Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Tri-Cities

Our office was originally founded by the Alcohol and Drug Council of Kingsport in 1973 as a Big Sisters program. In 1974 we became Intermountain Big Brothers Big Sisters and then Kingsport Area Big Brothers Big Sisters in 1978.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Tri-Cities has been transforming the lives of children since 1985. We are a member agency of the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States, consisting of more than 350 agencies nationwide. With our office located in Kingsport, we serve the following counties: Carter, Hawkins, Sullivan, Washington, TN and Washington, VA. Our vision is that all children achieve success in life. Our mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

At the core of mentoring is a long-term, trusting friendship with a caring adult who models and teaches skills, behaviors and perspectives. Changes in the child’s behavior, attitude and school performance emanate from the bond built between mentor and child. High-quality mentoring relationships of one year or more have the potential to produce enduring developmental outcomes for disadvantaged youth through two core Big Brothers Big Sisters programs.

In the Community-Based Mentoring program, mentors and children share general community activities at least 2 times monthly, 2 hours per outing. They engage in recreational, educational and service activities in a variety of settings on a flexible basis for a year or more. The Site-Based Mentoring program takes place primarily in elementary schools and afterschool care facilities. Children with academic and/or social challenges are referred to the program by teachers, counselors and care givers. Throughout the school year, children and mentors spend at least one hour each week sharing lunch, reading, doing homework, playing games or simply sharing what’s going on in the child’s life. Through Site-Based Mentoring, we reach youth who might otherwise not have access to a mentor.