Since 1996, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri has been working with girls of incarcerated mothers and grandmothers through the specialized Girl Scouts Beyond Bars (GSBB) multi-level troop program. The troop meets weekly to create a safe, stable and supportive network for girls. And, in order to address the stress a child endures when her mother or grandmother is incarcerated, counseling services are made available to all troop participants.
The troop experience allows these girls to participate in Girl Scout activities that build self-esteem and help girls foster healthy relationships with both their peers and adult volunteers. At least once a month the troop travels to the Women’s Correctional Facility in Vandalia, Mo. or the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Chillicothe, Mo., allowing incarcerated mothers and grandmothers to participate in troop meetings and complete leadership-building activities with their Girl Scout.
We accept referrals through our partnership with the correctional facility as well as from schools, Division of Family Services (DFS) and family members.
Girl Scouts Beyond Bars Program Goals
- Preserve the mother/daughter relationship
- Reduce the trauma of separation
- Minimize the girls' at-risk behaviors by modeling positive values through Girl Scouting
- Provide opportunities for the girls to have positive experiences with their mothers in the safe, supportive environment of a troop meeting
For more information on Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, please complete our interest form.
Funding for the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program is generously provided by:
- Cigna
- Graybar Foundation
- Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis
- Trio Foundation