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Two Big Brother / Big Sister Programs Sponsored Jointly By Special Needs Support Center Of The Upper Valley, The Tucker Foundation at Dartmouth College, And Dartmouth Medical School

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Welcome to Connections and Buddies, two Big Brother / Big Sister Program sponsored jointly by SNSC-UV and Dartmouth. Through Connections any child or young person between the ages of 4 and 21 who has special needs enters into a sibling-type relationship with a trained Dartmouth College volunteer. Buddies is a similar program that draws its volunteers from the Dartmouth Medical School and is open to children of any age, including those with complex medical needs. Through consistent and caring contact, these volunteers seek to build trust with their “Sibs”. In the company of their Big Brother or Sister, a child with special needs can gain opportunities to get out in the community, engage in activities that might not otherwise be available to them, and practice their social skills. Many times these relationships blossom into true friendships and last over several years.

See Connections in action:

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Below are answers to some of the questions most frequently asked by parents when first considering Connections or Buddies for their child:

	Who is eligible for Connections and Buddies? What is the difference between the two programs?
	Any child with a chronic conditions - medical, psychological or developmental - may participate in these programs. Of the two, Connections is our larger program, and matches made through this program can last up to four years. Buddies are in the community for no longer than two years. Generally we recommend that children younger than 4 years of age or with complex medical needs be matched with a Buddy since these volunteers are somewhat older and more experienced- some are even parents themselves. Along with helping out the family, Buddies have an interest in learning from parents about how a child’s chronic condition impacts them and how they cope with the special challenges that it presents.
	How do I apply for a volunteer for my child?
	Parents are asked to complete a short form briefly describing their child’s needs. The Community Partners Coordinator, who is herself the parent of children with special needs, will also interview you to learn more about how a volunteer can best fit into your family life. Working with the Student Coordinators for each program, she then seeks an appropriate match. She will call you to describe the potential match, which is only finalized with your approval.
	How often will my child see their Big Brother or Big Sister?
	Connections volunteers are committed to visiting their Sibs for 2-3 hours once a week during term time. Buddies visit their Sibs every other week. Dartmouth College has an unusual schedule that sometimes requires undergraduates to be away during the regular academic year but in residence for the summer. The volunteers are expected to let the parents of their Sib know about their scheduling constraints and vacation plans. Medical students are generally not available during exam periods.
	How quickly can my son or daughter be matched with a volunteer?
	Volunteers are recruited at the beginning of each of Dartmouth’s four terms. If the Coordinator cannot immediately match your child, she keeps that child on a waiting list until she does. We don’t promise instant results, but do recognize that children are not naturally good at waiting! Special note: Many families specifically request a young man as a match for their school age or teenage son. We do our best to honor this request, but unfortunately, fewer young men volunteer for thess programs than young women. Families needing a male volunteer may wait longer.
	How much training are volunteers given? Do they know anything about working with children who have special needs?
	Connections Volunteers must complete 3 orientation sessions before being matched with a family. The Community Partners Coordinator, who has already interviewed each volunteer, conducts the final orientation. This session focuses on some of the general concerns that parents may have when raising a child with special needs - for example, the worry that our children do not have friends in their life, only paid aides, therapists, etc. She strongly encourages the students to talk directly with the parents about specific safety concerns, strategies for handling challenging behavior, and the parent’s goals for their child in having a volunteer. The message conveyed to students is very clear: The parents are the experts and always have final say. For example, with regard to the topics you talk about and the activities you plan for you and your Sib (say, going to a movie with a PG or PG-13 rating), you must respect the family’s values and boundaries at all times. Buddies are also personally interviewed by the Coordinator and attend a similar orientation session run by the Coordinator. One further note about safety: Undergraduate volunteers have access to cars either through the Tucker Foundation at Dartmouth College or through their friends. Their orientation includes a session about driver safety, as well as a license check with the DMV in their home state to insure that they do not have a record of any traffic violations. Medical students generally have their own cars.

For more information contact Pam Blair @ respitecare@valley.net.

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The SNSC-UV homepage address is www.snsc-uv.org