[Girls Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania] February News

May Volume 1, Issue 10

In This Issue

Monthly Poll

Events and Announcements

Get Connected!

Profiles

Opportunities

Cool Stuff for Girls

Resources

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR CONFERENCE SPONSORS

Champions:

Advocates:

Elsie H. Hillman Foundation

Mentors:

Get Connected!

Join the Girls Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania today!

The Girls Coalition is supported by a grant from the FISA Foundation

Visit Our Sponsor

The Connection
The e-newsletter of the Girls Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania

100% Would Attend Again!!!

Dear ,

What an incredible conference! Thanks so much for making Girls Coalition Conference Photo 1

the inaugural Girls Coalition conference a tremendous success. With over 250 people attending the conference on January 29, 2009 at the Sheraton, we are excited to have kicked off the year with such focus on girls' health and well-being.

We would like to thank all of you who participated and who made it such a wonderful day. We were gratified to find that over 95% of the conference participants Girls Coalition Conference Photo 3

who completed an evaluation said that they were either very satisfied or satisfied with the overall quality of the conference and 100% that they would attend another Girls Coalition event.

We asked all conference attendees for their ideas on the types of events and presentations Girls Coalition Conference Photo 5

that would be most useful to professionals who work to improve the lives of girls living in southwestern Pennsylvania. Our Steering Committee is in the process of examining those ideas and we will use them to help us plan our 2009 events. It's not too late to submit your ideas for programs - see our website for the request for presentations.

By March, we will have speaker presentations and podcasts of the conference sessions available on our website.

A very special thanks to the conference committee and Girls Coalition Conference Photo 4

specifically to conference chairs Lynne Garfinkel, Martha Riecks, Adriana Dobrzycka and marketing chair Jen Stancil for all their time and effort.

Remember, if you're not already a member of the Girls Coalition, you can download our application at any time. If you were not able to join us this year, we hope to see you at the second annual Girls Coalition conference in 2010!

We again want to thank the donors who were instrumental in making the conference possible. The conference was made possible through the generous support of the following sponsors:

Champions: Adagio Health, Comcast, The Ellis School, FISA Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Women and Girls Foundation

Advocates: Elsie H. Hillman Foundation, The Grable Foundation

Mentors: Carlow University, Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Winchester Thurston School

Monthly Poll

February Poll

By answering three short questions, you will be able to share with us your thoughts and insights on issues that affect the girls in our region.

Click here and push the "vote" button to take the poll. It takes less than a minute to make your voice heard!

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January Poll Results Summary

Member Events and Announcements

Empowering Young Girls through Fairy Tales

If you were intrigued by Peggy Orenstein's allusion to the power of fairy tales during the conference then lend your ear....

Once upon a time, storytelling ruled. Families shared stories at bedtime, across the dinner table and around campfires. Today text messaging and social networking rule and respect for the art of storytelling has been cast aside. Until now...a new generation of strong girls in the Shaler Area School District has accepted the challenge to learn the art of storytelling. Thanks to the Savvy Cinderellas North Hills Youth Ministry Counseling Center

Savvy Cinderellas North Hills Youth Ministry Counseling Center

generosity of the FISA Foundation, the young ladies participated in the 10 week workshop entitled "Empowering Young Girls through Fairy Tales."

This dynamic workshop was authored by Joan Wolf Schenker of the North Hills Youth Ministry Counseling Center. Joan's goals are to empower girls as they develop critical thinking skills in a fun, creative environment and to provide a vehicle to enhance their confidence and communication skills. The girls will learn the craft of storytelling proficient for two stage performances, one in their home school and another at their community library. To learn more about this program call Joan at 412-366-1300 Ext. 25. View flyer here.

North Hills Youth Ministry Counseling Center's
"A Day of Renewal" Fundraiser at
Bedford Springs Resort

Save the date Ladies!

Friday, March 20, 2009

Ladies Only Event! It's time to kick off your heels and join us as we travel via motor coach to the elegant Bedford Springs Resort for a day of relaxation, renewal and "yes" a bit of networking too. This new and exciting fundraising event will benefit the women and children who desperately need our professional mental health services but who have limited financial resources. Registration deadline is March 1.

