Teen in Your Life?
Raising an adolescent isn’t easy. Smart-Girl is here to help. We understand what you’re going through, as many of our staff and board members are parents, grandparents and professionals in the field.
Our goal is to ensure that all girls have the skills they need to succeed and feel good about themselves in an ever-changing world. We also provide opportunities for parents and grandparents to learn more about their kids and all of today’s challenges.
With so many activities competing for your daughter’s attention, why should she become a Smart-Girl? The unique strength of the Smart-Girl program utilizes the power of positive peer influence by pairing highly trained older teens and college-aged women with small groups of middle school girls. These peer mentors, or “Guides,” are carefully selected and trained to facilitate discussions and activities.
Smart-Girl empowers it’s participants to develop leadership ability, group and social skills, problem solving and critical thinking skills, self-worth and more. Topics such as peer pressure, bullying, assertiveness, refusal skills, communication and body image are addressed in a fun, safe and highly-interactive environment.
Smart-Girl’s research-based curriculum is flexible and can be offered in a variety of formats.
- See a list of current program sites and partners
- Get information on Smart-Girl Leadership Summer Camp
- Learn about becoming a Smart-Girl Guide
- If you don’t see a program that works for your family, learn more about starting a program. We will be happy to discuss starting a program with your child’s school. Parental support has been the key to success in many of our school partnerships!
We also have programs for you, the parent. Our Smart-Girl Workshops are designed to help parents answer the questions that keep them up at night. Check the homepage for a current listing of upcoming parent workshops.
Resources for you:
A New Resolution: Goals about feeling good in your body in the New Year by Kate Calhoon, Psy.D
Websites:
Afro-Puffs and Ponytails is a non-profit organization created primarily for supporting and uplifting African American/Black Girls! Our website provides encouraging articles, events, program listings, and resources for African American/Black teen girls, young girls, and their parents.
Anti-Defamation League – the ADL has multiple resources for educators, parents and kids on bullying and cyberbullying including fact sheets, tips and programs.
Confidence Coalition – In 2009, Kappa Delta Sorority created the Confidence Coalition to mobilize the many organizations, companies and individuals that promote self-esteem and confidence among girls and women.
National Eating Disorder Assoication - NEDA supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care.
True Child – TrueChild is a program development and action center that works with local partners to develop interventions that challenge the rigid gender codes that adversely impact young people’s well-being.
VAWnet – The Violence Against Women website has an extensive list of resources for parents, educators and teen on teen dating violence including fact sheets, programs and referral resources.
Books: [click here]
