For over 46 years Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermont has been providing high quality 1:1 mentoring programs for children and youth.  BBBSVT is the only statewide mentoring organization offering 1:1 mentors for youth ages 6-18+ in site-based and community settings. 

 

BBBSVT is an independent affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.  Established in 1904, it's the oldest and largest mentoring organization in the country. Through an independent study, children in BBBS mentoring programs are 27% less likely to begin using alcohol; 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs; 52% less likely to skip school, and 33% less likely to exhibit violent behaviors. 77% report doing better in school because of their Big and Littles are 55% more likely to enroll in college than their non-mentored peers.

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1975 - 2017

BBBSVT was originally established as a sponsored agency of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America by Youth Services in Brattleboro, VT in 1975. Formerly known as BBBS of Windham County the program served Windham County youth from 1975 - 2017.

 

2017 to Present

In 2017 BBBSVT had the opportunity to expand its services statewide. At that time the program and its staff separated from Youth Services, obtained its 501(c)3 public charity status, and assumed the contract with BBBS of America to continue to provide programming in Windham County and to expand programming throughout Vermont.  

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In 2018 BBBSVT opened programming in Chittenden County and absorbed The Howard Center's former Community Friends Mentoring Program.

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In 2019 BBBSVT opened at satellite office in Newport to serve the Northeast Kingdom and expanded its Southern Vermont program to include Windsor County.

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In 2020 BBBSVT partnered with The Stratton Foundation to provide peer mentoring to youth in Bennington County.

Currently BBBSVT have active matches in Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Franklin, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor Counties.  We have youth waiting to be matched in Essex, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange and all other counties throughout Vermont.  Our long term goal is to serve at least 500 children and have active matches in every county throughout Vermont. 

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If you are interested in learning how to get a program started in your community, please reach out to us at info@bbbsvt.org. 

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Although BBBSVT is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and holds a contract to provide the BBBSA evidence-based mentoring model, we are an independent Vermont-based 501(c)3 and are not employed by or financially supported by BBBSA.