Girls’ Health in Girls’ Hands Research Findings & Recommendations WOMEN’S Created by the Girls and Young Women of Monterey County 2009

Why We’re Here We want you to: Know more about girls’ health needs Make informed decisions around girls health issues

We want you to:

Know more about girls’ health needs

Make informed decisions around girls health issues

About our Project Girls’ Health in Girls’ Hands: Action Research Project Identify health information, service, and support needs of girls 11-18 To help inform Public Policy makers so they’ll create and support more effective policy

Girls’ Health in Girls’ Hands: Action Research Project

Identify health information, service, and support needs of girls 11-18

To help inform Public Policy makers so they’ll create and support more effective policy

About Researchers 57 girls (and young women)…ages 13-19 Locations North County Salinas Greenfield Marina/Seaside Peninsula

57 girls (and young women)…ages 13-19

Locations

North County

Salinas

Greenfield

Marina/Seaside

Peninsula

What Girls Said Findings

Methodology Engaged over 1,200 girls How we did research Surveys - Quantitative Interviews - Qualitative Focus Groups - Qualitative

Engaged over 1,200 girls

How we did research

Surveys - Quantitative

Interviews - Qualitative

Focus Groups - Qualitative

Survey Findings Quantitative

Quantitative

Want More Information About:

Who Girls Talk With About Health

Know Where to Go for Services? (or would know how to find out)

Kind of Health Services Used

Would like Support or Services – But Can’t Find

Know Girls Who Have Experienced

Important for Girls to Have Education About…

Priority Health Issues… From Quantitative & Qualitative Research Emotional Health Healthy Eating/Weight/Exercise Sexuality Relationships Safety And so much more Environment, Diseases, Drugs & Alcohol

Emotional Health

Healthy Eating/Weight/Exercise

Sexuality

Relationships

Safety

And so much more

Environment, Diseases, Drugs & Alcohol

What You Can Do To Support Girls Health

Provide Us With Information Support health education at schools Make a priority (as important as academic classes) Ideally - 1 full year middle school & 2 full years high school Make learning interesting, relevant, & responsive Support community based organizations in providing health education programs at schools (school hours and non-school hours)

Support health education at schools

Make a priority (as important as academic classes)

Ideally - 1 full year middle school & 2 full years high school

Make learning interesting, relevant, & responsive

Support community based organizations in providing health education programs at schools (school hours and non-school hours)

Provide Us With Support Support social / emotional development workshops in schools (ongoing basis) Create and support ongoing school based health support groups (during lunchtime) Provide girls (& their families) with affordable & accessible counseling services

Support social / emotional development workshops in schools (ongoing basis)

Create and support ongoing school based health support groups (during lunchtime)

Provide girls (& their families) with affordable & accessible counseling services

Provide Us With Access Healthy foods on a regular basis at schools Affordable & fun exercise opportunities that build life long skills & habits (even in PE classes) Sex education & birth control in or close to schools Opportunities for every girl to have something to do after school & on weekends, including work, clubs, intramurals, dance, theater, art, ROTC, etc.

Healthy foods on a regular basis at schools

Affordable & fun exercise opportunities that build life long skills & habits (even in PE classes)

Sex education & birth control in or close to schools

Opportunities for every girl to have something to do after school & on weekends, including work, clubs, intramurals, dance, theater, art, ROTC, etc.

Help Girls Support Each Other Support creation of peer health educator programs Support girls in creating regular community health forums that are led by girls with the support of adult mentors & health educators Support girls in creating interactive health website and/or public television program

Support creation of peer health educator programs

Support girls in creating regular community health forums that are led by girls with the support of adult mentors & health educators

Support girls in creating interactive health website and/or public television program

In Your Future Decisions Commit to supporting girls health “ Nothing for us without us” Girls’ health is also in your hands!

Commit to supporting girls health

“ Nothing for us without us”

Girls’ health is also in your hands!