Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Does it take a lot of time to be a volunteer?

For school-based volunteers it just takes approximately 30 minutes per week for the entire school year. For the community based volunteers it is just 2-3 hours at a time, 3 to 4 times a month.

2. How do you become a Big Brother or Big Sister?

Notify our office about your interest in becoming a volunteer
Set up a time for you to come in for an informational meeting and interview
Fill out a few forms, and get any of your questions answered while being interviewing. (Takes approximately 1.5 hours)
Background and reference checks are performed while information is reviewed from your interview
The decision is made to either accept or deny the volunteer
Come back into the office for a file showing of a few children, who we think you would be the best match with.
Once the child is chosen a meeting is set up with the guardian and you to meet.
Guardian gives the final “ok”
Match meeting with child takes place and your match starts!
Match is monitored on a monthly basis by our Match Specialist

3. How do you know that volunteers are safe?

Our volunteers go through one of the most extensive safety checks in the United States. They have to be cleared by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (criminal background check), Social & Rehabilitative Services (child neglect & abuse background check), Department of Motor Vehicles (driving records check), Shawnee County diversion check, Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender background check, and 3 different references for us to contact. This isn’t a 100% fool proof system, but it is pretty close. We value the safety of our children.

4. What activities are there?

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Topeka provides many monthly activities at no cost. We publish a monthly newsletter that has many opportunities for our matches and children on the waiting list to have some fun and maybe learn a thing or two.