, health, nutrition, violence, and conflict resolution. Other topics include dating, pre- and postnatal care, etiquette, personal hygiene, respect, and values.
The Female Intervention Team provides a gender-specific approach to treating young women who are adjudicated delinquent or are committed to the Baltimore, MD, juvenile justice system. A user-friendly staff training manual has been developed and shared with individuals and agencies around the country.
St. Croix Girls Camp seeks to intervene in the lives of girls whose behavior and/or family situations necessitate temporary removal from the community. The camp assists girls in effectively communicating with adults and forming healthy interpersonal, peer, and family relationships.
PACE Center for Girls, Inc., shares strategies for implementing gender-competent programming in any type of facility. The SMARTGIRLS! curriculum, which has been presented at and shared by the center, is one of the first curriculums to focus on the benefits of being young and female instead of focusing on the negative aspects. The goal is to help the girls gain a better understanding of the choices they can make to ensure a safe and successful future. PACE also provides fundraising and grant-writing resources and strategies.
In July 1995, a Strategic Planning Retreat was held in Orlando, FL, to determine the caucus' future direction. Participants adopted a mission statement to guide the caucus' work: focus national attention on the unique needs of girls and young women who are at risk or in the justice system in order to create change.
To impact public policy, resource allocation, and research in order to improve the quality of care and services for girls.
To ensure culturally sensitive, gender-specific programming for girls and young women so they have the opportunity to lead healthy, productive, and safe lives.
To ensure fairness in the justice system by eliminating gender, ethnic, and racial biases.
To raise public awareness regarding the need for gender-appropriate programming and service for girls.
The caucus formed four working committees comprising members from around the country. Committee structure and assignments include the following:
Public Education/Public Relations Committee. To create a market position and establish alliances within the justice system and with external organizations to promote the mission of the caucus.
Professional Education and Training Committee. To provide the opportunity for professional training and development of members and the general public; market the gender equity model workshop; develop minimum standards for gender-competent programming; and sponsor annual conferences that focus on girls and young women in the justice system.
Public Policy Committee. To cultivate supportive political relations at the national, State, and local levels to advocate for legislation that supports gender equity in the justice system.
Program Committee. To identify needs, solutions, innovative programs, and intervention strategies to address the needs of girls.