Girls Incorporated Of The Centralcoast

Causes: Children & Youth, Girls Clubs

Mission: To inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold and to respect themselves and the world around them. We work with girls ages 8 to 18 with proven "girl-focused" programs at our outreach sites established at schools throughout monterey and san benito counties. Gicc delivers a constellation of programs that deliver innovative, multi-faceted research-based activities designed specifically to address the strengths and needs of girls and young women, and to prepare them for economic independence and confident adulthood. These programs offer girls specific knowledge regarding health, risky behaviors, healthy relationships, and academic pursuits, while developing leadership, goal setting and decision-making skills. Beyond these basic elements, girls inc. Has developed components of each program that offer young women the opportunity to be leaders, role models, teachers, mentors and activists. All programs are conducted at school sites, eliminating any difficulties with transportation.

Programs: Will power/won't power: is a series of workshops for girls 12-14 years old teaching assertive communication, forming healthy relationships, avoiding risky situations, and learning about teen health. We implemented the will power/won't power program at eight middle schools. Served 244 girls.

friendly peersuasion: is a substance abuse education program for middle school girls, which also prepares them to become facilitators of workshops on this subject for elementary school children. This program approaches drug abuse prevention as a peer issue, using the positive influence of young people modeling healthy behaviors. Friendly peersuasion was implemented at eight middle schools and nine elementary schools. Throughout the first phase of the program, 294 6th and 7th grade girls enrolled in friendly peersuasion. We enrolled 618 girls from the 4th, 5th and 6th grades in phase 2.

echo is a leadership/mentoring program for high school girls. The program is designed to encourage these girls to pursue post-secondary education and plan for future careers. The participants will participate in interactive modules, presented in 14-16 sessions, field trips and a day-long retreats. Served 199 participants. Youth leaders program: gicc provides opportunities for the echo graduates to continue their leadership development by delivering programs to girls in high school and middle school as youth leaders and teen teachers. We trained and employed 28 youth leaders to facilitate leadership and empowerment programs for middle and high school girls: friendly peersuasion; will power/won't power; echo leadership; smart choices; and the strong, smart, and bold summer camp.

smart choices summer program: this week long summer program takes place on a local college campus and inspires girls entering high school to make positive life choices about health, relationships and school. We served 71 girls from both monterey and san benito counties. Growing together: is designed to increase positive communication between mothers (or other significant female adult) and their 9-12 year old daughters and help them to discuss questions about sexual behavior and puberty without embarrassment. We served 313 mothers and daughters. Strong, smart and bold summer camp: is a two-week day camp for girls ages 8 to 11. Girls participate ub research-based programs. We implemented the strong, smart and bold summer camp in salinas. Served 73 girls.