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Girl Talk

 

The Girl Talk program is designed to facilitate communication between moms and their fifth and sixth grade daughters. Content focuses on strengthening communication, receiving factual information about sexuality, and learning about female health and hygiene. Girl Talk is a series of four sessions, each lasting two hours. Two trained facilitators guide the moms and daughters through discussion and learning activities.  

 

Detail how your county will market this program to inform potential participants.

Extension staff will convene a planning committee composed of the following people from the Seymour Community School: school nurse, school guidance counselor and a 5th or 6th grade teacher. The two county extension council representatives from the Seymour area will also be a part of the planning committee. Together they will agree on details and recruitment strategies. Typical efforts include: news releases, personal letter and brochure to each girl, and follow-up phone calls.

 

Describe the new clientele that this program is intended to reach.  How does your council envision this program will interest this clientele?

Girl Talk has been offered in Corydon for Wayne Community School 5th grade girls and their moms since 2004 with outstanding participation and outcomes. Community supporters provide the needed financial support and continue to do so annually due to the positive outcomes of the program.

 

The intent from the beginning was to also offer Girl Talk to girls and moms in the Seymour Community School. Funds from this mini-grant would make that feasible. With a successful first effort, the planning committee could then turn to community supporters to sustain Girl Talk.

 

Preteen girls today are growing up in a complex world. They are trying to understand what is happening to their bodies, how to make decisions based on their own values, how to relate to peers and parents, and how to respond to the constant messages surrounding them. Young girls are bombarded with conflicting messages about what it means to be a female. The media provides constant messages focusing on early sexualization of girls.

 

Being a mother of a growing preteen daughter is a challenge. Good family communication is vital as the daughter makes decisions about her health, sexuality and future. The interest is readily present. With good publicity and recruitment efforts, Girl Talk almost “sells” itself.

 

How does your council plan to utilize the mini grant?

It costs $500 (direct costs) to implement one series of Girl Talk. In addition two facilitators need to be trained. Training costs are approximately $125.00 per person (includes curriculum).

 

   

Costs to do program with families

Personnel                                          

 

  $300.00
Facilitator (2) = $300.00    

     - 4 classes teaching at 2 hours each = 8 hrs. x $12.50 per hour

 

      - 4 classes prep time at 1 hour each = 4 hrs. x $12.50 per hour  

  
Prizes and Refreshments  

$130.00

     - 10 x $13.00 per pair

 
Supplies

 

$  15.00

     - 10 x $1.50 per pair

 

Marketing/publicity

  

$  10.00

     - Copies, ads, phone calls

 

Program support

  

$  45.00

     - Recruitment/publicity, evaluation

   
  Total 

$500.00
 

Cost per family (based on 10 families) = $  50.00

                                                                               

Additional information:

 The Wayne County Extension Council identified parent education as a need during the annual program planning process.

 

Wayne Community School and Seymour Community School are both a part of the Wayne County Multi-Generational Behavioral Health Project. The expansion of Girl Talk would strengthen the working relationship between the schools and complement other program efforts in parent education.

 

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