The Program

Our program is a unique, highly-structured, well-planned model that is effective in providing (1) the containment all adolescent girls need to feel safe, (2) the invitation and encouragement to find their voices and discover what is true for them, (3) teachable skills for coping with their daily lives, as well as for facing difficult challenges, and (4) a way in which girls can become leaders in their communities. This model offers girls an empowering resource at a critical time in their lives.

Our program provides education, and is a resource for prevention. We cannot stress this point enough. This program teaches skills that research shows increase the chance of healthy development and prevent self-destructive behaviors. It is easier to target a problem and measure improvement, however, it is just as critical and less costly to society to prevent the problem from developing in the first place.

The Peer Mentoring Group is different from other mentoring groups because its unique and supportive structure and environment are co-created by the adults and the older girls. The format of the meetings has been clearly and thoroughly designed to provide an atmosphere of warmth, respect, openness, trust, dignity, and friendship. This creates a sense of community and promotes compassion amongst the participants encouraging them to understand and value themselves and girls who are different. For clarification, we refer to adult women when we use the word “facilitator,” and to older teens that have been trained as “mentors.” When we refer to the younger teens or pre-teens being mentored, we use the word “girls.” The facilitators are always present to supervise and offer guidance and support.

The older teens benefit from being trained as mentors and the opportunity to co-lead a group, in addition to having a meaningful way to give back to the younger girls. The younger girls are provided an environment where they can speak their truth and be heard and respected for who they are, and have older girls genuinely listen to them. The enormous diversity in the group has proven to be one of its most beneficial features for the girls.

The topics chosen for discussion are selected from a pre-group questionnaire given to all the girls at the beginning of the program, and have included drugs, alcohol, peer pressure, relationships with significant others, sex, friendships, body image, eating disorders, coping with stress, depression and anxiety, managing emotions, standing your ground, dealing with “girl bullies”, prejudice, discrimination, and fitting in.

The adult facilitators are women who have highly refined interpersonal skills, group leadership capability, and a desire to help teenage girls. The working relationship and friendship of two women facilitating the group provides a model for the girls of mutual respect and cooperation, which is woven into everything we do.

Girls Star Programs: The Girls Star Program can be delivered in a variety of ways. The Girls Star Club meets throughout the school year, and in addition to topic discussions offers activities that the mentors and girls have chosen such as yoga, self-defense, journaling or an invited guest speaker, for example. Women with specific expertise volunteer to speak at these meetings. The Girls Star Girls’ Group meets once a week for ten weeks and follows a structured model that is provided in the Facilitators’ Manual. Assembly and workshop programs are also offered. With adult facilitators, high school mentors co-design and deliver a program to younger girls. One of these assemblies is provided for 8th grade girls and focuses on the transition from middle to high school. The programs can be delivered either after or during school.

In 2007, Girls Star held its first overnight retreat. In addition to our sharing circles, the girls enjoyed a yoga class and were treated to instruction and practice in giving each other head, neck and shoulder massages. Singing, movie watching, lots of food and not much sleep completed the experience. We are planning another retreat for 2009. Also in 2005 and 2007, Girls Star girls from Downingtown, Coatesville, West Chester and Great Valley attended the PA Governor’s Conference in Philadelphia.

Girls Star has served over 750 girls since the organization’s beginning in 1997.

Outcomes: Post-group questionnaires indicate that the girls learn real strategies for coping with the stress in their lives and experience increased self-valuing and bonds with other girls. One girl said, "I have started to feel more comfortable about myself so I can speak up for myself without feeling my opinion is stupid and shouldn’t be heard." They also realize more fully the dangers of drug use, as in one participant’s words, "I now believe more in myself and in not doing drugs." Girls also learn how to listen to themselves and make their own choices: "I learned I have the power to say ‘no’ on the first date." Girls leave the group feeling better about themselves: "This group has made me feel stronger in a way that when I walk down the hall, I can walk with my head held high. I am proud being a girl." Girls in the group develop the motivation to become mentors to younger girls themselves by developing the skills to be able to communicate, listen, empathize, and share their own experiences in constructive ways with others, and if needed, changing their behavior so they can be good role models. This sense of purpose at such a critical age can make (and has made) a significant difference in the course of girls’ lives.