Girls Circle - The DRAGON Youth Project also offers a structured peer support group for adolescent girls based on the Girls Circlecurriculum. Research has shown that girls are uniquely at risk through social, cultural, physiological challenges that set in during early adolescence. These obstacles can set the stage for depression, sedentary lifestyles, sexual abuse, and other problems associated with substance abuse. Studies also show that girls tend to lose self-confidence in early adolescence, and, as a result, perform less well academically and neglect their interests and aspirations. For this reason, we are working with local women’s resources to provide support for the adolescent girls of our community. We currently offer a Girls Circle group at Bayfield High School, and are hoping to start circles in the Durango 9R school district as well. For more information on starting a Girls Circle group, please call Kendra.
Strengthening the Bonds of Chicano Youth and Families – We also hope to create a peer support group for Latino at-risk youth based on the Strengthening the Bonds of Chicano Youth & Families program. This program targets Latino youth while providing a culturally appropriate and community based curriculum that works to reduce risk factors and strengthen protective factors and resiliency. The peer support group will provide life skills training incorporating such issues as conflict resolution, gang involvement, sexuality, substance use prevention, and mental health. The program also encourages participants to send messages about living healthy lifestyles to the rest of their communities.
