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Provides programs and training for youth, including:

- Life skills training

- Peer mentorship

- Career readiness

- Tutoring and after school programs

- Dance and step programs

- Sports camp

Mentors model appropriate behavior, provide guidance and skill building, and offer an opportunity to motivate their mentee through interest exploration and social interaction.

Community-based mentoring matches a child with an adult volunteer in a community-based relationship.

School-based mentoring is incorporated into the school structure and meets during lunch/recess at the child's school. School-based matches are able to participate in BBBS sponsored and other community activities, but are not required to do so.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley provides age appropriate activity enhancements through our community partners that help grow the relationship and strengthen the development of the child. Enhancements involving elementary children and their mentors explore literacy, community service, health and wellness, financial literacy, and STEAM. Enhancements involving middle and high school youth and their mentors explore careers, post-secondary education, financial literacy, leadership, social and mental health, and community service.

Offers to empower male youth to make positive life choices. Program provides participants with mentor/mentee matches, weekly group mentoring sessions, graduation ceremonies and special events. Locations vary within the Polk County area, including community and school-based sites.

Provides mentoring for youth in a one-on-one setting most days throughout the year. The purpose of “one-to-ones” is for the teen to develop a positive relationship with an adult who genuinely cares about him or her and who can provide personal support in dealing with life’s pressures. Surveys show that youth who experienced stronger levels of developmental relationships with mentors also had 26% higher social and emotional competence scores.

- Provides youth development programs and leadership skills opportunities to children in the area.

- Offers mentoring and assistance for youth who face challenges such as poverty, difficulties in school, and more.

- Provides free school supplies in the fall to children registered at the Boys and Girls Club.

Connects individuals who are experiencing life hardships to others who provide friendship and mentoring. Mentoring covers topics such as coping with grief, budgeting, or other life hardships.

Long term residential placement for youth 10-18 years of age. Outpatient substance abuse treatment and therapy services available for youth placed in the long-term residential program.

Behavioral health services for youth 5-18 years of age depending on the program or service.

Volunteer mentoring program for 3rd through 12th grade in math or reading skills.

Family preservation services in Iowa and Nebraska.

Educational programs for professionals working with youth.

Provides the opportunity for the mentor (Big) to visit their Little in the child's school, after school program, or at another youth-serving agency. This allows for the mentor to meet in a more structured environment than out in the community, usually for about an hour per week.

**Does NOT offer emergency housing options for families or adults.

Offers various support services to families with children through a cooperative of area churches. Trained volunteers and staff work with parents facing chronic stress or crisis to find resources and supports that can help. The following services are offered with volunteers from local churches:

Crisis Child Hosting: Temporary care of vulnerable children to give parents a safe option during a crisis.

Child Respite Hosting: Hosting children for shorter periods (typically a few hours to a few days a couple of times a month). This provides parents with respite relief and allows for stabilization.

Mentoring and Advocacy Services for Parents: focuses on working with parents to develop goals and relationships/friendships to decrease isolation and increase support for the parent. Advocates can also help parents find local resources to help relieve stress.

Mentoring program for girls in middle school with twice monthly meetings and social get togethers during the school year. Mentors are female ISU students and must pass background checks.

Mentoring program opportunities include community based (traditional), individual and couples match to a child, and school-based.

Provides services to children who reside in a foster home or children who have returned home from residential placement. In order to help preserve the placement, this program provides counseling, respite care, and mentoring along with hard services, such as clothing, furniture, recreational opportunities, etc.

Serves middle school and high school teens who are experiencing challenging times. The staff builds relationships with youth through tutoring, support groups, and one-on-one mentoring.

Seeks to build better schools and a healthier community by reaching out to every hurting, lost, or at risk teen in the community and build caring relationships with them and offer opportunities for life transformation.

Creates mentoring opportunities for young people to gain the knowledge, skills and support necessary to lead healthy, productive lives. Program serves multi-ethnic young people ages 15-23 who come from fractured family structure and teach basic life skills through relational mentoring.

Long term residential placement for youth 10-18 years of age. Outpatient substance abuse treatment and therapy services available for youth placed in the long-term residential program.

Behavioral health services for youth 5-18 years of age depending on the program or service.

Volunteer mentoring program for 3rd through 12th grade in math or reading skills.

Family preservation services in Iowa and Nebraska.

Educational programs for professionals working with youth.

Provides academic mentoring services to school aged children that needs help with school subjects. 

Long term residential placement for youth 10-18 years of age. Outpatient substance abuse treatment and therapy services available for youth placed in the long-term residential program.

Behavioral health services for youth 5-18 years of age depending on the program or service.

Volunteer mentoring program for 3rd through 12th grade in math or reading skills.

Family preservation services in Iowa and Nebraska.

Educational programs for professionals working with youth.

Offers a before and after school program. Services provide children individual and group tutoring, as well as mentoring services to decrease school suspensions and to address the mental health and academic needs. Children are given a snack and provided with homework assistance, life skills, and recreational activities.