Call us to learn more about this event and to reserve your seat...spaces are limited! 412.366.1300.

Can Minors Consent to Treatment Following Sexual Assault?

The Clara Bell Duvall Project of the ACLU of Pennsylvania has developed a set of guidelines for the treatment of minors following sexual assault. We developed this legal framework by drawing on existing federal and state laws, in consultation with attorneys and various stakeholders who serve and treat victims.

We would be delighted to share this information with organizations that serve victims of sexual assault including hospitals, social workers, sexual assault groups and others. We have written case histories in an interactive format that would be appropriate for in-services, grand rounds or other settings. The case histories illustrate situations that arise for minors who have been assaulted and are seeking treatment including: the right to consent to a forensic exam, the right to refuse a forensic exam, consenting to emergency contraception and issues related to reporting requirements.

Please write us at: duvall@aclupa.org or call 412-681-7864.

Launch of "Help in Hard Times" Web Site

Provider agencies and direct service staff have noticed an increase in the number of persons seeking assistance through the human services system due to financial challenges brought on by the nationwide economic slowdown. Job losses lead to health insurance losses which lead to home losses and so on. Persons caught in the downward spiral, and those who support them, should know that there is a structure in place in Allegheny County to provide help in these hard times. The foundation of this structure is composed of the local health and human services systems: the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Health Department, Assistance Office, and Department of Veteran's Services; the United Way of Allegheny County; the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and the foundation community. Hundreds of non-profit organizations work through and with these agencies as the bricks and mortar, providing services directly to those in need.

The Allegheny County Department of Human Services recently launched a new web page, www.AlleghenyCounty.us/dhs/help.aspx, that provides contact and other information about the overarching organizations as well as the direct service providers. Help in Hard Times directs users to information about housing, utilities, food, clothing, child care, parenting support, transportation, domestic violence, gambling addiction, career training for dislocated workers, employment, job training, preparation and search, financial counseling, financial assistance, free income tax return preparation, health insurance, health care, mental health supports, and drug and alcohol services.

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Upcoming Trainings on Website Accessibility

FISA Foundation encourages all nonprofits to consider whether their programs and services are welcoming and accessible to people with disabilities. But people often think only about ramps and elevators while forgetting about website accessibility. FISA is proud to be partnering with the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management to offer a series of three trainings this April on website accessibility.

So...could a young woman who is blind easily access your agency's website to learn about your programs?

If you don't know the answer, consider taking a class! For more information see www.fisafoundation.org.

666 Washington Road
Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228

For more information or to enroll in any of the following programs,
please contact Outreach:
(412) 561-5405
info@outreachteen.org
www.outreachteen.org

Individual Teen and Family Counseling
Outreach has 16 counselors and behavioral specialist on staff.
Teen's needs are matched to a master's level counselor who is experienced with the issues presented. First appointments are usually scheduled within a week of intake. Outreach turns no one away for inability to pay.

Parenting Positively
Discover effective parenting skills that will benefit you and your family in our Parenting Positively six week course.

Spring 2009 Six-week Course Schedule
Afternoon and evening classes are offered for all dates:
12:30 - 2:30 or 7:00 to 9:00

Mondays, February 23-March 30, 2009
Thursdays, April 16-May 21, 2009

$95/person or $150/couple

TeenScreen
Our primary objective is to help young people and their parents
through the early identification of mental health problems.

TeenScreen is a reliable and easy screening program that most effectively identifies:

Depression
Suicide risk
Anxiety
Alcohol and other drug/substance abuse
Social phobia
Panic disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder

Why Use TeenScreen?

An estimated 750,000 teens in the United States suffer from depression.
Suicide is the third leading cause of teenage death.
Only 1/3 of teens at risk and 1/5 with mental illness receive treatment.

How Does It Work?

Screening is always voluntary and written parental and adolescent consent are required.
Screening may be as simple as a 15-20 minute computer-based interview with minimal follow-up.
Based on those results, approximately one-third of the teens will be asked to participate in a longer interview with a Masters Level Clinician. Approximately half of those will need further referral information.
Confidentiality is safeguarded and the information is not part of a student's permanent record.

