The State of Texas Children

The Annie E. Casey Foundation and Texas KIDS COUNT have released the 2009-2010 State of Texas Children Report. There are lots of interesting findings from birth weights to high school test scores. Here are some of the more interesting and/or shocking.

• There are approximately 2.3 million children age 5 or under in Texas.
• While 16.3% of the overall Texas population lives in poverty, the child poverty rate is a staggering 23.1%.
• Nearly 54,000 births per year are to mothers ages 13-19.
• It is projected that nearly a quarter of Texas children do not have health insurance.
• In 2008 there were more than 70,000 confirmed cases of child abuse or neglect.
• 26% of children ages 3-4 are in public Pre-K, up from 19.4%.
• 92% of 11th graders pass the English reading section of the TAKS test.
• Only 65% of 10th graders pass the Math section of the TAKS test.

Which of these statistics make your jaw drop in disappointment? Which of these make your heart swell with pride or give you hope? What causes some of these findings? How can we reverse the ones we're upset by and further the positive trends? What can you do right now in your home or your community to better the state of children?

Change can be a slow process but by each of us committing ourselves to our youth and the future of Texas, we can make a difference.

-Cheryl Black

Volunteer Essentials

Rolling out the new Volunteer Essentials document has been an interesting process with so many people collaborating to make it something that is useful and accessible for every member! Volunteer Services, Membership, Programs, Product Sales and Registration have all had a hand in the content of this unique resource. The Communications Department has been instrumental in getting it posted to the Web site as a PDF, then as searchable text on the Web site itself. But most importantly the feedback from the volunteers that have seen it and will be using it has been invaluable. They gave us editing tips. They gave us content feedback; they have tweaked a good document and made it better.

“Volunteer Essentials is a resource for volunteers serving in any pathway, and can also be used for volunteers who do not work directly with girls. It offers information about Girl Scouts as a movement and a tradition, asks volunteers to assess their skills and competencies, discusses the GSLE and journeys, highlights other program offerings, shares information about healthy development in girls, instructs volunteers in how to keep girls safe, gives information on taking trips and hosting events, and tells volunteers how to help girls manage group finances, including details on Girl Scout Cookie sales.” -Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA)

In an effort to make Girl Scouting consistent across the country and serve all the girls and volunteers, GSUSA created Volunteer Essentials. They noticed that many councils had created their own "operating manuals" (ours was called Directions). They varied from council to council and covered many different topics so that if you moved form Texas to Washington or even just New York to New Jersey, you weren’t necessarily getting the same information or training. GSUSA decided that in order to be consistent they needed a nationally consistent module that would address the main points and still be somewhat customizable. There are, after all, differences geographically and culturally that may have to be addressed.

The finished product accomplishes just that! It is succinct without being to brief it is thorough without belaboring the point! I am pleased with it and I hope to see it serve as a resource that every volunteer will refer to often and use as needed!

Check out Volunteer Essentials now.

-Heather Givens

A Promise & A Sign

I've been a Girl Scout for a long time and in a variety of capacities. No matter my age or type of involvement though, camp has always been my favorite part of Girl Scouting. And one of my favorite camp activities is not one you necessarily expect to find at camp. It's not horseback riding, not swimming and not eating s'mores.

It's sign language.

I first discovered American Sign Language at Girl Scout camp and the first thing I could sign beyond the alphabet was the Girl Scout Promise. Since learning the Promise brought so much joy, interest and pride to my childhood camp experience, I want to share it with all Girl Scouts.

Click here to open a PDF with step-by-step instructions for signing the Girl Scout Promise. A big thank you to Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas for having this PDF readily available on their Web site!

Now in no particular order, here are some reasons I think its cool to sign the Girl Scout Promise.

• It allows Girl Scouts to share the backbone of Girl Scouting with more of their Girl Scout sisters.
• It can be a great addition to any of your Girl Scout ceremonies or activities.
• It is a relatively quick introduction to American Sign Language.
• A slightly longer reason - American Sign Language can be a good second language option for students who struggle with foreign language or reading. My family discovered this firsthand when a very bright high school counselor suggested it for my brother. Once in the class, he excelled.

Learning this fun and useful language can build girls' confidence and empower them to try even more new things. I hope you find signing the Girl Scout Promise to be as exciting as I found it to be.

-Cheryl Black

P.S. Mastered the alphabet and the Promise and ready to move on? Try teaching yourself the signs to a favorite song! I once learned "Yellow Submarine" and when The Lion King was all the rage, I learned "Can you feel the love tonight."

Girls Conflicted About Body Image, Role of Fashion Industry

New research from the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) supports what many parents, educators and youth advocates have believed for years:

The increased scrutiny of the fashion industry and its use of ultrathin models isn’t without validation, as nearly 9 in 10 American teenage girls say that the fashion industry is at least partially responsible for "girls' obsession with being skinny," according to a national survey released today by the Girl Scouts of the USA.

The research also indicates that girls would prefer to see more natural beauty in the media. In fact, 81% of girls would rather see natural photos of models as opposed to the adjusted and airbrushed versions and 75% say they are more likely to purchase clothes shown on real-size models as opposed to stick thin models.

Yet despite these findings, it's clear that girls have a love-hate relationship with fashion and body image. Contradicting the aforementioned findings, 48% of girls wish they were as thin as the models in fashion magazines and 41% prefer to see the latest fashions modeled on thin women than fuller-figured women.

Other findings from GSRI's research include

• 47% say fashion magazines give them a body image to strive for yet,
• 65% say the body image represented by the fashion industry is too skinny and 28% say the fashion industry body image looks sick.
• 31% of girls admit to starving themselves or refusing to eat as a weight loss strategy and
• 20% of girls consider plastic surgery and/or weight-loss surgery acceptable.
• However 79% of Hispanic girls, 76% of African-American girls and 72% of Caucasian report being satisfied with their bodies.

