Girls Time Out: A girls self-esteem group

Healthy People 2010 have identified the health of children raised in lower economic homes as most vulnerable to emotional and behavioral problems, neighborhood violence and unintentional injuries. Preadolescence, the years between 9 and 13, also know as the “tween years”, is a particularly vulnerable time. It is due in part to the physical and psychological maturation that marks the beginning of reproductive capabilities and identity/self-esteem development. However, other changes such as entry into middle school and an accelerated pace by society to enter adolescence long before they are chronologically or developmentally ready places this “tween” population at risk for adverse health outcomes. Finally, the “tween years” are a time where experimentation with risk taking behaviors such as alcohol and drug use and sexual experimentation usually begins. The purpose of the Girls Time Out program was to discuss life skills such as developing healthy relationships, female sexuality, self-image, goal setting, and confidence building for a subset of girls ages 11-14 years at Lansdowne Middle School in Baltimore, Maryland. Self-esteem was the primary focus and was woven into the curriculum to be an underlying basis of all group discussions. Activities that were utilized in this program included journaling, self-care, role-playing, discussion groups, conflict resolution, and the use of community speakers who demonstrate strong role modeling behaviors. Staying in school, positive decision-making regarding relationships and substance use/abuse, as well as future goal development were anticipated outcomes. The original curriculum will be presented.