The report spotlights critical challenges and urgent needs for girls across the state
In an unprecedented effort to amplify the voices of Florida girls, Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida unveiled the State of the Florida Girl Report commissioned by the Girl Scouts of Florida Association, a groundbreaking assessment of the unique challenges facing girls across the state.
The report was addressed during a community gathering in Broward County, led by Lisa Johnson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, who provided an overview of the findings and how the Girl Scout programs positively impact girls. Joining Johnson were Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida members Karina Nicole Torres Figueroa, a senior at Cypress Bay High School, and Gabriella Daise, a freshman at Archbishop McCarthy High School, who shared their personal experiences within the organization and how the report resonated with them.
Highlighting critical issues across key pillars – mental wellness, social wellness, physical health, and academic performance – the report underscores the urgent need to provide girls with the resources and support they require to thrive.
United Way of Broward County President and CEO Kathleen Cannon, Girl Scout Sadie Suarez, Gabriella Daise, Karina Nicole Torres Figueroa, Lisa Johnson, Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County Co-CEO Chris Gentile
The State of the Florida Girl Report spotlights several key areas:
Emotional Wellness:
● 52% of high school girls 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.
Academic Performance:
● 1 in 8 girls miss school due to feeling unsafe, with girls being 1.5 times more likely than boys to stay home after experiencing bullying. Further, twice as many girls as boys are victims of cyberbullying, illustrating the significant online safety challenges girls face.
Physical Health:
● 36% of girls believe they are overweight, despite only 32% meeting the medical definition of being overweight or obese, indicating a widespread issue with body image. Additionally, 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 for this term.
The report also addresses other critical challenges facing Florida’s girls, including the impact of violence, access to health insurance, and rising homelessness among youth.
“The Florida Girl Report brings to light some startling realities about the circumstances impacting the daily wellbeing of girls in Florida,” said Lisa Johnson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. “As Girl Scouts, we have a responsibility to use what we have learned and focus our resources to change the narrative for girls and equip them with opportunities and experiences they deserve to grow into successful, healthy, well-adjusted young women ready to lead life with confidence.”
Kimberly Kisslan, Jasmen Rogers, Rhoda Mae Kerr, Lisa Wulf
Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida provides programs tailored to these needs, offering a safe and supportive environment for every girl while addressing these specific issues effectively. The programming is designed to support girls at every stage of their journey. For younger girls in the Daisy (K-1st grade) and Brownie (2nd-3rd grade) levels, the focus is on building foundational skills. As girls progress to the Junior (4th-5th grade) and Cadette (6th-8th grade) levels, they take on more leadership roles and engage in community service. Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts (9th-12th grade) participate in advanced challenges that foster leadership, resilience, and problem-solving skills. These programs are thoughtfully designed to cultivate confidence, independence, and social responsibility at each developmental stage.
Using primary data sources, including the U.S. Census, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Florida Department of Education, the report disaggregates data by sex to understand variances between girls and boys. It also incorporates insights from experts at leading institutions across Florida, including the University of Florida, Florida A&M University, University of South Florida, Miami Dade College, University of Miami, Saint Leo University, Florida International University, Florida Polytechnic University, Jacksonville University, the University of Tampa, and Lynn University, which enriched the report’s findings.
For more information on the State of the Florida Girl Report and how to support this initiative, visit floridagirlscouts.org.
About Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida
We are the preeminent leadership development organization for girls who believe that every girl can be a go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, and leader with the power to change the world. More than any other organization in our community, Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida empowers girls ages 5 to 17 with vision and voice—girls who command their future, engage their communities, and inspire others. We offer every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida serves more than 6,900 girls in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties. To explore opportunities to volunteer or partner with Girl Scouts, call 561-427-0177 or visit www.gssef.org.
About Girl Scouts of Florida Association
The Girl Scouts of Florida Association represents six individual Girl Scout councils serving girls in every zip code across the state. Together, we empower 40,000 girls annually through dynamic, girl-focused programming supported by dedicated volunteers, donors, and community partners. While each council operates as an independent 501(c)(3) organization, our unified efforts drive advocacy, marketing, and fundraising initiatives that champion the needs of all Florida girls. By working collectively, we strive to build communities where every girl has the opportunity to grow, lead, and thrive.
