Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara

Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold to achieve its vision of empowered girls in an equitable society. The Girls Inc. experience consists of people (mentoring relationships), environment (all-girl, pro-girl, and physically and emotionally safe), and programs (evidence-based, developmentally appropriate), which together enable girls to succeed. The people are trained staff and volunteers, who build long-term, mentoring relationships in a safe and supportive environment. Our hands-on, minds-on educational and enrichment programs are guided by Girls Inc. National's core curriculum. Additionally, Girls Inc. exposes girls and teens to STEM fields where they learn about educational and career paths to professions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math where women and women leaders are traditionally under-represented. Girls Inc. also helps girls learn to confidently advocate for themselves and for others.

Girls Inc. girls and teens are:
Strong (healthy) - They learn to be in charge of their health and possess the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop and sustain healthy lifestyles. They are more likely than their peers nationally to appreciate their bodies, to avoid risky behaviors, and to stay on track to achieve positive life outcomes.
Smart (educated) - They are academically engaged, and connect academics to life experiences, opportunities, and careers. They defy national trends by setting high academic achievement goals and demonstrating interest in fields where women are traditionally underrepresented.
Bold (independent) - They are socially and emotionally intelligent and display character and confidence in the life skills that allow for independent, productive, and fulfilling lives. They learn to break through limiting barriers and gender stereotypes to become leaders for their generation.

Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara's curriculum is informed by Girls Inc. National Resource Center, and is constantly evaluated and updated to remain relevant to the needs of girls and teens in our community based on their input. All classes and activities are delivered by facilitators who are trained on the essential elements of strong, smart, and bold programming to achieve priority outcomes of girls.

Each program is evaluated for effectiveness using a systematic approach through student pre-and-post evaluation surveys, instructor evaluations, observations, and interviews. Results are reviewed prior to annual program implementation for relevant adjustments in curricula design and/or staff training needs. We also participate in the annual Girls Inc. National Strong, Smart, and Bold Outcome Survey (SSBOS), which tracks impact on girls.

Parent satisfaction is also an important measure of success at Girls Inc. We regularly conduct parent surveys to ensure our programs have the intended impact, with an average overall approval rating of 99%, that our programs make a difference in the lives of their daughters. Our goal is 100% parent satisfaction, and we work to achieve that outcome each day.

Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara is one of 79 affiliates of the national Girls Inc. organization. Informed by the national organizations' core identity programs we have been providing classes and activities with impact for 60 years to the girls in our community. Our curriculum and our outcomes are evidence-based and measured, to ensure we are having the greatest impact possible.

We have strong community support and program partners to help us provide a comprehensive "whole girl" approach. Partnerships support social/emotional development, mental wellness, movement and fitness, and academic enrichment and exposure to STEM career fields. Volunteers supplement homework help and tutoring programs. Women leaders from our community serve as "Wonder Women" role models for our girls so girls can see women who look like them in successful careers (this program has been placed on hold due to the pandemic.)

We have two physical campuses that house our after-school and summer enrichment programs, our teen onsite and outreach programs, and our gymnastics programs. We also join with the Girls Inc. network to advocate for girls at the local, state, and federal levels to advance policies that affirm girls' rights and opportunities, and gender equity. The national Girls Inc. advocacy platform focuses on four pillars: Combat bullying, sexual harassment, and sexual violence; Promote access to education and economic independence; Support girls' mental health; and Advance reproductive health.

In 2020, despite our centers closing for three months due to COVID-19, we served 943 girls (unduplicated) in all our programs, with 484 of those girls in our core programs (after-school, summer, teens, and outreach). Despite the significant constraints the pandemic placed on our program delivery, our staff delivered 76,156 total service hours (a 68% decrease from 2019.)

And in 2020, 270 eligible girls and teens received $202,000 worth of additional program fee reductions to help parents who were no longer able to work.

The pandemic has allowed GIGSB the opportunity to evaluate its program delivery model and begin piloting new alternate delivery options, including virtual programming. It became more important than ever to meet girls where they are, whether that be at home, at school, or another physical space. Girls Inc. partnered with the United Way of Santa Barbara County to become a Learning Collaborative Site, providing a safe place with reliable technology infrastructure for girls and teens to go during the school day to access their remote learning programs and receive homework and technical assistance from Girls Inc. mentors and staff.

We are continually strengthening and developing community partnerships in fields such as science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM), literacy, behavioral health, and opportunities for cross programming with other community organizations. And we continue to work with these partners to serve girls in school and community settings. After 2020, GIGSB began a plan to invest in its technology infrastructure to better support staff who were no longer center-based and staff working remotely.