VIP Program (Valuable Interactions Among Peers)
The VIP (Valuable Interactions among Peers) Program matches high school students (Big VIPs) with elementary school age youth (Little VIPs) who may have a need for additional support in their life. It is a weekly peer mentoring program to foster connections between youth. All meetings are supervised by Needham Youth & Family Staff and designed to provide a fun and engaging atmosphere for all!
Meetings are held on Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30 at CATH (Center at the Heights) from October to March.
Elementary Littles must be rising into grade 3 up to grade 5 in order to participate.
High School Bigs must be in grades 9-12.
Program Goals
The goals of the program are for Little VIPs and Big VIPs to spend quality one-on-one time together, for the Little VIPs and Big VIPs to have a safe place to come to interact and play, and to build connections assisting all students in gaining confidence and building self-esteem.
The program allows our high school Big VIPs the opportunity to be a role model for a young person in our community, and the opportunity to earn 30 hours of community service credits. The program also allows our elementary school Little VIPs (youth in third grade through fifth grade) the opportunity to form a meaningful relationship with a high school youth.
Information for those interested in becoming a Big VIP: To be a "Big VIP" you must be a high school student, available on Tuesdays from 6:15 to 7:45pm (October to March), you must to able to and enjoy interacting with elementary school aged youth. You will received community service credit toward your high school graduation requirement.
Information for those interested in becoming a Little VIP:
To be a "Little VIP" you must be in grades 3rd to 5th, available on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30pm (October to March), you must willing to interact with a high school student.
To stay up to date for when registration opens for VIP during the academic year, please visit
For more information about the VIP Program, please contact:
Ellen Whirley, LCSW at ewhirley@needhamma.gov or 781-455-7500 ext. 266
Christine Weitzel, LCSW at cweitzel@needhamma.gov or 781-455-7500 ext. 268