Please follow this link to the Global Problems, Global Solutions Inter-University Conference sponsored by Carlow University, Carnegie Mellon University, The University of Pittsburgh, LaRoche College and Duquesne University. The conference is on February 20-21 and is FREE!!! It is a great opportunity to learn about, celebrate and continue the fight for human rights. The conference is in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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Upcoming Events--Free and Open to the Public

What: Ellis at the Byham: A Celebration of Music featuring the Ellis Glee Club, Middle School Choir, and Silver Strings
Please join us at the Byham theater in downtown Pittsburgh for a celebration of music performed by The Ellis School. Come early to hear the Ellis Silver Strings perform in the lobby for pre-concert entertainment, then sit back and enjoy choral works form both the Ellis Glee Club and Middle school Chorus. The program includes Pittsburgh Portraits by Dr. Jeffrey Nytch and The Happy Prince by Malcolm Williamson.
When: Monday, February 23, 2009, 7:30 pm
Where: The Byham Theater, 101 Sixth Street , downtown Pittsburgh
RSVP: There is open seating, but reservations are required
Call 412-661-4880 or email admissions@TheEllisSchool.org.

What: Come Grow With Us Speaker Series featuring Dr. Elizabeth Goodenough and a screening of the documentary, Where do the Children Play?
The Ellis School is pleased to welcome Dr. Elizabeth Goodenough, scholar, author and activist in the emerging field of children's studies. Goodenough was the film consultant on the documentary, Where do the Children Play?, and is the author of the companion book, A Place for Play. This documentary examines how restrictive patterns of sprawl, congestion, and endless suburban development across America are impacting children's mental and physical health and development. It also examines the over-programmed child and the ways in which children benefit from opportunities to initiate and direct their play.
When: Monday, March 2, 2009, 6:30 pm reception, 7:00 screening
Where: The Ellis School Auditorium, 6425 Fifth Avenue in Shadyside
RSVP: Reservations are required. Call 412-661-4880 or email admissions@TheEllisSchool.org.

What: Guys and Dolls Jr., performed by Ellis 8th grade students
When: Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 7:00 pm
Where: The Ellis School Auditorium, 6425 Fifth Avenue in Shadyside
RSVP: Reservations are required. Call 412-661-4880 or email admissions@TheEllisSchool.org.

What: Open House for PreK - 12
When: Wednesday, April 22

Please Plan to Attend:

Tobacco Free Allegheny Service Coalition
Thursday March 5, 2009

Your Brain on Nicotine
How Tobacco Use Impacts Adolescent Development

Presented by Margie Modro of Addiction Medicine Services

Everyone knows that smoking causes cancer and other diseases. But, did you ever wonder what impact nicotine has on the body and why it is so addictive? Anyone working with youth or young adults, whether in communities or in schools should hear this accessible and informative presentation.

When: Thursday, March 5, 2009

Time: 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Where: Calvary Episcopal Church
315 Shady Avenue @ Walnut Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15206

RSVP: On or before February 27, 2009 to Meghan Long: 412-322-8321 or mlong@tobaccofreeallegheny.org.

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Viva Las Vegas!

Join Womansplace as they host their fundraiser, Viva Las Vegas on Saturday, March 14. Womansplace is a local non-profit domestic violence organization. All proceeds go directly towards the emergency shelter program that helps keep victims and their children safe. Your support is greatly appreciated!

View flyer here. Call Fran Trimpey at 412.664.7146 or email ftrimpey@womansplace.org for further information.

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Annual Cocktails and Cuisine Event

Save the date for the annual Cocktails and Cuisine Event for Women in Crisis. The unique after work grazing event of fabulous food and libations benefits Crisis Center North. The event will be held Thursday, May 7, 2009 from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Woodlands in Bradford Woods. The evening features The Second Annual Caesar Salad Taste Off; Pittsburgh's Hottest Soulful Vocalist, Jessica Lee; a great silent auction; and over two-dozen food, wine and beer purveyors to sample. Tickets are $60 per person or $75 VIP, which includes premier parking. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, please call 412-364-6728 x15 or visit www.crisiscenternorth.org.

