For I am fearfully and wonderfully made...your works are wonderful
What We Offer
It is a sad state today for our youth, especially when their environment has more influence than family, peers provide more guidance than parents, and “the system” rather than natural structure and boundaries limit our youth. For girls in particular, there is a weakening of a generation due to risk factors: Sexual, physical, emotional abuse, teen pregnancy, teen parenting, poor academic performance, substance abuse, mental health, societal/family factors, gang membership, early onset of puberty, and alternative lifestyle. To combat these disparities, we off after school programming and summer workshops that focus on addressing the iniquities that impact girls. We also provide opportuinites for community service, social and cultural enrichment activities and family engagement activities and events to futher build connections.
After-School Program
Girls Circle
Out of Bounds provides after school services by implementing a variety of gender-specific and interactive support groups for 6 to 10 girls during out of school time. The groups are provided in 8 week sessions. The support groups are based upon the Girls Circle format. The Girls Circle is a model of structured support groups for girls from ages 9 to 18 years. It is designed to foster self esteem, help girls maintain authentic connection with peers and adult women in their community, counter trends towards self-doubt, and allow for genuine self expression through verbal sharing and creative activity. The groups are structured by having discussion, arts and crafts, role playing, creating journals and other fun, insightful activities. The Girls Circle model has been applied to programs in areas such as juvenile probation, schools, peer leadership, positive youth development, pregnancy prevention, gang prevention, substance abuse prevention, and other programs wherever girls come together.
Girls Circle Curriculum
Friendship – addresses exclusion, intolerance, and feuding
Being a Girl – addresses female development, self-care, and role modeling
Body Image –examines cultural messages and personal beliefs that influence body image
Honoring Our Diversity- recognizes girls’ varied cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds while emphasizing positive identity
Relationships with Peers – enhances girls’ awareness of their relationships with themselves and others
Mind, Body, and Spirit- addresses alcohol, tobacco, and drug decision making as well as healthy sexuality, promoting abstinence and/or reduction to high risk behaviors
Expressing my Individuality – addresses individuality, diversity, getting along with others, values exploration, and conflict styles
Who I Am – examines identity, assertiveness skills, and goal setting
Paths to the Future –examines thoughts, beliefs, and actions about friendships, trust, authority figures, mother/daughter relationships, dating violence, and other topics.
Wise & Well- addresses the 21st century challenges such as cyberbullying, social networking, binge drinking, marijuana use, the stigma of mental health and more.
My Family, My Self - focuses on girls development within the context of their family relationships and offers girls the opportunity to safely explore the challenges of growing up within the family unit.
Mother-Daughter Circle - Mothers or female caregivers and their daughters join together in groups to strengthen their bonds through creative expression, shared listening and skill building.
Community Service
As it is simply our role in society to serve others, it is important to us that we teach our youth the importance of giving back to others through community service. Our goal is to 1) encourage community involvement to understand the importance of serving others and developing leadership skills, 2) develop girls as responsible members of their community and society, and 3)provide girls with opportunities to collaborate across cultures to apply their knowledge and experiences.
Cultural and Social Enrichment Activities
Girls will be exposed to cultural experiences and learn to appreciate their own culture along with the importance of exposure to other cultures. They will participate or attend activities involving dance, music, art, plays and other interest.
Also, we all know that "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" as they will also engage in many social and bonding activities such as bowling, skating, movies, paint parties and other activities. Cultural and social activities can take place in house or field trips.
Family Engagement
It takes a village to raise a child and we invite parents, guardians, family members to participate in promoting our girls social, emotional and Spiritual development. We invite parents to our family bonding activities, mother-daughter activities, and help by volunteering their time for community service, field trips and special events. If in need, we will provide general community information and resources to help families meet their needs.