Alabama Through Kentucky

State Programs

Alabama
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
The Riverbend Center for Mental Health, Helen Keller Hospital, Northwest Shoals Community Center, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority co-sponsor an annual daylong Girl Power! program. Community experts talk to approximately 200 girls about health, nutrition, healthy relationships, peer pressure, and the importance of education.

Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
The Tongass Alaska Girl Scout Council hosts an annual weekend "transition retreat" for approximately 50 girls who are entering middle school and high school. Because teenage alcohol use rates in Alaska are high, the retreat focuses on the prevention of alcohol abuse. The girls discuss their feelings about starting new schools, learn skills for developing positive peer relationships, and write reflections in their Girl Power! diaries. The program is supported by the Girl Scout Council, the local school district, and the Alaska affiliate of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors.

Arkansas
Earle, Arkansas
Earle Girls in Action is a year-round program serving approximately 150 girls in the Earle School District. The girls attend semimonthly workshops on building self-respect, developing positive relationships, and avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. They also hold fundraisers for social activities throughout the year.

Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
The Mesa Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Division provides workshops, activities, and community service projects for junior high school students. The activities encourage personal growth, health, and fitness; teach leadership skills; and foster community pride. One of the activities sponsored by the Division, Take Our Daughters to Work® Day, uses Girl Power! diaries, stickers, and other materials.

California
Imperial Valley, California
The 100% Girl Power! program teaches girls to make a difference in their community by involving them in local service projects. The girls set up booths at local events such as a Children's Fair and disseminate information about Girl Power! The program also hosts two "Girls Nights" for 10 to 15 girls on Thursday and Friday evenings. On Thursday nights, guest speakers lead educational discussions about nutrition, exercise, and other topics. On Friday, girls are invited to bring movies to share. All participants receive Girl Power! T-shirts, water bottles, and posters.

Colorado
Thornton, Colorado
The Adams County School District hosts an annual Young Women's Girl Power! Conference for girls in grades 6 through 9. The conference features fitness and self-defense workshops, dating and relationship seminars, and teen parenting panels. Throughout the school year, teachers, counselors, social service agencies, and area clinics work with girls to help them learn personal responsibility, self-confidence, and decision-making skills. They also offer support to teen mothers and encourage them to stay in school.

Connecticut
Plainville, Connecticut
As adolescents become teenagers, they are faced with important decisions that will affect the rest of their lives. The Connecticut Clearinghouse provides young girls with the information they need to make healthy, informed decisions. The Clearinghouse, which is the state's resource center for information about alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs, provides outreach and support services. In addition, the Clearinghouse uses Girl Power! materials to promote positive messages and teach girls healthy alternatives to using alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs.

Delaware
New Castle, Delaware
The Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) in New Castle conducts an annual Take Our Daughters to Work® Day program. Girls are invited to spend the day shadowing a parent or sponsor and participating in special skill-building activities. All the participants are presented with a certificate of achievement and a packet of Girl Power! products and information.

Florida
Merritt Island, Florida
Crosswinds Youth Services, Barnes & Noble Bookstore, and the Citrus Council of Girl Scouts co-sponsor a series of Girl Power! workshops for more than 150 girls. The workshops are held once a month for 5 months, covering topics such as exercise and nutrition; alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug prevention; stress reduction; self-exploration; and goal setting.

Georgia
Monroe, Georgia
In order to combat high rates of teenage pregnancy in the community, the Alcove, a local emergency shelter, coordinates a Girl Power! group. The group meets once a week to help girls develop the skills and competencies needed to resist alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs and the risky behaviors associated with them.

Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
The Hawaii Office of Youth Services coordinates the Hawaii Girls Project, a program that connects service providers with girls and increases public awareness of adolescent female issues. The Hawaii Girls Project activities include a 3-day Girl Power! Camp with wellness workshops, arts and crafts projects, outdoor activities, team-building exercises, and group discussions.

Idaho
Boise, Idaho
The Silver Sage Girl Scout Council and Boise State University co-host an event to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The day was established in 1986 by a joint resolution of Congress to acknowledge the achievements of women and girls in sports. Three hundred girls in grades K-8 participate in a variety of athletic activities and receive Girl Power! sports posters, diaries, and pins.

Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
Female officers in the Wheaton Police Department Crime Prevention Office frequently conduct presentations to local Girl Scout and Brownie Troops on safety and positive involvement in the community. The officers distribute Girl Power! diaries, pins, and other materials to the girls who attend these presentations.

Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Dr. Mae Jemison, the first black woman astronaut, moderates a Girl Power! afterschool program in Evansville. The group meets weekly to discuss the dangers of substance use, the importance of good nutrition and exercise, and other issues relevant to girls. Girls in the group also participate in community service projects. With a $2,000 grant from Youth as Resources, the group built a butterfly/hummingbird garden at the Women's Addiction Recovery House.

Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The Mississippi Valley Girl Scout Council hosts a 1-day "Teaming for Tomorrow" conference for 150 girls between the ages of 12 and 14. The program specifically targets girls from low socioeconomic communities. Girls spend the morning attending leadership workshops, then have the opportunity to shadow local businesswomen to learn about their careers. Each girl who participates receives a Girl Power! diary.

Kansas
Mission, Kansas
The Regional Prevention Center of Johnson, Leavenworth, and Miami Counties encourages girls to realize that they each have special gifts and talents that make them unique and valuable. To emphasize this, the Center holds an annual Girl Power! essay contest, open to girls in grades 3 to 8. Girls are invited to write essays about what they bring to the world and their vision for the future. Each year, the Center receives more than 200 entries. Every girl who submits an essay receives a certificate of participation and a selection of Girl Power! products.

Kentucky
Fort Knox, Kentucky
The Ft. Knox Army Base Substance Abuse Prevention Program and Ft. Knox School Age Services co-sponsor a 10-week series of workshops for girls. The girls participate in skits, role-playing exercises, and discussions about issues such as self-esteem, healthy choices, and body image. The program also brings in guest speakers to address topics related to girls' health. Many of the activities are derived from the Girl Power! activity books and components of the Girl Power! Web site.