support older youth waiting to be matched with a mentor - thus the creation of its Learn and Serve Teen Mentoring Program.  Vogel says this program was created as an opportunity for teenagers already matched through the organization, or those on their waiting list, to have to chance to contribute to their community.

"For many teens, there aren't a lot of volunteer opportunities where they can get easily involved," Vogel explained.  "Plus, they have been the highest number of kids on our waiting list and they have so many risk factors.  We had to give them a place to call ‘home'."

The Teen Mentoring Program, which uses an area church - Lily Missions - to serve as the after-school site, matches Jackson high-schoolers with elementary-aged students in a mentoring relationship.  The matches work on service-learning activities, geared towards giving back to the community.

"Through our first year of programming alone, we recruited 13 teens to participate," Vogel said.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County, Inc. is pioneering mentoring programs in its area to benefit all youth in need.  But, like many other mentoring organizations in Michigan, they are feeling the strain of diminishing budgets and cutbacks.  Vogel believes mentoring relationships are needed now more than ever.

"We have to make sure our kids are supported so we will have a stronger community," she said.  "As a Michigan mentoring program; make sure you work to the best of your ability so there's a positive outcome for everyone."

For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County, Inc. visit www.bbbsjackson.orgor call Erica Vogel at (517) 784-7181.