School Partner Based Programs
Research has found that the Girls Inc. experience makes a lasting difference in the lives of the girls we serve. And so, we are compelled to grow and bring Girls Inc. to more youth. That is why we have expanded our service delivery model to include school-based programming for both girls and boys around healthy sexuality, substance use prevention, and self-esteem building. In addition to the full Girls Inc. experience being delivered at our center in Seymour, we have taken programming that addresses the major issues that our youth face today, to both boys and girls in local Jackson County schools.
INFORMED AND IN CHARGE
Our Informed and In Charge program (for students ages 12-14) allows students to learn to identify, establish, and cultivate healthy relationships through understanding personal values, goals, and decisions and assertive communication. Students will increase their understanding of sexuality, including ways to demonstrate respect, equity, and fairness. Students will also gain critical information and participate in opportunities to communicate about their bodies and their values around sexual decision-making. Throughout the program, students experience the power of a support system and build critical thinking skills for being sexually healthy. We work to ensure that students have the skills, knowledge, and support to take charge of their sexual health and avoid risky behavior.
Students participate in approximately 8 hours of healthy sexuality instruction where they are immersed in a safe and inclusive environment. Students are encouraged to ask questions and engage in interactive activities and discussions throughout the program. They explore values, practice responses in different situations, and think about their future. This helps students identify ways and reasons to avoid unplanned pregnancies and prevent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
TAKING CHARGE
Through program participation in Taking Charge, students will deepen their understanding of sexual health and gain knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will help them integrate healthy sexuality into their lives. Taking Charge will focus on healthy relationships by helping students to focus on their personal identity, boundary setting, communication, exercising personal rights, and navigating interpersonal relationships with a special emphasis on healthy and safe relationship characteristics. Students will also learn how the reproductive system works and information about factors that contribute to the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy and how to make decisions to reduce these risks. Taking Charge is intended for students in grades 9-12.
TOO GOOD FOR DRUGS
The Too Good for Drugs and the Social Perspectives Expansion is a family of evidence-based programs written by prevention specialists to build awareness of healthy life skills and promote unity throughout schools. Students come together to take a stand against unhealthy behaviors and share their commitment to leading a healthy life. Skill development concepts built into the program promote positive attitudes and choices. Too Good uses cooperative learning to give students the opportunity to have fun while participating in this program. Lessons include role-plays, in-class discussions, games, and more!
The entire Too Good for Drugs and Social Perspectives program includes 15 engaging sessions. Before students even discuss various substance use, they learn goal-setting and decision-making skills, how to manage emotions and communicate effectively and how to establish healthy relationships. Then they learn the harmful effects of various substance use. Then to wrap up the program, students participate in lessons in which they learn valuable life skills to help them navigate through tough situations. They learn how to respect themselves and others, conflict resolution, anger management and identify and manage bullying situations, as well as various situations of violence.
FriendlyPEERsuasion
Girls Inc. Friendly PEERsuasion develops the skills of boys and girls ages to resist pressure to use harmful substances, such as drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and household chemicals. Friendly PEERsuasion targets the years during which girls begin to more fully experience and respond to influence and pressure from their peers to participate in risky behaviors. During the program, girls build their knowledge and skills for resisting negative peer pressure and unhealthy ways to respond to stress. Girls learn to identify healthy alternatives to risky behavior and invite peers to join them in acting on their smarter choices. Additionally, participants learn about various legal and illicit substances and understand responsible use of readily available prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements and analyze media messages that glamorize substance use.
KidAbiltiy!
Kid-Ability! Is a program that empowers children with information, skills, and support that they need to stay safe. The program promotes checking first with parents before accepting a gift or going anywhere, stranger danger, home alone safety rules, emergency help, good touches and problem touches, how to be confident in decisive messages of “no” or “stop that” as well as identification of trusted adults. Kid-Ability! is taught to 1st-3rd grade students in local schools.