Courage. Confidence. Character. These traits are at the core of the mission of the Girl Scouts, and what the organization hopes to build in each young girl who participates in their programs. Developing these characteristics happens to also be integral to helping young girls in foster care at Hephzibah Home overcome the immense difficulties they face while processing the trauma they have experienced.
Community Relationship Manager of the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, Irene Crea, experienced a similar revelation in her work with the Girl Scouts after learning about local girls in foster care encountering a lack of access to activities that are pivotal to childhood. Joining a local peer troop of children has long been a tradition that has helped kids cultivate a sense of belonging and self-esteem vital for development. Irene recognized that girls in foster care do not get to experience the joy of Girl Scouts, a passion of hers since she was a child, because being part of a troop has always been tied to a child’s permanent home.
That is exactly what children in foster care don’t have—a stable place to call home which prevents them from participating in community activities that other children can access. Irene was familiar with Hephzibah Home, and after learning that a troop was formed in another area residential treatment program for kids, she knew Hephzibah Home needed a troop too. So she did what any dedicated Girl Scout Troop Leader does—she took the reins and made it happen.
Instead of starting a troop that depended on geography, Irene created a troop that depended on the life of the girls, particularly foster girls in transition living at Hephzibah Home. Irene wanted to start a troop that focused on what would benefit Hephzibah Home foster girls in particular, without making them feel excluded or transitional, even when their lives are in flux. Girl Scout Troop 409 is led by a team of local volunteers as diverse as the girls in the troop. Troop Leaders Ashley, Megan, Cheryl and Marcia design all activities around the girls as they come and go from the program. The troop meets monthly at Hephzibah Home and the girls participate in fun activities, go on field trips, earn patches and are even involved in cookie sales—just like other troops! The troop leaders always have extra sashes on hand for new members that enter the home at a moment’s notice. Making each child feel a part of a stable group is paramount to these leaders, and their dedication to the troop and its mission is unmatched.
According to Irene, it is vital for girls in foster care to not only have access to childhood activities that other children in more traditional families have, but also to benefit from the important life lessons learned in scout experiences. Embedded in each activity is a lesson in empathy, kindness and community-building. The gift that these troop leaders are giving to area girls in foster care is priceless, and they are making the world a better place one girl at a time.