The Girls Empowered to Move Successfully (GEMS) program was developed to help meet the needs of the female juvenile population. Studies show that females are rapidly entering the juvenile justice system. GEMS seeks to address the factors that contribute to the increase in crime among females. Some of the more common risk factors for this population are poverty, low academic performance, teenage pregnancy, and single-parent homes. To address these issues, the GEMS program pairs females enrolled in our school-based programs with a positive female adult role model who builds a relationship with the girl and offers guidance on how to become a responsible, productive citizen of her community.
