A Need for the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars Program?:
- The number of women prisoners has grown at an average annual rate of 5.4% since 1995.
- Approximately 75% of incarcerated women are mothers; two-thirds have children under age 18.
- Children of incarcerated parents are four to six times more likely than peers to become incarcerated.
- Girls under age 18 have become the fastest-growing segment of the juvenile justice population, despite the overall drop in juvenile crime. (Child Welfare League of America. Facts and Figures – 2006.)
Girl Scouts Beyond Bars: GSBB
Program Goals:
- Reduce the trauma associated with being separated from an incarcerated mother.
- Nurture mother-daughter relationships.
- Help girls and mothers develop personal strengths to aid them in making positive decisions in the future.
- Break the cycle of incarceration from generation to generation.
Volunteers Needed
- Troop/Group Leaders- Plan and facilitate meetings.
- Mentor- Act as mentor, role model and non-judgmental friend to a girl. Meet with your mentee at least once a month for Girl Scout activities or group activities with other mentors and girls. Click here for Mentor Position Description.
Partners
- Girl Scouts of Western New York
- St Thomas’ Episcopal Church
- St Luke and St Simon of Cyrene
- Step By Step Rochester
- Samaritan Women
How It Works
Girl Scouts Beyond Bars is a program for daughters of incarcerated women ages 8-14 and their mothers. It is a program created by the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. (GSUSA) and the U.S. Department of justice several years ago and is currently in 17 states and 37 locations. Ours is the first program of its kind in New York State.
Girls meet with their Girl Scout troop every other week, year round. One meeting a month is in the Monroe County Correctional Facility with moms participating. In between meetings, girls spend time with volunteer mentors and participate in field trips to local areas of interest.
When moms are released from the facility, girls and their mothers will continue to participate in the troop and moms are provided ongoing support through training and referral services. Girls remain in the mentoring relationship.
GSBB Resource Links:
Want to donate something other than your time or talents...
Contact: Ms. Claudia Gill @
585-239-7928 or via email at Claudia.Gill@gswny.org
Girl Scouts of Western New York - Rochester/Batavia Area
