Powerful Voices | Programs | Strength Through All-Girl Education and Support (STAGES)

Strength Through All-Girl Education and Support (STAGES)

STAGES is youth development program for 14-18 year old girls, serves approximately 235 participants in or at great risk of entering the juvenile justice system each year. In STAGES we operate four components throughout the community as described below. Girls in our STAGES program are typically wise beyond their years and have tremendous survival skills. Participants are mostly high school age. Our girls are diverse- the majority of STAGES youth identify themselves as African American or multi ethnic. Household incomes are typically low to moderate and many of our girls reside in the Seattle’s Central Area, Rainer Valley, Beacon Hill, Skyway and South Park. In detention, we work with hundreds of girls residing in Tukwila, Des Moines, Renton, Auburn and throughout the County. Additionally, STAGES girls:

In-Detention Health and Wellness Groups & One-on-One Referral Support Services
We offer integrated health workshops each week year-round. We work with several community partners to co-facilitate workshops and for effective referrals including: KC Juvenile Detention, Superior Court, TeamChild, BABES Network, YouthCare, Seattle Mental Health, KC Public Health, Harborview Center for Sexual Assault & Traumatic Stress, Rise and Shine, Seattle Team for Youth, and Solid Ground JustServe AmeriCorps. These workshops provide a space for 10-14 girls to voluntarily gather while incarcerated. Subjects include:

One-on-one referral support services are offered weekly for up to three girls we meet in the workshops. Each participates in an assessment and receives motivational support to identify challenges and support positive decision-making linked to a plan and community resources. Referral support services include resources for housing, legal, youth advocacy, employment and family mediation.

Alder & Sartori CHANGE (Community, History, & Action Networking Girls to Elevate) Groups
CHANGE is a weekly girls group that operates during the school year and serves as a diversion program through Superior Courts. In the community sites we work with up to 26 girls at risk of school drop-out or incarceration. Girls participate in health and wellness workshops and participate in monthly community service projects. CHANGE is offered at Sartori Education Center, an “alternative” school in Renton, and on-site tutoring at Powerful Voices.

Case Management/Youth Advocacyoperates in partnership with Seattle Team For Youth (STFY). Our Case Manager/Youth Advocate works with up to 35 girls, ages 11 to 21 years old, with the focus on 8th, 9th and 10th graders, struggling with complex issues and academic underachievement. Referrals come from STAGES in-detention staff, CHANGE staff, directly from school personnel, Superior Courts, self referrals, family members, other community partners and STFY. Outcomes are related to academic achievement. Our combined one-on-one and girls support group approach emphasizes elements of motivational interviewing and is asset-based.

Seven-week Summer Youth Employment Program DYVAS (Develop Your Voice & Speak)
Through a partnership with Seattle Youth Employment Program we serve up to 13 girls—primarily those who reside within the city limits—but also girls who reside in greater King County youth. Our employment program encourages self expression, activism and the value of using one’s voice to communicate ideas and opinions as well as concrete employment skills such as workplace expectations, creation of résumés and cover letters. As part of our holistic approach to supporting participants, each girl will also receive on-going case advocacy both during the summer and beyond the completion of the program. Participants receive a stipend up to $900 as well as academic credit toward high school graduation (coordinated with the Seattle Public School District).