Advocacy
As the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, GSUSA is aware that we, as an organization, are the Voice for Girls in our communities, the media and policy-making institutions. Through the GSUSA Public Policy & Advocacy Office in Washington, D.C., Girl Scout members and volunteers can join the effort to raise more voices on behalf of girls and the challenges they face.
At the National Level
Girl Scouts of the USA's advocacy efforts help demonstrate to lawmakers that Girl Scouts is a resource and an authority on issues affecting girls. Based on almost 100 years of experience and developed from extensive research, the Girl Scout Public Policy and Advocacy Office:
- Encourages healthy living through combating relational aggression and promoting girl-positive media images;
- Promotes girls' involvement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM);
- Gives a voice to girls in underserved communities;
- Ensures girls feel emotionally and physically safe;
- Prevents youth violence in communities; and
- Develops financial literacy skills through programs like the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Program.
- Nationwide Survey Finds a Disconnect Between How Teenage Girls Portray Themselves Online and in Person - Read Full Story
- Girl Scout National President Weighs in at National Women's Conference - Read Full Story
- Entertainment, Policy and Community Leaders Address Impact of Media Images on Youth - Read Full Story
- GSUSA Partners with Justine to launch 2011 R.E.A.L. Girl Contest - Read Full Story
- President Obama Signs Girl Scout Commemorative Coin Act - Read Full Story
Public Policy and Advocacy
The Washington, D.C. Office of GSUSA
Girl Scouts of the USA first established a Public Policy and Advocacy office in 1952. Since that time, the organization has worked to build strong relationships with Members of Congress, as well as with officials at the White House and federal departments and agencies. Through our advocacy efforts, we inform and educate key representatives of the government's legislative and executive branches about issues important to girls and Girl Scouting and lobby for increased program resources.
We have established an important partnership in Congress with the Honorary Congressional Girl Scout Troop, Troop Capitol Hill, comprised of women Members of Congress. Members of Troop Capitol Hill have made a commitment to help Girl Scouts substantively address issues important to girls and Girl Scouting on a national level.
GSUSA's Partnership with Girl Scout Councils
The Public Policy and Advocacy office has been engaged in a major effort to inform members of Congress and administration officials of the successful and important work of local Girl Scout councils across the country. To that end, Girl Scouts of the USA established a grass-roots network, the Girl Scouts Advocacy Network. Through this network, the organization advances a national agenda that will benefit girls and Girl Scouting.
Public Policy and Advocacy staff members also provide Girl Scout councils and State Legislative Monitoring Program groups with consultative services on legislation and advocacy.
Join the Girl Scouts Advocacy Network
The Girl Scouts Advocacy Network provides a tool for you to become the voice for girls and to make a difference in your community and across the nation. Girl Scout members, volunteers, boards, staff and supporters can educate policymakers and community leaders on issues that directly affect girls and the Girl Scouts. By being an advocate, you will have an impact on girl policy issues that are moving through Congress and state legislatures. Sign up today at ww.girlscouts4girls.org and begin to take action. Through this network, you can use your voice and encourage your Members of Congress to support legislation that will directly impact girls and Girl Scouts.
Addressing Issues Concerning Girls
Our advocacy efforts help demonstrate to lawmakers that Girl Scouts is a resource and an authority on issues affecting girls. Based on almost 100 years of experience and developed from extensive research, the Girl Scout Public Policy and Advocacy Office:
- Encourages girls' healthy living through combating Relational Aggression and promoting girl-positive media images;
- Ensures girls feel emotionally and physically safe;
- Promotes girls' involvement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM);
- Develops financial literacy skills; and
- Gives a voice to girls in underserved communities.
We educate policymakers on these important issues affecting girls, using materials such as our policy priorities fact sheet (PDF) for the 111th Congress. In an effort to inform officials at the state and local levels, we have developed the state legislative agenda fact sheet (Word Doc).
Did You Know?
- The first Girl Scout handbook was published in 1913 and was entitled ~ How Girls Can Help Their Country.
- Congress chartered the Girl Scouts in March 1950.
- In Savannah, Georgia, in 1983, the second federal building named after a woman was declared the Juliette Gordon Low Federal Complex.
- Two-thirds of female members of Congress have been Girl Scouts.
- In 2001, the first Honorary Congressional Girl Scout Troop—Troop Capitol Hill—was convened and is currently comprised of all women members of Congress.
