About Us - The Crittenton Family of Agencies
Crittenton Services of Greater Washington, DC
Established in 1887, Crittenton Services of Greater Washington, formerly known as the Florence Crittenton Home of Washington, has been providing services to at-risk teenage girls in the Washington metropolitan area for 120 years. Our mission is to strengthen the ability of at-risk girls and young women to set and achieve goals in school, work, and life.
The Washington metropolitan area has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in the nation. A widening gap between the very rich and the very poor, deep racial divides, and poverty-stricken neighborhoods sitting in the shadow of the nation’s gleaming Capitol, all contribute to significant risk factors for the young women in our city. Unhealthy behaviors, exposure to violence, and neglect in the schools are all volatile factors that put our young teens at extreme risk for early sexual activity and pregnancy which can lead to a lifelong cycle of poverty.
At Crittenton Services of Greater Washington, we care deeply about the lives of at-risk girls and young women. We believe in their capacity to learn, to focus, to stay on track, and to ensure healthy and secure futures for themselves and their families. The girls who come to us are in need of resources, guidance, and support. Our school and community-based programs offer them this and much more. They are safe havens in which the girls can explore their emotions, test their resiliency, formulate plans and support each other. Programs are structured so that the participants can learn how to set clear and practical goals in many areas of their lives: education, relationships, work, and family. Within a nurturing and safe space, each girl in a Crittenton program discovers and defines her own set of values and begins a personal journey that will strengthen her ability to face and adapt to the many challenges ahead.
Crittenton’s founders were visionaries in their recognition of the impact of teen pregnancy on society and their determination for a solution. We are keeping that vision alive today with our singular programs and projects to help at-risk girls achieve healthier and more productive lives. Crittenton Services of Greater Washington is committed to turning lives around, one by one, and to providing a supportive and nurturing atmosphere that will give our girls the tools they need to succeed.
Programs and Services
Teen pregnancy prevention and life skills: SNEAKERS (Self-esteem, Nurturance, Expectations, Assertiveness, Knowledge, Empowerment, Responsibility, and Success) is a school-based life skills, healthy behavior, and comprehensive sexuality and education program. Crittenton program leaders, school counselors and nurses from targeted middle schools and high schools work together to recruit girls to join small groups that meet weekly during school hours. We try to keep the groups cohesive and work with the same group of girls from the 8th through the 12th grade.
Teen motherhood program: PEARLS (Parent Education and Responsive Life Skills) is a school-based prenatal and parenting education and support group. Once a week throughout the school year, teen mothers, pregnant teens, and often the fathers of their children meet in small groups with our program leaders.
Teen peer education program: Our Voices Affect Our Choices is a peer education program led by former SNEAKERS and PEARLS members. In school-based workshops they aim to teach other teens how to recognize and better understand healthy relationships, the consequences of early sexual activity, and the practices that help them gain positive self esteem.
For detailed information about this agency see:
www.fcs-dc.org
