Girl Scouts and League of Women Voters to Address Critical Challenges Facing Florida Girls in Community Workshop

The Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida and the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County will co-host a free community workshop on October 16 to present findings from the State of the Florida Girl report, a comprehensive study examining critical challenges confronting girls across the state. The workshop will take place at the Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach and feature a keynote presentation by Elle Harrigan, Chief Advancement Officer for Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, followed by a panel discussion including education leaders and youth representatives.

The State of the Florida Girl Report reveals concerning trends across multiple dimensions of girls' lives. In emotional wellness, 52% of high school girls in Florida report feeling sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row, reflecting a 40% increase in depression over the past decade. More alarmingly, one in four girls seriously considered attempting suicide, showing a troubling rise of more than 60% in the last 10 years. These statistics underscore the urgent need for mental health support and intervention strategies for young women across the state.

Academic performance data shows that one in eight girls miss school due to feeling unsafe, with girls 1.5 times more likely than boys to stay home after experiencing bullying. The digital landscape presents additional challenges, with twice as many girls as boys being victims of cyberbullying, illustrating the significant online safety issues girls face. These educational barriers could have long-term implications for academic achievement and career opportunities for Florida's female students.

Physical health findings reveal a disconnect between perception and reality, with 36% of girls believing they are overweight despite only 32% meeting the medical definition of being overweight or obese. This indicates widespread body image issues affecting girls' self-perception and potentially their mental health. The problem is most pronounced among Asian American or Pacific Islander girls, among whom 32% describe themselves as overweight even though only 14% meet medical criteria for this term.

Beyond these specific statistics, the report examines additional pressing challenges including exposure to violence, barriers to health insurance access, and growing rates of youth homelessness. These findings collectively paint a picture of systemic issues affecting girls' development and well-being across Florida. The workshop aims to address these complex challenges through community dialogue and collaborative problem-solving approaches.

Elle Harrigan emphasized the importance of the findings, stating that girls are navigating pressures that impact their mental health, academic success, and physical confidence. The workshop represents an opportunity to bring communities together to discuss real solutions that can change the trajectory for girls across Florida. The partnership between Girl Scouts and the League of Women Voters brings together expertise in youth development and community advocacy to address these critical issues.

Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida provides programming designed to support girls at every stage of their developmental journey, offering a safe, supportive environment that helps girls grow into successful, healthy, well-adjusted young women. More information about the organization and its initiatives can be found at https://www.gssef.org. The League of Women Voters, known for its nonpartisan approach to voter education and democracy defense, brings additional perspective to addressing systemic challenges facing young women. Additional details about their work are available at https://www.lwvpbc.org.