NCJ Number
214046
Journal
Prevention Researcher Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2006 Pages: 11-14
Date Published
April 2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article presents evaluation findings on the impact of a Girl Scouts Beyond Bars (GSBB) program that aims to help girls develop positively within the context of a mother-daughter relationship influenced by the mother's incarceration.
Abstract
Quantitative evaluation findings showed modest increases in girls' positive attitudes toward their incarcerated mothers and the girls' self-esteem after they participated in GSBB. Neither correlation reached statistical significance, however. Evidence that GSBB programming enhances girls' functioning must remain anecdotal until more longitudinal data are available and the findings reach statistical significance. Still, findings to date are sufficiently promising to warrant the continuation of current programming until data analysis can produce detailed and conclusive findings about the long-term impacts of the program. Although GSBB program activities may vary across the more than 40 programs nationwide, all programs have the following core program components: mother-daughter troop meetings at the correctional facility, traditional in-community troop meeting and council-wide activities, in-prison enrichment activities for the mothers, and support for and referral of guardians to community and social services. The evaluation focused on one GSBB program, that of the Girl Scout Lonestar Council (Texas). The evaluation addressed the impact of the combination of community programming, art therapy, and in-prison visits on girls' self-esteem, how they perceived their mothers, school progress, and social adjustment and functioning. Data for 2002-2003 were analyzed to test the hypothesis that there is a correlation between a child's attitude toward her mother and the child's self-esteem. This was done through pretests and postests that measured any changes in the variables of interest due to program intervention. 17 references