Building Adolescent Health Resiliency: Erin Allsop Invests in Ross County’s Youth through Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Ohio (BBBSSCO) President and CEO, Erin Allsop, leads her agency in creating opportunities for youth in our local communities to have a trusted adult in their lives. Erin enthusiastically works to promote youth mentorship in Ross, Pike, Pickaway, Fayette, and Highland Counties with the goal of providing positive adult influences to children and teens help them reach their full potential.

BBBSSCO partnered with the Ross County Health District (RCHD) to deliver the Adolescent Health Resiliency Training to staff, led by RCHD Public Health Nurse Denise Ruby. This collaborative effort brings evidence-based tools for supporting youth directly to BBBSSCO, emphasizing positive communication and exploring how stress and trauma impact health. The training is available to any adult who works with adolescents, strengthening our collective capacity to support young people across Ross County.

Under Erin’s leadership, BBBSSCO mentors are providing a caring support for adolescents in our communities while encouraging them to avoid risky behaviors, focus on academics, set goals, and work toward a positive future.

Sara Smith: How long have you been with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)?

Erin Allsop: I have been with BBBS since May 2021, so almost 5 years.

Sara: Can you describe your role with BBBS?

Erin: I am the President and CEO. My role mainly consists of working with our community supporters, corporate sponsors, funders, and participants, as well as writing and managing the grants that are a significant portion of our funding. I am also responsible for big-picture items like planning and carrying out the programming we support in all five counties that we serve and overseeing our staff who are working directly with our participants in the community and schools.

Sara: Have you always wanted to work with youth?

Erin: I have always enjoyed working with youth. Prior to this role, I was a Spanish teacher and then worked as a missionary in Spain in a college ministry. I enjoy supporting and guiding the younger generation, and I truly believe in the power of mentorship.

Sara: What are some of the biggest challenges of directing BBBS?

Erin: The biggest challenge we face on a consistent basis is recruiting and retaining quality mentors for our program. We are fortunate to have a very supportive and generous community financially, however convincing people that they have time to dedicate to another relationship in their lives often proves challenging. We currently have 45 Community-Based Matches, but there are over 50 Ready To Be Matched kids enrolled and waiting for a mentor. In addition to this challenge, the mental health issues our youth are facing are increasingly difficult to manage. Informing ourselves, supporting our mentors, and staying healthy so that we are able to support others is vitally important.

Sara: What do you enjoy most about working with BBBS?

Erin: My favorite part of working with BBBS is interacting with our kids. It is so rewarding to see a child’s attitude change in the course of an hour because he gets to spend quality time with his Big who is willing to listen to him and validate his feelings, or to experience something new with a child who then says this has been the most fun day of her life. Relationships and experiences are so important, and being able to work in a field that values both is very rewarding.

Sara: In your opinion, what are the greatest benefits of being involved in BBBS for both the mentors and kids?

Erin: For both, the greatest benefit is having a new relationship and exposure to something different than you may experience otherwise. Our Littles may not have access to many experiences, let alone having an important adult in their life, so being able to offer that to them at a time in their life when guidance is critical is definitely the greatest benefit. For our Bigs, we always hear reports of how they signed up to make a difference in someone else’s life, but they are the one whose life has been impacted in big ways. This is proof that prioritizing relationships and interactions with other people positively impact our own lives.

Sara: Are there some success stories (or positive data) you are able to share about BBBS and/or matches/community?

Erin: As part of our program, we survey our kids every year to track how involvement in the program is impacting their lives. Our latest data shows that over 90% of our kids report better mental health, fewer risky behaviors, and greater aspirations for their future. Nationally BBBS reports that 75% of youth wish they had more opportunities to connect with mentors who understand them and their background. Last year our Bigs collectively spent over 8,000 hours with their Littles and are actively helping our them make better choices about their lives and futures. Through this involvement now we are building a more resilient future for our kids.

Sara: What motivates you to work with/give back to the youth of our local communities?

Erin: The kids we serve at BBBS are going to be around us in our community for the rest of our lives. They are our kids’ friends, our neighbors, our future employees, etc., and by working with them now I hope to see them become more resilient, productive and successful in the future. Not every child has a healthy or positive home life, so I hope that those involved in our programs at least can experience a bit of positivity and hope, so that they can believe that they deserve better and that better is possible for them.

Sara: What message do you have for the community to get involved in supporting youth?

Erin: All of us are busy and flawed but giving back and supporting our youth is something everyone is capable of doing. We ask our volunteers to commit to at least a year of being matched with a child with whom they will spend an average of one hour per week. Everyone has unique abilities, interests and history, but sharing those things with a child enriches both people’s lives.

Do you know someone who is going above and beyond to make a difference for public health in our communities?

Nominate them for Ross County Health District’s Community Highlight!

To submit a nomination, visit: www.rosscountyhealth.org/community-highlight