About Pace center for girls
Pace Center for Girls: Empowering Young Women to Succeed
Pace Center for Girls is a non-profit organization that provides free year-round middle school and high school academics, case management, counseling, and life skills development in a trauma-informed and gender-responsive environment. The organization was founded in 1985 by Vicki Burke with the aim of helping young women who are at risk of dropping out of school due to various challenges such as poverty, abuse, neglect, or family issues.
Over the years, Pace has grown to become one of the most successful programs for girls in Florida. The organization has served over 40,000 girls since its inception and has expanded its services to include 21 centers across the state. Pace's mission is to empower young women to succeed by providing them with the tools they need to overcome their challenges and achieve their full potential.
At Pace Center for Girls, every girl is treated as an individual with unique needs and strengths. The program is designed to address each girl's academic needs while also providing her with emotional support and life skills training. The curriculum includes core subjects such as math, science, English language arts (ELA), social studies/history as well as elective courses such as art therapy or music therapy.
In addition to academics, Pace offers case management services that help girls navigate through various systems such as juvenile justice or child welfare. Case managers work closely with each girl's family members or caregivers to ensure that she receives all necessary support both inside and outside of school.
Counseling services are also an integral part of Pace's program. Licensed therapists provide individual counseling sessions where girls can talk about their feelings in a safe space without fear of judgment or stigma. Group counseling sessions are also available where girls can connect with other peers who may be going through similar experiences.
Life skills development is another key component of Pace's program. Girls learn practical skills such as financial literacy, job readiness training or healthy relationship building which will help them succeed not only academically but also in their personal lives.
One unique aspect of Pace Center for Girls' approach is its trauma-informed care model which recognizes that many young women have experienced traumatic events that may impact their behavior or academic performance. Trauma-informed care means creating a safe environment where girls feel supported rather than judged; it means understanding how trauma affects brain development; it means using evidence-based practices that promote healing rather than re-traumatization.
Another important aspect of Pace's approach is its gender-responsive model which recognizes that young women have different needs than young men when it comes to education and support services. For example, research shows that many girls struggle academically due to social pressures related to body image or self-esteem issues; therefore addressing these issues through counseling can improve academic outcomes.
Pace Center for Girls' success rate speaks volumes about the effectiveness of its approach: over 90% percent of graduates go on either enroll in college/university programs after graduation from high school while others enter vocational training programs leading directly into employment opportunities within local communities across Florida State
In conclusion,Pace Center for Girls provides an invaluable service by empowering young women who face significant challenges on their path towards success.Pace’s holistic approach addresses not only academic but emotional needs too.Their focus on trauma-informed care & gender-responsive model makes them stand out from other organizations working towards similar goals.Pace’s commitment towards empowering these vulnerable groups deserves recognition & support from all quarters!