Denver, CO - Girls Incorporated of Metro Denver announced in July that it has partnered with Excelsior Youth Center to provide consistent on-going programs to girls living at the Excelsior facilities. Excelsior Youth Center is a residential treatment facility for adolescent girls. This partnership is particularly important because it brings together Girls Inc.'s effective educational enrichment and risk prevention programs with a group of girls who urgently need them. Funding for this project comes from donations to both nonprofit organizations.
The program, called Girls Inc. at Excelsior, started in July of this year, includes six six-week programs offered annually. Topics include teen pregnancy prevention, economic literacy, substance abuse prevention, and life skills - skills the girl will need to become independent, successful women who make smart choices. There will also be a community service component in partnership with the Junior Optimist Club.
Excelsior, founded by nuns in the early 1900's as a home for runaways, now treats girls from all over the U.S. who have emotional and/or behavioral problems. These girls, who have seemingly been given up on by society, face difficult challenges often without the support of family or friends. In addition to mental health treatment that Excelsior provides, Girls Inc.'s workshops will provide a consistent opportunity for them to grow and learn as they prepare to re-enter society.
"This program will make a huge difference in the lives of these girls. We will be able to support them in their personal development and teach them skills to become self-sufficient and responsible and in many cases prevent their return to a treatment facility," stated Angell Perez-Williams, Girls Inc. of Metro Denver's Director of Outreach and Teen Programs. "We are very honored to have this opportunity and look forward to an effective partnership that enhances the lives of hundreds of girls in the near future."
