Big Futures Career & College Readiness Program
JOIN OUR BIG FUTURES CAREER & COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAM…
BIG Futures is a career and college mentoring and support services program designed to help students graduate from high school with a plan for a successful future. The program offers students seven fundamental components including:
Career and college readiness hard and soft skills training;
Experiential learning and career deep dives;
Career assessments and career planning;
Social and emotional learning geared towards success in life and the workplace;
Academic assessments and tutoring to help students address knowledge gaps;
Family engagement activities to help families help their children succeed; and
One-one-one and group mentoring by volunteer adults who align with the students’ career interests.
The focus of the BIG Futures program is on helping teens in grades 9-12 envision, plan for, and realize success after high school. Whether the teen intends to go to college, trade school, or enter the workforce, the mentor and support services staff empower the teen through guidance, friendship, and encouragement. Teens attend sessions after school up to five days per week and meet with their mentors 3-5 hours per month. The mentoring match is made after a student prioritizes a career interest. The match focuses on goal-setting and accountability, and each mentoring match is directed to community resources that align with set goals.
In addition, a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County Academic Services Coordinator works with each mentee to assess strengths and career interests and develop an Individualized Career Plan. If the mentee needs assistance with academics to achieve their graduation and career goals, a certified teacher provides tutoring free of charge.
Experiential, real-world learning is an important aspect of the program. Community partners provide speakers, employer tours, instructional on-site deep-dives into career areas, and more. Student mentees are provided an opportunity to earn an Ohio Means Jobs Certificate in Workforce Readiness that goes towards graduation requirements. For more information about how your company or organization can become a BIG Futures community partner, please contact BBBSLC Program Director Dr. Karen L. Schwartz at (440) 277-6541.
BIG Futures is funded by the Ohio Department of Education, with some additional assistance from the cities of Elyria and Lorain.
Click Big Futures Summit booklet above to read in full.