MATCHCONNECT

MatchConnect is:

• A way for you to send messages to the people in your match (Bigs, Littles, Parents and BBBS Staff).
• A place for Bigs to enter information about what you’ve been doing together (A Match Activity).
• A place to get helpful information about your match and the program!

Watch this video to learn more!

1. Reach out to your BBBS staff contact to make sure you are “Activated” for MatchConnect. 
2. After you are activated, you will receive an email from noreply@salesforce.com with “Welcome to BBBS’s TheApp Portal” in the subject line. If you do not receive this email, please reach out to your School-based Coordinator, mentor2.0 Coordinator, or Match Support Specialist.
3. Create your password and access MatchConnect at https://bbbsa.force.com/app/s/
4. Log into MatchConnect and start connecting!

Watch this video to learn more!

How Do Messages Work?

• On the home page, you’ll find a shortcut to start a message to each person you’re connected to (Big, Little, Parent/Guardian and BBBS staff).
• Your messages can only be viewed by the person you’re writing to and your BBBS staff.
• TheApp has a list of words we use to monitor for safety…so remember, please keep your language appropriate!

WATCH THIS VIDEO TO LEARN MORE!

WATCH THIS VIDEO TO LEARN MORE!

Adding a Match Activity:

• Either from the home page or from the “My Activities” tab, Bigs can add a new match activity.
• A Match Activity is anything that your match does together – whether that’s chatting every other week on a zoom call or going out to eat and to the movies. Adding a match activity is a great way for you to:
  • Share things you’re doing with your BBBS staff.
  • See how much time you are spending together.
  • Tell us how you are feeling about your match and the activities you’ve done together.

Entering a Match Activity:

• In “Related Match,” start typing your last name and your match will appear – select it.
• From there, simply fill in the questions as they appear.
• When you answer “What did you do during your activity?” Select as many items as you’d like.
• Then, write a little bit about what you did below that so that when your BBBS team member contacts you, they already have some information about how you and your Little have been spending your time.

WATCH THIS VIDEO TO LEARN MORE!

Just like in our workplaces and schools, people are staying more and more through technology. 

When you’re sending messages, here are a few things to remember: 

• Avoid closed and yes/no questions that don’t encourage communication. 
• Make sure the words you use are “common language” for the reader. If you’re a Big messaging a Little, you may not want to use the same language you use with your coworkers. 
• Take time to think through your response. One of the strengths of messaging is the ability to write well-thought out responses, especially to tough questions or situations. 
• Don’t take too long to respond. Taking too long can easily lead to resentment or feelings of abandonment, especially during crisis situations. 
• Use emojis, GIFs, and memes to express emotions. 
• Share a personal experience that lets the other person know you understand their feelings and concerns.
• Avoid sarcasm or irony – these are hard to express well in writing since the person reading the message can’t hear tone in your voice. 
• Address misunderstandings right away so they don’t linger into the future.
• If you have extreme variations in your schedules or privacy when needing to communicate electronically, schedule the frequency of your next message. 

The reality is that messaging can lead to very strong mentoring relationships; sometimes even stronger than in-person communication. But the keys are: 

• Do it consistently 
• Plan ahead and be intentional 

And remember, your BBBS staff is here to help. If you get stuck or don’t know how to best respond to a message  - reach out!