It's a Girl Thing: Making Proud Choices

Description

In 2012, a Community Health Needs Assessment revealed that teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and mental health concerns were major issues in Union Parish, Louisiana. Union General Hospital (UGH), a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), took the lead in addressing these issues by launching It's a Girl Thing: Making Proud Choices in the fall of 2013.

The program empowers girls in grades 6 through 12 to make informed decisions about their sexual health, relationships, and personal futures. In addition to health education, the program promotes self-esteem, emotional well-being, resilience, and leadership skills.

Over time, It's a Girl Thing has fostered strong partnerships with the Union Parish School District, D'Arbonne Woods Charter School, Downsville Community Charter School, local churches and many community partners. The program has also grown to create a full-time Community Outreach Coordinator/Educator and Marketing Assistant to support ongoing program growth and community engagement. The program is fully funded by Union General Hospital.

Services offered

Educational sessions

• Monthly meetings at Union General Hospital
• Meetings in Union Parish schools as requested
• Curriculum includes communication, self-worth, respect, rights and responsibilities, relationships, consequences of teen pregnancy, reproductive health, mental health, and suicide prevention

Mental health services

• UGH offers mental health and suicide risk assessments
• Increased mental health sessions have been integrated through Together We Can Be Bully Free, addressing bullying, cyberbullying, peer pressure, and emotional trauma

Union General Hospital has recently completed construction of the new Union General Rural Health Clinic, expanding its services to include Counseling Services for individuals of all ages and providing direct referrals for participants in the program who need additional mental health support.

Scholarships and opportunities

• One $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a high school senior who meets program requirements
• Summer job opportunities are occasionally offered to outstanding participants

Community collaboration

Partnerships include Union Parish Sheriff's Office, Crime Stoppers, the Center for Children and Families/Brokers of Hope, LSU AgCenter, Union Parish Library, Town of Farmerville, Union Museum of History and Art, local healthcare providers, D.A.R.T., Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana, and others.

UGH partners with the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana to support the overall well-being of program participants and their families. Recognizing that food insecurity directly impacts physical and mental health, the hospital collaborates with the food bank to provide food boxes to program participants after the meetings. This partnership ensures that vulnerable youth and their families have access to healthy meals, promoting stability at home and enhancing the hospital's holistic approach to prevention, wellness, and emotional well-being.

The program also actively participates in health fairs, school activities, and community events to promote awareness, recruit participants, and engage families in the importance of prevention and education.

Results

• Over 400 girls have enrolled in the program since its inception
• Teen pregnancy rates in Union Parish have dropped by more than 40% since the start of the program, significantly exceeding the program's initial goal of 5%
• Students report increased self-esteem, resilience, decision-making skills, and emotional healing
• Participants have shared personal success stories of overcoming bullying, trauma, and emotional challenges

Together We Can Be Bully Free, UGH's anti-bullying program, is now an integral part of It's a Girl Thing: Making Proud Choices. This integration has allowed the program to increase its focus on mental health by addressing bullying, cyberbullying, peer pressure, and emotional well-being. Mental health sessions are now a key component of the curriculum, helping girls build resilience, foster positive peer relationships, and prevent self-harm. Together We Can Be Bully Free is also featured in the RHIhub Rural Health Models and Innovations.

For more about how Union General Hospital runs school-based programs, visit RHIhub's Rural Monitor article, Together We Can Be Bully Free: CAH and Law Enforcement Address Peer Victimization through School-Based Program.

Awards and recognition

• 2016 "Program of Excellence" by the Jackson Healthcare Foundation's Hospital Charitable Services Awards
• 2015 "Program of Promise" by the Jackson Healthcare Foundation
• 2014 Outstanding Rural Health Program of the Year award from the Louisiana Rural Health Association
• Featured in the National Rural Health Resource Center's Small Rural Hospital Transition Project Newsletter

Challenges

• Adapting content to meet the cultural and religious needs of the community
• Addressing ongoing requests from the community to expand services to young men. In response, the hospital has trained community leaders, and programs for boys have been implemented in some local churches.

Replication

• Programs should offer education in a compassionate, female-specific, culturally-informed way.
• Build leadership teams from trusted local leaders with strong community ties.
• Use grassroots outreach and targeted marketing via schools, social media, and events.
• Engage passionate volunteers from the hospital and broader community.
• Incorporate ongoing mental health support and bullying prevention into adolescent health education.

Contact Information

Claudia Wade, Program Director
It's a Girl Thing: Making Proud Choices
318.368.7075
cwade@uniongen.org