December 2021 Our Promise

Fulfilling the Girl Scout Mission for Every Girl Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri (GSEM) believes that all girls deserve the opportunity to develop into tomorrow’s leaders. Through programs like Community Troops and Rural Troop Start Up, Girl Scouts provides the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to all girls, everywhere.

Participating in Girl Scouts results in measurable outcomes as girls develop and grow into caring, productive adult leaders. While Girl Scouting is vibrant in the eastern Missouri region, it was not always unilaterally accessible. In 2014, we discovered that more affluent schools were three times more likely to have a Girl Scout troop than under-resourced schools. This revelation went against core Girl Scout principles, that all girls, regardless of their color or socio-economic status, should have equal access to this life-shaping experience. Through research, GSEM discovered the greatest barrier to Girl Scout participation in lower-income areas was the availability of a volunteer troop leader. To remove this barrier, the Community Program Program (CTP) provides trained GSEM staff members to lead troops in communities and within schools where 75% to 100% of students receive free/reduced-priced lunches. Launched in 2014 with 538 girls, the program has grown to serve more than 2,500 girls in 80 troops annually led by 9 CTP leaders/GSEM staff members. While CTP has made significant gains in accessibility, we also know that the need persists. Findings from The State of Girls (2017) suggest that economic conditions affecting girls in Missouri have not fully recovered from the Great Recession. These families will likely face even more financial duress due to economic conditions brought on by COVID-19. Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri also hosts several specialty troops that provide a tailored experience for girls. Girl Scouts Beyond Bars (GSBB) is a specialty troop serving the unique needs of girls whose mothers are incarcerated. Started in 1996, the GSBB troop meets weekly to participate in traditional Girl Scout activities that develop leadership skills, build self-esteem and

foster healthy relationships. The troop also travels to correctional facilities in Vandalia, MO and Chillicothe, MO as allowed for troop meetings and visits with their mothers, providing mom with a meaningful experience as she serves her sentence and providing our Girl Scout the ability to maintain a relationship with her mom. Other specialty CTP troops are hosted at residential shelters and therapeutic programs for youth, including Gateway 180, Marygrove, Epworth Children and Family Services, Beyond Housing, and St. Vincent Home for Children. 2020-2021 was a pivotal year for the Community Troop Program. Thanks to video-conferencing licenses provided by GSEM, regular and virtual CTP troop meetings were held throughout 2020-2021 and over 700 CTP members participated in the Girl Scout Cookie Program.