The purpose of the work groups is to fulfill goals and objectives set forth by
the strategic plan in the areas of advocacy, research, public awareness, and programs,
projects, and products. Each work group is led by a member of the Steering Committee
and is responsible for developing and maintaining a yearly budget for all activities.
The goals of this group are to advocate for all girls through statewide, systemic
policy change and empower girls to advocate for themselves. These goals will be
accomplished by identifying, screening, analyzing, prioritizing, endorsing or opposing
proposed legislation; by writing bills and lobbying policy makers to get girl–positive
legislation passed; and by coordinating and promoting girls identifying their priorities.
The Colorado Coalition for Girls, through our Advocacy Work Group, is a part of the Women and Family
Action Network (WFAN), a legislative and advocacy group convened by the Women's Foundation of Colorado,
which works to create and support policies relating to economic self-sufficiency for women and girls.
The Research Work Group is responsible for conducting, expanding and disseminating
research on the status of girls in Colorado. This group will use existing data and
update some existing statistics as well as conduct its own research in order to inform
members about existing opportunities, determine where programs for girls are needed, and
inform the work of the Advocacy Group.
The main goal of this work group is to provide network opportunities for Coalition
members. This group is responsible for creating a resource guide of direct service
organizations, and coordinating and promoting professional trainings for Coalition
members. In the future, this group will develop an internship program for girls in the
state of Colorado and will be responsible for resource–sharing events.
Increasing awareness of issues affecting all girls and creating change in the
cultural perception about girls' rights and responsibilities is the scope of work for
this group. These goals will be accomplished through a media campaign and "Social Norms
Campaign."
The main goal of the Girls in the Juvenile Justice System (GJJS) working group is to
address the needs of girls and identify gender specific services and programs that effectively
work with girls at–risk or are involved in the juvenile justice system. The working group
will accomplish this through increasing public awareness, determining what works and what
promising programs that directly effect girls are and increasing and improving the access
to these services and programs.
Lisa Pasko, PhD., Girls in Juvenile Justice Work Group Chair University of Denver