The tangled web of girl body image can be seen in nearly every one of these findings.

Body image, the fashion industry's role and these survey results, will be addressed at New York City's Fashion Week by Girl Scouts of the USA. The conversation can be viewed live via online streaming video at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/beauty-redefined on Wednesday, February 10, 5 p.m. CST.

What's Happening Locally

Girl Scouts of Central Texas (GSCTX) recognizes that adolescence is an especially challenging time for girls and their self-esteem. With programs, volunteer trainings and merchandise, GSCTX continually strives to help girls develop into confident young women. Through its "grow strong" initiative, Girl Scouts of Central Texas hopes to help girls untangle their body image and develop a strong, healthy sense of self. Programs such as the Girls' Respect Conference encourage open, healthy conversations about relevant issues like body image and self-esteem, and ultimately assist in the development of confident young women.

Additionally, GSCTX offers merchandise through the shops that girls can feel confident and stylish in no matter what their size or shape. With 75% of girls citing fashion as very important; stylish, affordable and age-appopriate merchandise is essential to meeting the needs and interests of all girls.

For More Information

• For more survey results visit http://girlscouts.org/news/news_releases/2010/nationwide_study_feelings_about_fashion.asp  
• For more about Girl Scout programs visit http://www.gsctx.org/?nd=gsctx_calendar_list 
• For more about Girl Scout merchandise visit http://www.gsctx.org/?nd=shop
• To contact GSCTX visit http://www.gsctx.org/?nd=contact_us

-Cheryl Black

4 Cool Countries for World Thinking Day

The theme for World Thinking Day 2010 is girls worldwide say "together we can end extreme poverty and hunger." (See more information from Girl Scouts of the USA.) Girls voted and selected Germany, Kuwait, Peru, the Philippines, and South Africa to represent the five regions of World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

In addition to the countries selected through WAGGGS, here are 4 really cool, Thinking Day-worthy countries you might want to consider exploring this year.

• Haiti: Learning about Haiti can help girls better understand the recent earthquake and it's effects. You can start with this story about a Haitian Girl Scout who is helping her country recover. Activity idea - build and start a philanthropy campaign to help Haiti relief efforts.
• Canada: In just a few days Canada will be hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics and will be the center of the sports world. That makes Canada extra cool this year. Activity idea - learn, watch or play the national sport of ice hockey!
• Mexico: As our southern neighbor, Mexico's culture greatly influences Texas and the whole US. Mexico is also home to one of the WAGGGS World Centers: Our Cabana providing with even more significance for Girl Scouts. Activity idea - enjoy delicous tamales as part of your learning experience!
• Denmark: This European country was recently deemed the happiest place on Earth and Copenhagen was named one of the most liveable cities. Activity idea - take part in the Danish tradition of bicycle riding.

Every country has its own fascinating culture. These are just a few ideas to get your global-creative juices flowing. Now we want to know, which country or countries are you investigating during World Thinking Day and what are you doing as part of your exploring?

-Cheryl Black

P.S. Be sure to get your World Thinking Day patch at the council shops.

Future Biomedical Engineer

Devynn is a member of the Robotics Rulers team from Waco. Learn about her experience by reading the Q&A below!

Why did you first get involved in the Girl Scout robotics team?
I wanted to be on a team where there would be other girls that had the same interests as me. I also thought the idea of building a robot was pretty cool.

What have you learned from your FIRST Lego League experience?
I learned many things over the last few months. I learned many things about structural engineering, engineering design, computer programming, working together as a team, and that your ideas won't always be perfect the first time. But the most important thing i have learned while being on this team that what you learn is more important than what you win. For many people they seem to think what you win is more important because it is tangible, even though you can show off a trophy, that trophy wont get you a career, learning will.

What was the most challenging project your team had and how did you overcome it?
Working together is always hard because everyone has there own ideas, and it can be hard to listen to other people when you have tons of ideas that you want to try out to see if they work.

What advice can you give a girl who is intimidated or scared by science?
There is no reason to be scared or intimidated because its actually pretty easy after you start working with science ideas. You don't have to be the smartest person in your class to be interested in science. Anyone is smart enough to do it as long as they have the will to learn about it. So if you are interested in a science group, try it. If you find out that you don't like it you don't have to continue for the rest of your life with it.Also if you are in a science group, you will learn things that the rest of your friends don't know.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a Biomedical Engineer.

-Devynn R., Girl Scout Cadette

To learn more about Girl Scout robotics teams or other technology programs, visit the EDGE.

Suggestions for Haiti Fund Raising

In response to the recent devastation in Haiti, Girl Scouts of the USA has adopted a special rule of order to allow girl members to fund raise for relief efforts. To create a meaningful lesson in community service, girls are encouraged to discuss the meaning of philanthropy, develop their own giving plan and purposefully act to benefit those in need.

As one giving option, Girl Scouts of Central Texas suggests girls consider donating a portion of their Cookie Program profits to relief efforts. Girls can and should educate Girl Scout Cookie customers of this new, philanthropic goal through posters and conversation. In addition to donating a portion of their Cookie Program profit, Girl Scouts may directly solicit donations for relief efforts in Haiti. Any donations for relief efforts in Haiti must be donated through an organization approved by Girl Scouts of the USA. Troops and individuals who donate to relief efforts in Haiti will have the opportunity to report their donation to the council and be recognized on the council’s Web site.

Girl Scouts is proud of its legacy of philanthropy and community service. It is our hope that gifts to relief efforts in Haiti will not only ease the suffering of the Haitian people but will also act as a lesson in compassion, philanthropy and community service for our members.

-Girl Scouts of Central Texas