You don’t have to be related to be a brother or sister to a kid who needs a role model. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Wyoming is seeking volunteers to step up as someone for local kids to look up to, and the greatest need is for men to serve as Big Brothers.

Park County currently has 39 kids matched up with Big Brothers or Big Sisters, and 15 children are on a waiting list — 13 of whom are boys ranging from 6-13 years old.

“With men, I feel they are worried they will take on a fathership role, and we don’t want that — just there to be a buddy, like a little brother who needs a positive influence,” said Nikki Schleich, program director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Wyoming. “The majority of our kids come from troubled backgrounds.”

The following statistics prove Schleich is right, and are cause for concern:

90 percent of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

85 percent of kids who exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

71 percent of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes, according to the National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools.

63 percent of juvenile suicides lived in fatherless homes, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

43 percent of American children live without their fathers, according to the U.S. Department of the Census.

These statistics are disturbing — but it doesn’t have to be like this. Just a little bit of time volunteering as a Big Brother or Big Sister can have a profound impact on a child’s life.

According to Big Brothers Big Sisters, after 18 months of spending time with their Bigs, the Littles were:

• 52 percent less likely to skip school

• 46 percent less likely to begin using illegal drugs

• 37 percent less likely to skip a class

• 33 percent less likely to hit someone

• 27 percent less likely to begin using alcohol

All it takes to have this type of impact is an hour a week or two hours every two weeks and the desire to just be friends with a little guy or gal.

“It is harder to recruit mentors than it is to recruit mentees,” Schleich said, adding that inquiry calls come in daily about kids who possibly could benefit from the program.

Volunteers don’t have to be perfect, but there are some qualifications.

Mentors need to be 18 years old or older, able to make a one-year commitment to spend time with their Little and pass a background check.

After that, the organization pairs up Bigs and Littles based on their interests, and matches are only made if they have a good fit, Schleich said.

“They are all different,” Schleich said. “Some are super active and into sports; others like video games and science experiments — we’ve got something for everyone.”

For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Wyoming, go to facebook.com/bbbsnwwy.