I'M GIRL

I’M GIRL

· Multi-week for females only (normally 8 weeks)

· Promotes healthy adolescent transition to adulthood

· Provides learning that helps achieve the following developmental tasks: positive personal image, critical thinking, independence through responsible decision making, assertiveness, problem solving skills

· Designed to build skills and decrease chance of risky behaviour

I’M GIRL description for:

I’M GIRL feedback:

For Elementary Schools:

· Meets the Ontario Elementary Curriculum for Health and Physical Education and Language in the Growth and Development, Personal Safety and Injury Prevention and Substance Use and Abuse Strands.

· Matches the Developmental Asset Domains for Boundaries and Expectations, Positive Values, Social Competencies and Positive Identity.

· Topics covered:

Week
1

Introduction to Girls’ Issues

Goal: Develop group cohesion and create rules for the group

Task: Prioritize topics that are important to the group participants

Week
2

Communication

Goal: Understand the importance of communicating assertively

Goal: Explore the different styles of communication

Task: Learn and practice assertiveness techniques

Week
3

Body Image and Media Awareness

Goal: Explore how media, peers, and family impacts our body image

Task: Begin to establish positive body image by acknowledging skills, attitudes, strengths, as well as physical characteristics they like about themselves

Week
4

Self Esteem and Media Awareness

Goal: Explore how media, peers, family impacts our self-esteem

Task: Begin to establish positive self esteem by acknowledging skills, attitudes, strengths, as well as physical characteristics they like about themselves

Week
5

Relational Aggression and Bullying

Goal: Learn how to avoid and effectively manage relational aggression and bullying

Task: Learn and practice empathy skills

Week
6

Developing Healthy Relationships

Goal: Improve skills to evaluate whether a relationship is healthy or unhealthy

Task: Develop effective strategies on how to deal with an unhealthy relationship

Week
7

Values and Choices

Goal: Identify their values and learn how to avoid and effectively manage peer pressure

Task: To identify the aspects of peer pressure they are most susceptible to

Week
8

Planning for the Future

Goal: Recognize the importance of setting goals

Task: Discover how to effectively set and measure personal goals

For Secondary Schools:

· Meets the Ontario Elementary Curriculum for Health and Physical Education in the Social Skills, Decision Making, Personal Safety and Injury Prevention and Healthy Growth and Sexuality Strands.

· Matches the Developmental Asset Domains for Boundaries and Expectations, Positive Values, Social Competencies and Positive Identity.

· Topics covered:

Week
1

Introduction to Girls’ Issues

Goal: Develop group cohesion and create rules for the group

Task: Prioritize topics that are important to the group participants

Week
2

Communication

Goal: Understand the importance of communicating assertively

Goal: Explore the different styles of communication

Task: Practise assertiveness skills

Week
3

Healthy Relationships

Goal: Develop skills to evaluate whether a relationship is healthy or unhealthy

Goal: Identify warning signs of unhealthy relationships

Task: Develop effective strategies on how to deal with an unhealthy relationship

Week
4

Labels & Acceptance

Goal: Be able to identify different labels and groups that are labelled

Goal: Understand the link between labels and oppression

Task: Explore the labels put on themselves and the impact it has on self esteem

Week
5

Self Image

Goal: Explore how media, peers, and family impacts our self image

Task: Begin to establish positive self image by acknowledging skills, attitudes, strengths, as well as physical characteristics they like about themselves

Week
6

Healthy Sexuality

Goal: Discover the link between personal values and decision making regarding sexual activity

Task: Explore and debunk sexual myths regarding teenage females

Week
7

Anger

Goal: To recognize anger and express it constructively

Goal: Identify and cope with primary emotions underlying anger

Task: Create personal anger management strategies

Week
8

Planning for the Future

Goal: To recognize the importance of setting goals

Task: Discover how to effectively set and measure personal goals

Student Experience

One participant spent many of the I’M GIRL sessions talking about the bad relationship she had with her mother and the effect it had on her. She disclosed that she had a plan to run away once she completed the year. The Violence Prevention Educator asked her to meet with her and the school’s Guidance Counsellor. They worked together to help the participant understand how her mother might be experiencing their conflict and used role play to teach her how to use assertive communication and “I” statements. The Guidance Counsellor reported that after 4 weeks of connecting with this girl on a daily basis, “The participant is very positive about the way things are working out with her mother. When there is conflict she is now using her “I” messages. Her mother is asking her “Why are you talking like that? Why aren't you laying the blame on me, like you usually do?” She replies, “Where would that get me?” So now on a scale from one to ten, the relationship is at about a positive eight, whereas before it was a two!” The Guidance Counsellor reported that the girl is delighted with the change in her relationship with her mother and that while this is only the beginning and there is a long road ahead, this girl now has the skills to navigate that road.

Teacher Testimonial

I loved the positive message through art - being unique is important. I also like that the girls have something to take with them to look at as a reminder of how special she is and how her peers feel about her in positive terms. Very effective program - thank you.

With your help, we can make respect the norm,
not the exception in our homes, schools and community!