Eckerd Kids Partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay to Bridge Educational Gap for Foster

TAMPA, Fla. - Aug. 1, 2016 - PRLog -- National research continues to recognize mentoring as a key strategy for improving outcomes for at-risk youth. Eckerd Kids, the organization that manages the largest child welfare system in the State of Florida serving over 6,000 foster youth and their families, recently announced a new partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay to provide 133 foster youth with a mentor that can support their journey through the foster care system.

"Eckerd Kids is excited to bring private dollars to the child welfare system to enhance the experience of kids placed in kinship care," Lorita Shirley, Eckerd Kids Chief of Program Services said.

Big Brothers Big Sisters, the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the nation, carefully matches at-risk youth with caring, adult role models. Research has shown youth enrolled in the program are more likely to improve in school and in their relationships with family and friends, and less likely to skip school or use illegal drugs or alcohol. Last year 99 percent of the Tampa Bay children in the program had no involvement with the juvenile justice system, and 97 percent were promoted to the next grade level.

"The Big Brothers Big Sisters program of mentoring really works, and we are excited and honored by this opportunity to work with foster youth in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties in partnership with Eckerd Kids," said Stephen Koch, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. "While not a parent, a Big Brother or Big Sister mentor is an adult friend who can have a life-long positive impact on a child by providing that youth a different perspective on life and its opportunities. This will be an exceptional volunteer opportunity to work with some great kids."

Every mentor assigned through this partnership will undergo a thorough background check and stringent interview and match process. This screening will allow Big Brothers Big Sisters an opportunity to better match the mentor with a foster youth based on the child's challenges, unique interests, location, personalities and preferences. The goal is to create a match that will grow into a lasting, impactful friendship.

The mentors will be required to commit to a minimum of 15 months of service and spend an average of 8 hours per month with their assigned foster youth, completing activities that promote improved education and social skills. Specific activities might include providing homework support, working with the youth on achieving gaps in educational benchmarks, taking a child to a museum, or simply listening to the youth and providing advice and inspiration. Mentors will plan activities that will occur at the child's school, foster care placement or within the community.

About Eckerd Kids:

Eckerd Kids is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, that has given much-needed second chances to more than 168,000 children and families since its founding by Jack and Ruth Eckerd in 1968.  Eckerd Kids serves more than 25,000 children and their families each year through life-changing child welfare, juvenile justice and workforce development programs in 20 states and the District of Columbia.  Eckerd Kids' mission is to provide and share solutions that promote the well-being of children and families in need of a second chance.  To learn more visit www.eckerd.org.  Follow us on Twitter at @eckerdyouth, Instagram at Eckerd Kids, and "like" us on Facebook at facebook.com/eckerdyouth.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters Tampa Bay:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is part of the nation's largest donor and volunteer-supported mentoring network, and holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs youth, or 'Littles', with screened volunteer mentors, or 'Bigs', and monitors these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their time in the program. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity – often of single parent or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military – with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.  In 2015, nearly 3,000 children were paired with mentors in Hillsborough, Citrus, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk Hernando and Sumter counties. The agency received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and was awarded the BBBS National Quality Standard Award and the 2015 Tampa Bay Business Journal Award Non-profit of the Year in the area of Public and Societal Benefit. Please visit www.BBBSTampaBay.org.