Special Initiatives
If you are interested in partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters on any of our public policy initiatives, please contact Rudy Spencer at Rudy.Spencer@bbbsky.org.
Juvenile Justice
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Federal government support and funding enables us to make a significant impact in our community and helps maintain strong standards nationally. We have been awarded competitive grants from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to support area children facing adversity, including youth that have been involved with the juvenile justice system and youth or families that have been affected by the opioid crisis.
Through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships, youth that have exposure to opioid use or the juvenile justice system, are offered a powerful connection and positive role model to discuss these experiences and determine next steps to reach their full potential. |
LGBTQ
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In August 2017, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana partnered with Altria to specifically help us better serve LGBTQ youth. Since this time, we have actively worked to recruit both LGBTQ Bigs and Littles, foster supportive relationships with the LGBTQ community, and held trainings on inclusion for staff, board members, families, and volunteers. Knowing the negative physical and mental health statistics for LGBTQ youth, it is our mission to help support LGBTQ youth reach their full potential.
Big Brothers Big Sisters prides themselves on being an organization that is dedicated to inclusiveness. We celebrate the diversity of every person who walks through our doors. |
Bigs In Blue
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Bigs in Blue is a one-to-one mentoring program that connects our youth with police officers in communities throughout our nation, especially in areas where this relationship has been strained. When youth are able to get to know police officers apart from their uniform, they are able to build a positive mentoring relationship and see the Big for the person they are behind the badge. The goal of the program is to build strong, trusting, lasting, relationships between law enforcement officers and the youth and families that they serve.
The Bigs in Blue program is currently matching youth with police officers. We also love having mentors that are in the FBI, firefighters, military police, EMS, and other law enforcement agencies and personnel. Bigs in Blue welcomes all persons wearing a badge to learn more about this unique mentoring program, catered to building bridges between our youth and those who serve them. Find more information on the Bigs in Blue program on National's website. Bigs in Blue (From Representation Matters page) The Bigs in Blue program matches youth with police officers. We also love having mentors that are in the FBI, firefighters, military police, EMS, and other law enforcement agencies and personnel. The program focuses on improving relationships between police and youth in the community through building trusting, one-to-one relationships, especially in communities where this trust has been strained. Bigs in Blue welcomes all persons wearing a badge to learn more about this unique mentoring program, catered to building bridges between our youth and those who serve them. |
Children of Incarcerated Parents
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Federal government support and funding enables us to make a significant impact in our community and helps maintain strong standards nationally. In partnership with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana works closely with families that have a history of parental or family incarceration.
Currently, 22% of our Waiting Littles have one or more families members that is currently or has previously been incarcerated. Big Brothers Big Sisters is able to introduce these children to an additional, positive, adult role model who can offer them mentorship and friendship. |
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Project ReacHER
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Project ReacHER offers female youth the benefits of professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships, coupled with empowerment activities and self-confidence trainings to ensure they have the tools to achieve life-long success.
Through the generosity of a Heels Together grant, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana was able to launch Project ReacHER in 2017. The program was first piloted in the School/Site Mentoring program in Hardin and Grayson Counties, and has since been utilized in Indiana as well. With monthly titles such as Bold Aspirations, Power of Connections, Supporting Your Psyche, and Lead Like a Girl, this self-developed curriculum for mentors focuses on education, leadership development, and economic empowerment for young girls. 
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Military Families
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Children with a parent in the military, including a deployed parent, face unique challenges that may include separation and loss, in addition to the regular stresses of military life. To help provide the additional support these children need, Big Brothers Big Sisters has established a program called the Military Mentoring Program. It joins military children with Bigs who are currently serving in the military or have veteran status. This program has been given significant support through a partnership with the T. Boone Pickens Foundation.
In order to expand Mentoring Military Children to additional cities and ensure we are making the greatest impact possible on these kids, funding is critical. Your donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters can help make this unique program available to help more of our Littles that have parent/guardian who is on active duty or in the reserves at Fort Knox. |
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Project Dream / Project BOLLD
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Our vision is that all youth achieve their full potential. Our one-to-one mentoring programs greatly benefit children with special needs. Funding from WHAS Crusade and other supporters allows us to serve nearly 80 children with special needs each year by providing each with a one-to-one mentor. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana has launched two projects that target these youth: Project Dream and Project BOLLD.
Project Dream provides positive, adult mentors for children with developmental disabilities. Various disabilities that are considered “developmental” include autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other mental/physical impairments. Through Project BOLLD (Bigs Outreach to Littles with Learning Disabilities), our staff provides mentors for children with learning disabilities. Learning disabilities affect the brain’s ability to receive, process, analyze or store information. Examples of learning disabilities that our Littles have experienced include ADHD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia. |
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Legacy Bigs
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Through a partnership with the Humana Foundation and Kosairs Charities, Big Brothers Big Sisters has launched the Legacy Program, an inter-generational mentoring program that improves relationship development and overall well-being of both adults and children in the program. The Legacy Program is specifically focused on matching volunteers that are 55 or older and are looking to give the gift of time to a child.
You don’t need special skills to be a Legacy Big – just the willingness to listen, offer encouragement, and share what you’ve learned about life. Have tons of fun, teach (and learn!) some new skills, and make a valuable difference in developing the next generation! By volunteering a few hours a month, you can be a defender of potential for a child.
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