WHAT IS BEST BUDDIES? GLOBAL NON-PROFIT DEDICATED TO INCLUSION FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES Our Mission Friendships. Jobs. Leadership. Inclusive Living. Empower in g people with disabilities by helping them form meaningful friendships \!\~th the ir peers, secure successfu l jobs, li ve independently, and feel valued by society.
HOW OUR PROGRAMS WORK FRIENDSHIP JOBS LEADERSHIP LIVING Builds friendships Secures jobs for people Fosters an integrated Educates and experience for people with between people with with IDD, allowing empowers people with and without IDD to live and w/o IDD, offering them to earn an and without ID D to be independently in a social mentoring income, pay taxes, and leaders, public speakers dynamic environment while improving the support themselves. and advocates. where they can learn, quality of life and grow, and thrive. level of inclusion.
INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNIT ES Best Buddies provides equ·table l• eadership roles WHY BEST and sets equal expectations for participants with and without disabilities in all programs - to serve, to pay for outings, to report, • etc. BUDDIES? VOLU TEER-CE TR C What does Best Buddies do Best Bud dies is a global l volunteer movement, committed to empowering volunteers to cr, eate differently that sets our new opportunities for their communities to programs apart from other engage and provide inclusive experiences disability organizations? LIFE-CYC E Partic·ipation1 in the Best Buddies movement engages vo lunteers as soon as they enter school through adulthood with progi rams at all school levels in addition to community and employment opportun·ties
FRIE DSHIP -- PROGRAMS Our friendship pillar encompasses programs that offer socialization opportunities for people with and without IDD including: Citizens Colleges e-Buddies High Schools Middle Schools Elementar!:J Schools Our programs provide meaningful connections with their peers, gain self- confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences and activities that man!:J other individuals enjo!:J.
PROGRAM EXPANSION IN MO 2016 The BB Missouri Office Opens • 6 School Friendship Chapters served 151 individuals • 2 Full-time Staff 2019 School Friendship on the Rise • 36 School Friendship Chapters ( and counting) serve 1230+ students • 2 Full-time Staff • 2 Ambassadors Trainings prepared 10 young adults with IDD to assert themselves as leaders in speech writing & public speaking
Missouri School Friendship Chapters (2019-20) 1 1 11 11 15 15 9 9 HIGH COLLEGES ELEMENTARY MIDDLE SCHOOLS SCHOOL SCHOOLS • Total Middle, Junior & High Less than 3% Schools of MS, Jr. HS & HS in MO are currently engaged with a Best Middle, Junior & High • Schools with Best Buddies Program
Missouri School Friendship Chapter Potential 905 MIDDLE, JUNIOR & HIGH SCHOOLS IN MISSOURI OF WHICH 27 PARTICIPATE IN BEST BUDDIES 880 SCHOOLS TO GO… Currently serving 9 of 518 School Districts in Missouri Clayton Ladue Pattonville Ferguson-Florissant Lindbergh Rockwood Kirkwood Parkway Webster Groves
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE FRIENDS • One-to-One Buddies friendship • Friendship based, not mentoring programs create inclusive • For schools programs, integrated school and community based leadership opportunities for settings to foster one-to-one students connections between pairs • Group events for engagement
HOW DOES A FRIENDSHIP PROGRAM REALLY WORK?
MISSION EXPANSION GOALS BBMO over the next three to five years… 2019-20 Continue Growth in Greater STL & KC Regions • Remote program implementation to serve new markets • Use technology for bi-weekly trainings, leadership & benchmark meetings • Increase community volunteer engagement for in-person support 2020-21 Expand Remote Program Deployment Initiatives • Transition to District-wide program implementation strategy • Focus growth in Columbia & Springfield, MO • Offer remote Local Leadership Trainings in weekly sessions by topic 2021-22 • Establish program presence in every MO county
MISSION EXPANSION GOALS BBMO over the next five years… Full Program Staff to Ensure Quality & Continuity Statewide • Dedicated and trained staff provide personalized support for each chapter, its leaders and faculty advisors • Provides accountability to ensure succession & growth year-to-year Increase volunteer engagement • Establish Local Advisory Committees • Engage community & corporate partners to support local programs • Expansion of partnerships with service providers
ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES Students without IDD are more aware that people with IDD can hold jobs in the communityand would like to work in a company that employs a person with an IDD, as shown by results from the Best Buddies Annual Survey designed by Dr. Michael Hardman, Ph.D, University of Utah Dedicated support from Best Buddies helps to remove social barriers and increase opportunities for meaningful friendships to be forged between students with and without IDD. By increasing social interactions between students with and without disabilities, programs will foster the growth of a person with disabilities’ social skills, thereby helping them become college and career ready.
ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES Inclusion. Education. Equality. To belong, be accepted & be yourself.
HEAR IT FROM BEST BUDDIES Best Buddies Chapter - North Kirkwood Middle School Special Education Teacher & BB Chapter Faculty Advisor Kathleen Murphy Friends & Best Buddies Chapter Members Audrey Bernabo Bailey Braunch Linden Burba Parent Perspective Kama Totherow
GET INVOLVED BEST BUDDIES MISSOURI 1505 Fenpark Dr, Fenton, MO 63026 w: BestBuddies.org/Missouri e: Missouri@BestBuddies.org p: 314-686-5689
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