For More Information:
William R. Steinhaus
Dutchess County Executive
Telephone: (845) 486-2000, FAX:
(845) 486-2021,
countyexec@co.dutchess.ny.us
Elizabeth Doyle, Community Development Administrator
845/486-3600, FAX: (845) 486-3610,
cdhousing@co.dutchess.ny.us
September 10, 2002
Poughkeepsie…
Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus has approved a contract for the
2002 Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) awards for $18,750 to the Dutchess County Community Action
Agency’s Big Brothers, Big Sisters program. Funding for this program
is directed through the Dutchess County Department of
Planning and Development.
The mission of Big Brothers,
Big Sisters is to make a positive difference in the lives of children,
primarily through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with caring
adults. Big Brothers, Big Sisters strives to provide a committed
volunteer mentor for every child in need in order to assist them in achieving
their highest potential as they grow to become confident, competent and caring
individuals.
According to County Executive Steinhaus, ”The Big
Brothers, Big Sisters program provides children with something very
valuable- a caring adult in their lives, someone to confide in, relax with and
look up to. And as a result, these children do better in school, have better
relationships with their family members and friends, and are more likely to
avoid violence and drugs. This program reaches out to children at a pivotal time
in their lives when even small changes in their behavior can alter the course of
their future.”
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Dutchess County has
been part of the community since 1965 and has matched approximately 115 children
with adult volunteers each year. The volunteers must commit to regular contact
with the child for at least one year. Recent survey results from volunteers and
parents/guardians of children who participated in the program indicate that 50%
of the children showed improvement in their academic performance, their attitude
toward school and their relationships with teachers, as well as improvement in
their relationships with peers and increased self-confidence. Big Bothers,
Big Sisters plans to reach 120 children this year.
This award was based on
priorities previously established in the County’s Consolidated Plan for the use
of CDBG funds. The plan has been accepted and approved by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The CDBG funding is administered by the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development through HUD, and provides grant funds to municipalities and human service agencies to benefit low to moderate-income residents of Dutchess County.
-end-