Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida and the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County will co-host a free community workshop on Thursday, October 16, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach. The event aims to share findings from the State of the Florida Girl report, a comprehensive study examining the critical challenges confronting girls across the state.
The workshop will feature a keynote presentation by Elle Harrigan, Chief Advancement Officer for Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, followed by a panel discussion. Panelists include Karen Brill, Chair of the Palm Beach County School Board; Annie McGrath, League member, educator and Miss South Florida Fair 2025; and a Girl Scout from Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. The report addresses key areas such as mental and social wellness, physical health and academic performance, highlighting the importance of equipping girls with resources and opportunities to thrive.
Key findings from the State of the Florida Girl Report include: 52% of high school girls in Florida report feeling sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row, reflecting a 40% increase in depression over the past decade. Additionally, 1 in 4 girls seriously considered attempting suicide, showing a troubling rise of more than 60% in the last 10 years. Regarding academic performance, 1 in 8 girls miss school due to feeling unsafe, with girls 1.5 times more likely than boys to stay home after experiencing bullying. Twice as many girls as boys are victims of cyberbullying, illustrating significant online safety challenges. On physical health, 36% of girls believe they are overweight, despite only 32% meeting the medical definition of being overweight or obese, indicating widespread body image issues. Poor body image is most pronounced among Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI) girls, among whom 32% describe themselves as overweight, even though only 14% meet medical criteria.
“These findings reveal the critical need for action, open dialogue and collaborative problem-solving,” said Elle Harrigan, Chief Advancement Officer of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. “Our girls are navigating pressures that impact their mental health, academic success and physical confidence. This workshop will bring our community together to talk about real solutions that can change the trajectory for girls across Florida.”
The workshop is free and open to the public. To learn more and register, visit http://bit.ly/474fewC.
