Big Brothers Big Sisters serves over 360 living in Potter, Randall, Hansford and Ochiltree counties. 

The children of our community are faced with many obstacles that inhibit or prevent their success. There are many persistent problems our area youth face in determining that a child is “at risk” or “in need”. These factors may include:

• Low income, single parent household
• Incarcerated parent
• Little or no supervision
• Low self-esteem
• Poor academic performance
• Peer risk factors
• Lack of positive role models

We serve children in three programs:

• Community Based Program:

The Community Based Program matches children in a one-to-one mentoring relationship with an adult to develop positive life skills. The program assists children in becoming successful competent adults by providing an adult role model to fill in the gap when family and schools may not be able to be there. Mentors become a part of the child’s life, talk about the child’s feelings about school, teachers, sports, social activities, career choices, drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, home life or friends. The mentors are there for support and encouragement.

• The Site Based Program:

The Site Based Program is a site-based, cooperative effort between Amarillo School District, Canyon Independent School District and Big Brothers Big Sisters. We are currently serving children at Emerson, Wills, Whittier, and Wolflin Elementary schools, Travis Middle School, Canyon Intermediate and Reeves Hinger. We are in the process of establishing services at Johnny Allen 6th Grade Campus, Will Rogers and Tradewinds Elementary schools. Volunteer mentors on these campuses work with students for one hour per week with a focus on relationship issues. The goal is to provide students with attention, encouragement, and support from a positive adult role model.

• Bigs In School:

The Bigs In School program is a site-based program developed to recruit high school students ages 16 and over to mentor one-to-one with Littles. The Bigs In School program is only available in Hansford and Ochiltree Counties.