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Facility Highlight - Desoto

The Desoto Dual Diagnosed Correctional Facility is a Department of Juvenile Justice high and moderate risk treatment facility located in Arcadia, Florida. In February of 2009, after taking the Girl Matters™ Training of Trainers course, they committed to creating a gender responsive culture for their girls. Below are some of the photos and highlights of the great work they're doing.

Desoto Girl Matters

1 & 2 September 2009 – We remolded the female visitation room. Initially this visitation room was white and sterile. Female youth took part in painting the visitation room a warm peach color and adding positive female role models/positive female quotes.

3 & 4 November 2009 - We received a visit from Assistant Secretary Mr. Olsen on November 18,2009. We discussed the recent improvements in programming with him. We also had a “Girl Matters” presentation where the girls were able to participate in step dance/ praise dance, and presentation of positive female role models.

5 & 6 October 2009 - A team of seventeen girls painted the sidewalk to two of the female units . Paintings on the sidewalk included “Girl Matters” programming blocks. Youth are able to learn and review programming blocks as they walk to and from their units.

7 July 2010 - We held a dedication celebration for the Clara Barton unit. Local members of the Desoto County Red Cross came to the celebration and spoke about her historical accomplishments. Young ladies from the Clara Barton Unit said the pledge of allegiance, and sang the national anthem. The winning essay about Clara Barton was read along with poems honoring Clara Barton written by the young ladies on that unit.

8 June 2010- We are continuing to work on the large painting project of “Girl Matters” and “Girl Circle” programming blocks on the sidewalk to the female units. Female youth also participated in completing life sized paintings of Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey in honor of the units being re-named.

The photos/captions are but a small portion of what Desoto has been doing. If you'd like more information on how they've embraced gender responvive programming and Girl Matters™, please send us an email. Our thanks to Vanessa Wicker at Desoto for sharing the successes of their program.