The area of Pinellas Park and surrounding St. Petersburg, FL is challenged with problems of poverty, single-parent households with no support, high incidences of substance abuse and lack of guidance for many of our youth. As a teacher, I see the difference that guidance and listening can make to an adolescent girl. I also see that there is a huge need for our young women to nurture and respect themselves through healthy body image, self-confidence and a positive attitude!

"Real Strong" will give young women ages 11-15 a safe place to get real! This new program will allow girls to learn how to increase their self-confidence, believe in and respect themselves. We will see a difference in our young women by providing them with the guidance they deserve.

1. I am a teacher for Emotionally/Behaviorally disturbed children in Pinellas Park, Florida. I also have my Masters in Clinical Social Work. I plan on starting a new program with the 2008-09 school year. The program will be open to all females ages 11-15. Female students who attend the school will be mailed home flyers describing the program. The programs focus will be on building self-confidence through a positive approach to nutrition, body image and respect! 2. I will acquire other energetic female staff to help me with the once-weekly meetings. I will secure Administrative approval and support on exactly what time frame we will be able to meet. There will also be weekend "Check-ins" (a specified date/time every weekend) at a low-cost coffee shop or mall where the young women will be able to get advice, support or just a listener. 3. Once the program becomes successful I will open it up to all females ages 11-15 in Pinellas County and will have to change locations. 4. I am currently working on developing the program brochure which will be sent to students homes prior to the start of the school year. I have also secured the "Go Girls!" curriculum from NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association) and am supplmemting it with additional areas of interest such as cooking healthy on a budget, positive thinking, self-confidence, etc....

I am looking for other energetic Pinellas county School Board staff to help me with this initiative in the following ways: supervision during Wednesday meetings, donating or purchasing snacks, helping plan events and do mailings.