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SensitveIssues

Sensitive Issues

Statement on Diversity & Inclusion

Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes is proud to be part of an organization that has a 100 year + history of being welcoming and inclusive. Our policies of inclusion align with those of our national organization, Girl Scouts of the USA. We value diversity and inclusivity and do not discriminate or recruit on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, national origin, or physical or developmental disability. Through our programming, called the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, girls develop skills to advance diversity and promote tolerance in the twenty-first century.

Statement on Gender Identity and Transgender Youth

The safety and support of all of our girls is a top priority. Inclusion of transgender girls is handled at a council level on a case-by-case basis, with the welfare and best interests of all members as a top priority. If a girl is recognized by family, school, and community as a girl and lives culturally as a girl, then Girl Scouts is an organization that can serve her in a setting that is both emotionally and physically safe.

Statement on Reproductive Health Issues

Girl Scouts of the USA and Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes do not have a relationship or partnership with Planned Parenthood or similar organizations. Girl Scouts is a non-profit, non-political organization and we do not take positions on such topics as reproductive rights or establish partnerships with organizations that might be controversial to our diverse member base. Girl Scouts of the USA and Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes do not advocate one way or another with regard to what we perceive as personal and private issues best handled by families. We believe discussions regarding sexuality, sexual health, and reproductive rights should be between a girl and her caregiver. We do not take a position or develop materials on these issues. We feel our role is to help girls develop self-confidence and good decision-making skills that will help them make wise choices in all areas of their lives.

Parents or guardians make all decisions regarding participation in programs that might be considered of a sensitive nature. Consistent with that belief, our Council directs volunteer leaders, to get written parental permission for any locally planned program that could be considered sensitive.

Statement on Girl Scouts and Politics

Girl Scouts is a nonpolitical, nonpartisan organization. We have girls in every zip code representing every political, religious, economic, and ethnic background. And the reason we have been able to serve 59 million girls over the past 100 + years is because we have stayed true to our core beliefs and values and not taken a stand on political issues. The mission of Girl Scouts of the USA is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. This is not political.

Statement on LGBT youth and volunteers

Girl Scouts of the USA and Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes do not discriminate against LGBT youth or volunteers. We are a welcoming and inclusive organization. We value diversity and inclusivity and do not discriminate or recruit on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, national origin, or physical or developmental disability. The safety of our members is always a priority. All volunteers must pass a careful screening process which includes interviews and a criminal background check.

Statement on Girl Scouts and Faith

Girl Scouts encourages girls to develop connections to their own spiritual and religious beliefs by earning recognitions offered by their faith-based communities and by earning the My Promise, My Faith pin, which helps a girl deepen the connection between the Girl Scout Law and her faith. We support the right of faith leaders to verify that the program delivered to girls in their places of worship is consistent with their faith’s teachings.

Girl Scouts supports girls from all backgrounds and beliefs. We believe that the motivating force in Girl Scouting can be a spiritual one, and we greatly value our longstanding partnerships with religious organizations across many faiths that share the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

Statement on Girl Scouts and Alcohol

Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes has an obligation to its girl members and their families/guardians, volunteers, and staff to maintain a drug-free and alcohol-free environment. We prohibit the use of alcohol or being under the influence of alcohol when carrying out a Girl Scout program or an event where girls are the primary attendees. Alcohol may be served at primarily adult fundraising/donor events or gatherings because it is more geared towards raising the visibility of Girl Scouts from a financial perspective and getting sponsors/donors to support the organization financially. Participation by girls at a fundraising event with the possibility of alcohol consumption by adults must be for the parents to decide. We as a council will make sure all events with alcohol have a proper disclosure. When considering the environments, you place your children in, we ask that all parents recognize that alcohol is the most widely misused substance among America’s youth. Consumption of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21, also known as underage drinking, remains a considerable public health challenge. Adolescent alcohol use is a serious threat to their development and health.