Goddess Girls: Girls Incorporated of Metro Denver.

Community served: Latina girls ages 9-11

Girls Incorporated of Metro Denver inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold[TM] through three program departments: Center Programs, Outreach Programs, and Health & Sexuality Programs. The Health & Sexuality Programs Department works to prevent teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases among girls in metro Denver and to empower girls to make healthy decisions about their own sexuality.

The majority of the girls served by the Health and Sexuality Programs Department live with a single parent, belong to an ethnic minority (about 75% of the girls are Latina), and come from a family with an annual income of $25,000 or less. Many attend under-funded schools with high dropout rates--an overall climate that typically discourages them from continuing their education.

Teenage pregnancy is also a challenge that girls in the Denver community face. In Denver County, where Girls Incorporated is located, the teen fertility rate for 15-17 year old Hispanics was 116 per 1,000. For White Non-Hispanics, the teen fertility rate was 23 per 1,000. Therefore, the Hispanic fertility rate is estimated to be five times the White rate in Denver. Significant disparities regarding teenage pregnancy demand culturally competent programs.

Although sexuality education is integrated into the educational standards for the Denver public schools, many of the 7,000 students in the district do not receive formal sex education. Girls Incorporated works to fill this void through the direct delivery of sexuality education classes with girls ages 9-18 at various sites in the community including schools, community-based organizations, juvenile justice facilities, and faith-based organizations. Although most of their classes are based on the nationally developed and evaluated Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy[SM] curriculum, Girls Inc. of metro Denver has developed another component to their sexuality education program called Goddess Girls.

Goddess Girls is a ten-week class (one hour per week) designed to help girls ages 9-11 learn about the changes that occur during this time and to develop a healthy body image. The class is delivered at various sites throughout metro Denver. Goddess Girls aims to provide basic knowledge of female anatomy, reproduction, puberty, menstruation, feminine hygiene, and body image. In addition, it helps participants develop a positive attitude about the changes girls experience during puberty, allows them to explore the messages they receive about their bodies from the media and peers, and gives them the opportunity to practice asking questions about their bodies.

Girls Incorporated of Metro Denver has found that the best method for delivering culturally competent programs, especially when there is a need to reach a variety of groups. is to develop a program that acts as a foundation for teaching, such as Goddess Girls, and then encourage staff to tailor it to their audience. The staff members who teach Goddess Girls are all bi- or multi-cultural, bilingual, and passionate, dynamic young women. Each staff member integrates her own unique cultural experience into her teaching whether through the stories that she shares, by drawing out participants' experiences, or by bringing "Hot Cheetos" to class.

To date, the program has been implemented, in full, five times (all at different sites). The class has been well-liked and supported by participants, families, and host organizations. Program evaluations, completed by participants, indicate that the program is successful in teaching new information and skills, making them feel comfortable talking to adults about sexuality, and giving them a safe place to learn about their bodies and have fun.

Contact information: Gina Febbaro, MPH, Girls Incorporated of Metro Denver, Health & Sexuality Programs Department, 1499 Julian Street, Denver, CO, 80204, phone: [phone] X 106, email: [e-mail].