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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			 
Monday, Nov. 23, 1998					   
Contact: Mark Weber (SAMHSA) (301) 443-8956

Commemorating the second anniversary of Girl Power! -- a national public education campaign sponsored by HHS to help encourage and empower 9- to 14-year-old girls to make the most of their lives -- HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today released the Girl Power! sports poster to stress the importance of physical activity and sports.

Two years ago, Secretary Shalala challenged caring adults to reach out to young girls at this transitional age when they are forming their values and attitudes. She encouraged adults to help young girls pursue opportunities to build skills and self-esteem through sports, academics, the arts, and other endeavors.

"Getting involved in sports such as basketball, tennis, and soccer builds self-confidence and self-esteem while also keeping young girls physically active," said Secretary Shalala. "These are vital skills and attitudes that will help girls throughout their adult lives."

Since 1996, the Girl Power! campaign has teamed up with 276 organizations and 59 national endorsers to promote the Girl Power! Message. The Girl Power! campaign has collaborated with the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. to develop materials for young girls and worked with Olympic gold medalist Dominque Dawes to produce public service announcements and posters on physical fitness and staying drug-free.

Additionally, HHS has funded Girl Neighborhood Power!, a five-year grant program designed to help communities develop innovative approaches to promote the positive development, health, and well- being of girls, as well as prevent teen pregnancy and the use of harmful substances.

The Girl Power! campaign takes a comprehensive approach, addressing not only a range of health issues but also the erosion of self-confidence, motivation, and opportunity that is all too typical for many girls during the transitional period of 9 to 14 years of age. Studies have shown that girls tend to lose self-confidence and self-worth during this pivotal age -- becoming less physically active, performing less well in school, and neglecting their own interests and aspirations.

It is during these years that girls become more vulnerable to negative outside influences and to mixed messages about risky behaviors. The Girl Power! campaign combines strong "no use" messages about tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs with emphasis on providing opportunities to build skills and self-confidence through many endeavors. The Girl Power! campaign also addresses related issues such as teen pregnancy prevention, physical activity, nutrition, and mental health.

The Girl Power! campaign combines the latest knowledge about girls' lives with messages and materials designed to be appealing to girls and to the adults who care about them. However, Girl Power! is also a product of the girls themselves. In the formative stages of the campaign, girls from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds shared their concerns and ideas with HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which formed the basis for the Girl Power! Campaign and its products. Girls continue to offer their input via the campaign web site.

To provide positive messages, accurate health information and support for girls and adults who care about them, the Girl Power! campaign offers many award-winning products. These include a campaign kit with helpful information for adults and community-based programs. For girls, the campaign provides fun and educational materials, such as posters, a diary, bookmarks, book covers, pins, and stickers. Girl Power! also has a highly successful and well-recognized web site (www.health.org/gpower) that has received more than five million hits since its launch. The web site provides a place where young girls can write about their concerns, find ideas for new activities, and get information.

In the coming year, Girl Power! will introduce exciting new products. A Community Action Kit will provide resources for local Girl Power! programs and offer activity guides for girls that are being created in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. A pocket-sized address book/resource guide will also be available soon. In addition, "Bodywise," a new section on the Girl Power! web site, will be launched to help young girls find out about nutrition and eating disorders.

Individuals and organizations interested in participating in the campaign, or who would like to order the new sports poster and other materials can call SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 1-800-729-6686 (TDD 1-800-487-4889) or visit the World Wide Web at www.health.org/gpower