Voices: A Program of Self-Discovery and Empowerment for Girls

Females 12 - 24 years old with substance abuse and/or trauma

For children/adolescents ages: 12 - 24

Voices: A Program of Self-Discovery and Empowerment for Girls addresses the unique needs of adolescent girls and young women. This is the girls’ version of the Helping Women Recover curricula, which is highlighted on the CEBC as part of a combined intervention, Helping Women Recover & Beyond Trauma. The program includes modules on self, connecting with others, healthy living, and the journey ahead. Revised in 2017, the new topics include and bullying, the pressures of social media, early puberty, gender exploration, human sex trafficking, and binge drinking. Texting, social media, and online or “in real life” (IRL) friends also new additions. It was originally designed for those struggling with substance misuse and experiences of trauma and can be used in many settings (e.g., outpatient and residential substance use disorder treatment, schools, juvenile justice, and private practice).

The facilitator’s guide includes background information about young women, gender-responsive principles, and the theoretical foundation of the program. It provides information about conducting the eighteen group sessions that are the core of the program (the structure and content for each topic and activity), as well as a program overview and lists of materials needed for the sessions. The program materials also can be used to train staff members in working with girls.

The participant’s journal utilizes an established process called Interactive Journaling®. In the context of girls’ lives, structured journaling provides an outlet for creativity, personal expression, exploration, and application of new concepts and skills.

Stephanie S. Covington, PhD, LCSW

• Agency/Affiliation: Covington Training Institute and Center for Gender and Justice
• Website: www.stephaniecovington.com/training/trainings-and-workshops/
• Email: sc@stephaniecovington.com
• Phone: (858) 454-8528

The goals of Voices: A Program of Self-Discovery and Empowerment for Girls are:

• Decrease in substance use disorders
• Decrease in depression
• Decrease in trauma symptoms
• Decrease posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Increase in self-efficacy
• Stabilize recovery
• Increase in prevention of substance use

The essential components of Voices: A Program of Self-Discovery and Empowerment for Girls include:

• As a group intervention, it can have 6-12 girls per group with one facilitator and consists of four modules with specific topic areas for each of the 18 sessions. It can also be used in individual work.
• Module A - Self (5 sessions with a total of 30 activities):
• Session 1: Who Am I?
• Session 2: My Life Story
• Session 3: Breaking the Silence
• Session 4: The World Girls Live In
• Session 5: Support and Inspiration
• Module B - Connecting with Others (7 sessions with a total of 40 activities):
• Session 6: Communication
• Session 7: My Family
• Session 8: Mothers and Daughters
• Session 9: Friendship
• Session 10: Dating and Sexuality
• Session 11: Supportive Relationships
• Session 12: Abusive Relationships
• Module C - Healthy Living [Body, Mind and Spirit] (4 sessions with a total of 28 activities):
• Session 13: Our Bodies
• Session 14: Emotional Wellness
• Session 15: Alcohol and Other Drugs
• Session 16: Spirituality
• Module D - The Journey Ahead (2 sessions with a total of 9 activities):
• Session 17: Crossroads
• Session 18: Packing for My Journey

Child/Adolescent Services

Voices: A Program of Self-Discovery and Empowerment for Girls directly provides services to children and addresses the following:

• Female 12-24 years old who may have experienced substance misuse and/or trauma as a result of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; physical neglect, or exposure to domestic violence

Recommended Intensity

One or two 90-minute sessions per week

Recommended Duration

18 sessions - approximately 2-5 months

Delivery Settings

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Community-based Agency / Organization / Provider
• Group or Residential Care
• Justice Setting (Juvenile Detention, Jail, Prison, Courtroom, etc.)
• Other
• Outpatient Clinic
• School Setting (Including: Day Care, Day Treatment Programs, etc.)

Homework

Girls have a journal to process their group experience and practice skills.

Languages

Voices: A Program of Self-Discovery and Empowerment for Girls has materials available in the following languages other than English:

• Portuguese
• Spanish

For information on which materials are available in this language, please check on the program's website or contact the program representative (contact information is listed in this page).

Resources Needed to Run Program

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

• Facilitator's guide
• Flip chart
• Journals
• Room with chairs in a circle
• A group facilitator
• Art supplies

Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications

Counselor with experience in the field and with group work or a college graduate

Manual Information

There is a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Program Manual(s)

Manual information:

• Covington. S., Covington, K., & Covington, M. (2017). Voices: A program of self-discovery and empowerment for girls (2nd ed.). Change Companies.

The facilitator guides and journals can be purchased online, please contact kim@stephaniecovington.com or go to www.stephaniecovington.com and select “Bookstore.”

Training Information

There is training available for this program.

Training Contact

Training Type/Location:

Training can be provided onsite or virtually. There are also trainings available at various sites in California and other parts of the U.S.

For more information see, www.stephaniecovington.com and www.centerforgenderandjustice.org.

Number of days/hours:

Generally, 2 days onsite or 4 days (4 hours per day) virtually

• There are currently no published, peer-reviewed research studies on outcomes with the appropriate target population for the topic area(s) in which Voices: A Program of Self-Discovery and Empowerment for Girls has been reviewed.

• Covington, S. (2012). Curricula to support trauma-informed practice with women. In N. Poole, & L. Greaves (Eds). Becoming trauma informed. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

• Covington, S. (2004, October/November). Self-discovery and empowerment: The Voices program for girls. Women, Girls & Criminal Justice, 5(6), 71–79. Article available here.

• Covington, S. (2005, December/January). The Voices program for girls: Theoretical foundations and program overview. Women, Girls & Criminal Justice, 6(1), 3–11. Article available here.