Girl Scouts- Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas

Project Name:  "Breast Health Education for Arkansas Diamonds"

Type of Grant:  Education 

Grant Amount:  $7,289

Project Director: Mindy Baird

Address:
615 West 29th Street
North Little Rock, AR 72114

Phone: (501) 758-1020

Email: mbaird@girlscoutsdiamonds.org

Target Population:  Girl Scouts ages 5-17 and Girl Scout adult volunteers

Counties Served: Entire Affiliate Service Area

ACCORDING TO THE ARKANSAS AFFILIATE’S COMMUNITY PROFILE, COST AND LACK OF AWARENESS ARE MAJOR BARRIERS PREVENTING MANY ARKANSAS WOMEN FROM GETTING SCREENED FOR BREAST CANCER. MANY WOMEN DO NOT REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAST CANCER SCREENING AND/OR ARE UNAWARE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM RESOURCES LIKE BREASTCARE. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT EVEN PRETEENS AND TEENS CAN INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF BREAST HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING THE IMPORTANCE OF SCREENING, THROUGH EDUCATION. INFORMATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAST CANCER SCREENING WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE AREA TO ADULT VOLUNTEERS THROUGH PRESENTATIONS BY HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, NEWSLETTERS, AND KOMEN EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. GIRL SCOUTS STAFF WILL COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS IN NFMS (NO FIXED MAMMOGRAPHY SERVICES) COUNTIES TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS IN THESE AREAS. GIRLS IN GRADES 6-12 WILL PLAN AND IMPLEMENT THEIR OWN BREAST HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS THROUGH "IN THE PINK," AN EXCITING PATCH PROGRAM. A PORTION OF THESE GIRLS WILL BE UNDERSERVED AND SPECIFICALLY TARGETED FOR "IN THE PINK" PARTICIPATION. YOUNGER GIRLS WILL LEARN ABOUT HEALTHY BEHAVIORS LIKE EXERCISE THAT MAY HELP PREVENT BREAST CANCER.