Get Connected!

Call for Members

Join the

Girls Coalition and enjoy these benefits to membership:

Raise the profile of your organization through a detailed profile in the Annual Resource Directory of Girl-serving organizations
Post and promote your events on the Girls Coalition website
Reach Girls Coalition members with eblasts about your organization's monthly events and special opportunities
Learn about the latest information, resources, and trends about girls
Receive advanced notice for all Girls Coalition professional development and educational events
Connect and collaborate with a network of like-minded agencies and individuals on projects and amplify the regional profile of girls and girls' issues

Download Girls Coalition membership application now.

Welcome, New Girls Coalition Members!

We currently have a total of 69 members! See a full listing of Girls Coalition members.

Profiles

Amazing Girls Michelle and Victoria

Tobacco Free Allegheny commends Amazing Girls Michelle and Victoria for the role they played in encouraging the Deer Lakes Schools District to adopt a 100% tobacco free school campus policy. Michelle and Victoria are part of the Busted! Teens Against Tobacco Use group. As eighth graders, during the 06-07 school year, the girls took the lead in garnering support and meeting with school administrators and school board members to convince them of the value of adopting this policy. The school board eventually agreed and the policy was put into effect in May 2007.

As 9th graders, the girls sought to extend their impact to the community and began the process of trying to get all of the park facilities in West Deer to also adopt a smoke-free policy. They collected signatures, gathered information, and attended a Parks & Recreation Committee meeting for the borough. Although Michelle, Victoria and the rest of the Busted! groups are experiencing some difficulty in advancing the cause of tobacco free parks, they plan to continue educating community leaders, residents and other teens about the reasons tobacco free parks and playgrounds are important elements in preventing youth initiation into tobacco use.

Busted! is a statewide, advocacy program that provides teens with the tools to teach their peers the truth about tobacco and the means the tobacco industry uses to market its products directly to teenagers. Through this initiative, student groups organize and promote prevention activities, including peer education and advocacy as a way to positively impact their school district and community.

Michelle and Victoria are truly Amazing Girls!

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Call for Amazing Girl Nominations

The Girls Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania is always accepting nominations for "Amazing Girls" to be featured in our newsletter. We have established broad criteria to consider when submitting an "Amazing Girl." We are interested in showcasing girls who demonstrate the following characteristics: leadership; commitment and willingness to work hard; perseverance; the drive to excel despite challenge; and creativity. The purpose of this feature is to hear about girls who may be "truly amazing" but have not yet been recognized. Please share your recommendations, and we can all see how she shines!

Send us an email about an Amazing Girl you think we should profile.

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Member Profile: Adagio Health

Adagio Health, founded in 1971, operates medical offices and partners

with more than 20 other health care services to provide health care to more than 100,000 women and their families at more than 70 sites in 23 counties of Western Pennsylvania.

Adagio Health's services include:

Health care services: family planning, pregnancy care, cancer screening, STD screening and treatment, and diabetes prevention and education
Nutrition services: nutrition counseling, Women, Infants & Children (WIC) provider, and Power Up, a school-based obesity prevention program
Prevention Education: teen pregnancy prevention, HIV/AIDS prevention, comprehensive sexuality education, peer education, parent education and professional workshops
Healthy Start House: 18 month residential bridge housing for pregnant and parenting women who are temporarily homeless, education and support programs
Advocacy: representing the health care needs of women and their families
Research: HIV/AIDS research, teen pregnancy prevention research, program, evaluation, needs assessments, focus groups, key-informant interviews, proposal development

As a result, each year:

Nearly 70,000 women turn to Adagio Health for reproductive health care services, such as comprehensive screening, birth control and STD treatment.
About 14,000 families receive supplemental foods and nutrition counseling through the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program.
More than 15,000 women learn about the importance of mammograms, and nearly 3,000 older women receive breast and cervical cancer screening.
More than 1,400 healthy babies are born as a result of Adagio Health's pregnancy care.
More than 25,000 students participate in health education and life skills programs.

