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We all want young people to be knowledgeable, caring, responsible, and healthy. Young people who succeed academically and in their personal lives are socially and emotionally competent. They are self-aware. They have a positive attitude toward themselves and others. They know their strengths and are optimistic about the future. They can handle their emotions. They are able to set and achieve goals. And they are effective, responsible problem solvers1.
Across Canada, children and young people participate daily and weekly in a variety of programs that have been designed to honour their strengths, build their capacities, help them learn, and support their healthy social, emotional, physical, cultural, and intellectual development. In some communities, a Big Brothers Big Sisters agency has been established2, offering a variety of programs for children and young people. In other communities, there is a Boys and Girls Club3. And in still others, there is neither, or both. It is important that these opportunities be available and accessible to children and young people in all communities across the country4.
This workbook primarily focuses on the needs and interests of children and young people, aged 6 to 16, the typical age range of Big Brothers Big Sisters programs and Boys and Girls Clubs. There is a very similar set of concerns for children aged, 0 - 6. In many Canadian communities, much work has already been accomplished developing integrated approaches to this younger age range.
The workbook has been developed to help you work in your community, strengthening and expanding the opportunities for children and young people. You might have a dream of establishing a Big Brothers Big Sisters program, or of creating a Boys and Girls Club5. You might have a dream of creating a Big Brothers Big Sisters agency or a Boys and Girls Club organization. Or, you might have a dream of bringing an existing Big Brothers Big Sisters agency and Boys and Girls Club together. This workbook is meant to help you successfully pursue your dream.These are the target populations.
- A community without either agency wanting to start one, the other or both.
- A community with either agency wanting to start the other.
- A community with both agencies wanting to figure out how to work together.
The workbook is also about the sustainability of programs and organizations, of Big Brothers Big Sisters and Boys and Girls Clubs across the country. In Parts 1 and 2, sustainability is a constant thread in the discussions about good processes for carrying out program exploration, planning, and implementation (Chapters 1 to 6). In Parts 3 and 4 (Chapters 7 - 9), the workbook shifts attention to organizational sustainability questions.
Throughout the workbook, there are success stories from local communities across Canada6. They tell, briefly, what happened as individuals like you pursued their dreams for children and young people, and discovered new approaches to program and organizational sustainability that made sense in their communities. Each story is meant to inspire you, give you hope, and provide some interesting ideas that other people have tried. The stories provide an alternative way of looking at program planning (Part 1), program sustainability (Part 2), organizational sustainability (Part 3), and organizational partnering (Part 4). In reading them, however, be aware that each story has its own unique twists and turns, and does not necessarily follow a theoretical template.
The appendices provide more detailed information and suggestions. Read them when you need that help. You can also get further help from the national Big Brothers Big Sisters and Boys and Girls Clubs organizations, and from the web sites of key organizations across North America7.
The workbook has been primarily written for people who are involved, or want to become involved, in the types of programs offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies and Boys and Girls Clubs. It is a joint project between the two national organizations: Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Canada and Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.
The workbook uses generic language as far as possible. Program planning and organizational partnering processes are described that could apply to many non-profit community service agencies working with children and young people. It also takes into account, particularly in Chapter 3, the fact that there are many other types of programs and agencies8 beyond Big Brothers Big Sisters and Boys and Girls Clubs that focus on the social, emotional, physical, cultural, and intellectual health of children and young people.
Sherry Ferronato
Gavin Perryman
May, 2004
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