Big Brothers, Sisters program flourishing

CARTHAGE — Frances S. Bennett, a high school senior, has had little brothers and sisters for just over a year.

She has been a "big" as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Country, which is overseen by the Children's Home of Jefferson County, since the Carthage Central School District partnered with the Children's Home last school year to create a school-based mentoring program.

"I call them my children," Miss Bennett, 17, said. "Last year I adopted six."

She is among the 53 high school students matched up with fifth- and sixth-grade pupils from 3 to 5 p.m. every Thursday in the Carthage Middle School cafeteria. The program began in the 2008-09 school year after the Children's Home received a $184,970 grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant application was submitted in partnership with Indian River Central School District, which also offers the school-based mentoring program.

There is no cost to participate in the program.

The grant called for both school districts to have 25 big-little matches each for the first, second and third years, for a total of at least 75 matches.

"We've seen it grow each year to this point," Carthage Assistant Superintendent Jan B. LaRock said.

Miss Bennett said she signed up for the program right away because it has been the only opportunity she's had to have "little brothers and sisters."

"I don't have any younger siblings and I like interaction with children," she said during Thursday's Big Brothers Big Sisters program at the school.

Her partner for that day was fifth-grader Caitlyn A. Ainsworth, 10.

"I like this because you get someone to do stuff with after school, and someone to help you with your homework," Caitlyn said. "I want to learn where her favorite place to go is."

All "bigs" and "littles" are required to fill out a monthly evaluation, required by the national office of Big Brothers Big Sisters, according to Toni M. Miller, the local Big Brothers Big Sisters staff supervisor. The Children's Home also is responsible for following up with parents at the end of the year.

Littles and bigs can sign up anytime throughout the year for either the Carthage or Indian River school-based program by calling Mrs. Miller at 777-9208. She said if a big is involved in sports or club activities, the mentoring program will work around his or her schedule.

The relationship between the younger and older students doesn't stop when school ends. Mrs. Miller said the students receive stationary at the end of the school year so they can keep in contact with their matches throughout the summer.

"It's fun to see the bigs flourish as well as the littles," said Penny A. LaBarge, the school-based coordinator at Carthage.

Janelle G. Bossuot, Children's Home events coordinator, said among the more important lessons most participants take away from the program is the value of volunteerism and how to make a difference in the community.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Country program recently received national recognition when it was awarded the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Gold Standard Award, which recognizes the local program for being in the top 5 percent of Big Brothers Big Sisters' nearly 400 agencies in the nation. The local program has had 103 big-little matches in communities throughout the north country, as well as 224 school-based matches, including matches between the Potsdam Central School District and nearby colleges.

Miss Bossuot said the Children's Home is open to exploring similar partnerships with other school districts. School officials can call Mrs. Miller for more information.