Flourish Initiative for Mental and Behavioral Health

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois is an advocate for mental health for girls, women, and communities. We collaborate with experts in the field of mental/behavioral health to access high-quality resources and align with best practices. Positive mental health encourages girls to fully embrace our mission and grow into their leadership potential. Our goal is for all members (girls, volunteers, alumnae, and staff) to embrace mental health wellness.

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois is proud to introduce our “Flourish” initiative, part of an ongoing strategy to embrace positive mental and behavioral health.

This strategic initiative is designed to fully embrace and enhance Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois’s mission and vision:

Mission

Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Vision

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois will be every girl’s first choice for developing her own leadership potential through meaningful opportunities and relationships.

3 Critical Ways GSNI Approaches Mental and Behavioral Health

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Awareness & Education

What it means to us:

Members understand basic mental health wellness concepts, and basic signs of mental health challenges and disorders.

Members know that mental health is a priority for our communities.

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Positive Practices & Healthy Habits

What it means to us:

Members participate in mental health wellness practices - both individually and through their participation in Girl Scouts.

This includes (but is not limited to) healthy living and healthy relationships programming.

Girls are achieving outcomes:

Strong Sense of Self
Positive Values
Challenge Seeking
Healthy Relationships
Community Problem-Solving

Self-care practices to do alone or in a group:

Gratitude journal
Singing
Playing an instrument
Art
Crafts
Meditation
Yoga
Faith practices
Walking / hiking
Time outdoors
Talking with a friend
Cooking / baking
Theater / acting
Dance
Writing

Seeking support for grief provided by the National Council on Mental Wellness:

Three Ways to Process Grief – please link to: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2022/11/three-ways-to-process-grief/

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Response & Support

What it means to us:

Guidelines, resources, and procedures are in place for staff and volunteers to follow in the event that mental health concerns require action/response.

Members know where to connect to professional resources and support in their local community.

In Girl Scouts, all girls feel safe, welcome, and supported.

Flourish Resources

Flourish resources are designed to support:

Girls in grades K-12
GSNI volunteers
GSNI staff
Girl Scout alumnae
The Northern Illinois community at-large

CLICK to download 1-page summary of the Flourish Initiative.

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A variety of badges and Journey activities are designed to help girls Flourish!

Check out these options in the VTK:

Daisy
- Courageous and Strong petal
- Responsible for What I Say and Do petal
- Respect Myself and Others petal
Brownie
- Making Friends badge
- My Best Self badge
- My Great Day badge
Junior
- Independence badge
- Staying Fit badge
Cadette
- Eating for You badge
- Science of Happiness badge
Senior
- Women’s Health badge
Ambassador
- College Knowledge badge

Check out available episodes of G-TV! What is G-TV you ask? This new online show for middle and high school girls is run by a group of Girl Scouts called the G-Team. Each episode features special looks at key issues for girls and interviews with accomplished Girl Scout alums.

Episode 1: A Community of Girls

Segment: State of Mind—Mental Health
Find a troop discussion guide linked in the video description.

Episode 3: Finding Your Rhythm

Segment: Find Your Rhythm to Reduce Stress
Find a troop discussion guide linked in the video description.

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“Raising Awesome Girls” Articles:

Girls Are Having a Mental Health Crisis—Some Solutions, Though, Are Simple

One More Time for the Folks in the Back: Jokes About Her Body Are Not OK

Parents? You're Doing Some Heroic Work Right Now

Is She Addicted to Her Phone?

National Council on Mental Wellness Articles & Posters:

How and Why to Practice Self-care – please link to: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2022/03/how-and-why-to-practice-self-care/

Three Ways to Get Mental Health Help Anonymously Article and Graphic - please link to: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2019/08/three-ways-to-get-mental-health-help-anonymously/

Being Grateful Can Improve Your Mental Health Article- please link to: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2019/11/being-grateful-can-improve-your-mental-health/

Five Tips to Help Teens Cope with Stress Article & Graphic - please link to: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2019/06/five-tips-to-help-teens-cope-with-stress/

Three Ways to Process Grief Article - please link to: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2022/11/three-ways-to-process-grief/

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Trainings Available On-Demand:

Self-Care & Mental Health

By Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas
13 minute video training, Free
Published: May 12, 2020

Busy Brain Cure

By Girl Scouts of Citrus, featuring Dr. Romie
1 hour webinar training, Free
Published: April 20, 2020

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Youth Mental Health First Aid Training for GSNI adult volunteers

Supporting Girl Scouts is rewarding, but it can present challenges that are difficult to help our youth navigate. When you use the skills you’ll learn in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), you will become the first line of support for a child or youth in need. You’ll recognize subtle warning signs and be there to help youth feel less distressed, and you may become a vital resource in helping to seek further assistance.

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois (GSNI) offers the Youth Mental Health First Aid training . All participants that fulfill the training requirements earn their 3-year YMHFA certification as a First Aider. If interested in learning more or requesting a training to be held, please contact customercare@girlscoutsni.org.

Youth Mental Health First Aider List of Resources: download a 2-sided document listing regional and national organizations that provide mental health guidance and support.

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As part of GSNI’s “Flourish” initiative and our commitment to mental/behavioral health for our community, we are partnering with Family Counseling Services to provide monthly enrichment webinars for volunteers and parents on a variety of topics.

Topics:
All About Anxiety
Understanding Depression
The Breakdown on Bullying
Self - Harm & Suicide
Childhood Trauma & Abuse

These recorded webinars can be found by Leaders in gsLearn under the 415 Flourish Learning Path to go towards their training records.

Troops and Parents can find the webinars here.

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GSNI has preferred partners that provide troops with opportunities to support wellness. Our partners offer flexible scheduling, and you can contact them directly to schedule.

Own Your Spots- Modaff and Miff (Grades K-5)

Contact: Deepali Punwani

630-803-8458- email-deepalipunwani@yahoo.com

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Life isn’t always easy, but dealing with tricky emotions doesn’t have to be so hard. Try activities from the Girl Scouts: Resilient. Ready. Strong. program to unlock a patch and strengthen your mental wellness. Nobody can snap their fingers and make the world all sunshine and lollipops, but you can take steps to be ready when things get tough. Go get ‘em, Girl Scout!

Support is available for the Resilent.Ready.Strong patch program for volunteers in gsLearn under the content library. Search for GSUSA Resilient. Ready. Strong. Patch in the search bar.

You can find all the activites to complete in the activity guide. Patches are available for purchase through the GSUSA Store.

Activity Guide

This webpage will be updated as additional resources become available.

Council Finder

Mental Health Awareness

Flourish Initiative for Mental and Behavioral Health

3 Critical Ways GSNI Approaches Mental and Behavioral Health

Positive Practices & Healthy Habits

Flourish Resources

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training for GSNI adult volunteers