Girl Scouts Beyond Bars

The OJJDP FY 09 Earmarks Programs further the Department's mission by providing grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to organizations identified in the Explanatory Statement Regarding H.R. 1105 (Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009), 155 Cong. Rec. H1653 (daily ed. Feb. 23, 2009) (statement by Rep. Obey, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House).

Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) will implement the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars (GSBB) program in partnership with the Girl Scout councils across the U.S. The goal of GSBB is to create a supportive, nurturing Girl Scout environment for girls (ages 5-18) who have mothers in prison, by facilitating mother-daughter prison visits and participating in Girl Scout activities, to offset the devastating impact of incarceration on girls and their mothers. GSUSA will provide grants of $20,000 -$25,000 to 25 councils to implement GSBB projects. The primary focus is on engaging girls in activities that will equip them with the developmental assets that will enable them to construct the foundation for healthy, productive futures. Prison visits occur within the Girl Scout framework, and includes adult group mentoring for the girls, combined with a variety of Girl Scout activities designed to address the specific challenges that girls with incarcerated parents typically face. The GSBB model is consistent with the GSUSA philosophy that every girl can be empowered to be a leader and take charge of her life, no matter what her personal circumstances. NCA/NCF