Growing up can be tough, especially on girls, but ample preparation can make this journey through adolescence easier for moms and daughters. “If you equip teens and preteens with the knowledge they need to navigate the changes and challenges that lie ahead, they’ll emerge stronger, healthier, more confident young women,” said Dr. Jennifer Dietrich, Texas Children’s chief of pediatric and adolescent gynecology. Hosted by experts from Texas Children’s and Baylor College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Girls Elevated is an empowering, interactive one-day event that educates teens about their bodies and helps them cope with peer pressure and self-esteem issues that often occur during puberty. Girls between the ages of 10 and 18, and their mothers or caregivers, are invited to attend separate, age-appropriate sessions to hear from physicians, law enforcement and other experts on topics girls want and need to know about, from physical development to personal safety to healthy relationships and more. Topics for the girls will include:
- Puberty and menses
- Hygiene, skin care and physical wellness
- Social skills
- Self-esteem
- Personal safety
Topics for the adult caregivers will include:
- What’s “normal”
- HPV
- Promoting positive self-esteem
- Communicating with your teen
- Stress management
This year’s keynote speaker, Stacy Mosely, will deliver an inspirational talk about how she overcame shyness and bullying at school and how she has excelled in her rewarding career as senior associate director of Athletics at Rice University. Girls Elevated will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, at the United Way Community Resource Center at 50 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX, 77007. This year, organizers are expecting a crowd of 250 participants. Click here to register online for Girls Elevated 2016! The deadline to register is Friday, April 22.