Opportunities

Pro Bono Grant Writing Offer from HEART Resources, LLC

In celebration of the Girl's Coalition first year of service to our community, HEART Resources, LLC will write one grant proposal, without charge (free and without obligation) for an agency affiliated with the coalition.

Qualifications:

Organization must have 501(c)3 status.
Small or grassroots agency (under $1M operating budget).
Target population for the project is underserved girls.
Proposed project expands health or mental wellness activities for girls OR (in response to the current economic crisis) seeks to meet safety net needs of girls.
Agency is willing to apply the cost savings from this offer to direct services to girls.

Send an email to PMgrants@aol.com with "Girl's Coalition Grant Offer" in the subject line, and a message containing: (1) a brief purpose and description of the proposed project with target group and service area, (2) agency name, (3) agency's web address or brief statement of mission and services, and (4) a contact person name and phone number.

HEART Resources, LLC is a performance-based grant consulting practice founded by Katherine F.H. Heart, M.Ed. that has helped to generate more than $3M in foundation, corporate and government grant funding for local and national nonprofit agencies since 2001.

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Tickets for Kids Charities (www.ticketsforkids.org )

Seeks Intern

Duties can include database entry, ticket distribution, mailings, marketing, website updating, development tasks and additional more advanced duties depending on skills and areas of interest.

Must be very detail oriented, responsible, efficient, able to work independently, have a sense of humor, able to communicate effectively and be very comfortable speaking and working with the public.

Hours are flexible, M-F. Small stipend, also willing to arrange for college credit. Email resume and cover letter detailing why interning at Tickets for Kids Charities is of interest, to Marcia Koren, marcia@ticketsforkids.org. No phone calls.

Tickets for Kids Charities brings the wonder and magic of live arts & cultural, educational, sporting, and family entertainment events to lower-income children and their families who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience what most of us take for granted.

Every two minutes, we create a magical moment...lifetime memory for a child. We've included over one million children and are now focused on making moments for the next million! Tickets for Kids Charities is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and partners with organizations and agencies nationwide.

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Volunteer Advocacy Training

It is time for another volunteer training session at Crisis Center North. We welcome new faces as well as current volunteers who wish to refresh and hone their skills.

The training will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. starting Tuesday, April 2nd and ending Thursday, May 24th.

For more information, please contact Glenn Sauer at 412.364.6728 or gsauer@crisiscenternorth.org.

Help Get the Word Out

Our Spring Volunteer Training is scheduled for April 2nd - May 21st, 2009.

Help us by:

Sending out a mass email
Mailing interested family and friends
Hanging posters in your local community centers, work place or place of worship
Asking your church or synagogue to put the training dates in their weekly/monthly mailings or worship bulletin
Announcing the training opportunity at any community groups or functions you may be attending
Advertising it in your work or community group newsletter

...or VOLUNTEERING YOURSELF!

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Member Job Opportunity: Adagio Health

Adagio Health, a non-profit health care agency headquartered in downtown Pittsburgh, PA, provides services to women and their families in western Pennsylvania. Adagio Health services include comprehensive gynecology and obstetrics care, nutrition counseling, screening for breast and cervical cancer, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, community education, training, research, and a regional program to reduce teen pregnancy. For more information regarding our agency please visit our website at www.adagiohealth.org.

Seeking a Research Associate to work on applied research projects. The job responsibilities include day-to-day management of behavioral research projects, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, and report preparation. Position requires Masters Degree with Public Health or social science research background, excellent communication skills and proficiency in statistics and SPSS software required.

Salary Range: $31,800 - $43,300

An attractive benefits package is available that includes health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, pension, employee assistance program, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Resources

The New Leadership Landscape:
What Girls Say About Election 2008

Following the historical Presidential Election of 2008, the Girls Scouts Research Institute (GSRI) carried out a study entitled "The New Leadership Landscape: What Girls Say About Election 2008," to determine the impact of the presidential elections on girls' and boys' leadership aspirations for their future. The study found that as a result of the campaign and election process girls have become more aware of the barriers women face in the society but also have become more optimistic regarding their ability to overcome these barriers. To read more about this study and its findings follow this link.