A set of gender-responsive prevention and early intervention programs and services for girls with multiple risk factors for juvenile justice system involvement, which uses a holistic approach to re-engage girls with learning, improve academic performance, and address the underlying trauma that contributes to female delinquency.
Pace Center for Girls (Pace) encompasses a set of gender-responsive prevention and early intervention programs and services for girls with multiple risk factors for juvenile justice system involvement including academic failure, chronic truancy, and dropping out of school. Pace uses a balanced, holistic approach to re-engage girls with learning, improve academic performance, and to address the underlying trauma that contributes to female delinquency. The Pace model provides the full academic school day and social service interventions in a safe, trauma-informed, strengths-based environment that reflects an understanding of the lives of girls and responds to their unique needs and challenges.
During a typical day at Pace, girls attend daily core academic classes, including language arts, math, social studies, life skills, and science. Every other week, or as needed, girls attend individual and group counseling sessions that focus on fostering positive behavioral change. Weekly, or as needed, girls also attend academic advising sessions to plan and monitor academic progress.
Blueprints has certified one study evaluating Pace Center for Girls.
Millenky et al. (2019) conducted a randomized control trial involving 14 Pace Centers in the state of Florida. A total of 1,125 girls who applied to the program were randomized within center to either a treatment group that received Pace services or to a control group whose members received referrals to other community services. At the end of one year (the typical length of the program), significant positive impacts were found on enrollment, attendance, credits earned and suspensions for the treatment as compared to the control girls.
References:
Millenky, M., Treskon, L., Freedman, L., & Mage, C. (2019). Focusing on girls’ futures: Results from the evaluation of PACE Center for Girls. MDRC.
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