The Girl Scout Outreach Program supports leadership development for approximately 800 girls living in high-risk communities through age-appropriate activities—weekly for 90 minutes after school throughout the school year—guided by supportive adults. Through skill-building activities, girls develop attitudes, behaviors and skills like confidence, conflict resolution and problem solving that are critical to well-being and becoming responsible, productive, caring and engaged citizens. 

The girls served live in low-income neighborhoods in Jackson County and face the greatest risk for substance abuse, violence, deliquency  and dropping out of school due to multiple factors associated with racial inequality as well as gender and economic inequity. The Girl Scout program mitigates these risk factors through experiences and activities grounded in best practices in youth development and linked to the Search lnstititues 40 Development assets, including positive values, social competencies and positive identity, which are related to reducing risky behaviors and increasing outcomes (prosocial behavior, leadership and resilience). 

Outeach Program activities, based on Girl Scouts' research-based curriculum (correlated by grade level to Missouri education standards), processes (e.g., learning by doing, cooperative learning), and relationship building with supportive adults, are responsive to girls' needs in areas in which they continue to fall behind:
 
Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM): Activities support academic success and strengthen STEM interest, which is important to girls who are underrepresented in this high-demand field offering the greatest opportunity for financial security and social mobility.

Entrepreneurship/Financial Literacy: Girls learn financial empowerment. Interactive lessons and badge earning activities show girls how to increase income, become responsible consumers, create a budget, and save and invest for the future. Girls may participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program in which they gain 5 skills (goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics). 

Civic Engagement: Girls learn leadership skills and use their determination to take the lead in improving their communities. Whether making emergency kits for homeless animals or organizing anti-bullying campaigns in their schools, Girl Scouts are building advocates in the community. Through community involvement, they gain a sense of belonging and efficacy that comes from impacting others.
 
Caring, adult part-time staff promote supportive relationships with them and their peers by offering key elements that promote positive youth development, including: 1) physical and psychological safety, 2) opportunities to belong, 3) support for efficacy and mattering, 4) positive social norms, and 5) appropriate structure (Healthy People 2020).

When girls engage in these impactful experiences with positive adult role models, they benefit in five important ways: 1) Strong Sense of Self, 2) Positive Values, 3) Challenge Seeking, 4) Healthy Relationships and 5) Community Problem Solving. Consequently, they: 

1. Are happier, healthier and less likely to engage in problem behaviors.
2. Achieve more academically and feel more engaged in school; they are more self-aware and confident about their learning capabilities.
3. Become strong job applicants by gaining skills such as teamwork, decision-making and communication skills.
4. Become successful, well-adjusted adults who are less likely to have substance-use issues. 

COMBAT Funding: $10,000.00