PACE Center for Girls celebrates second anniversary in Lee

The PACE Center for Girls in Lee County is celebrating its second anniversary of helping troubled young girls reclaim their lives and start on the path toward brighter futures.

More than 152 girls, ages 12 to 18 years old, have been helped by the Lee County PACE Center since the program opened its doors in February 2007. To commemorate the milestone, PACE recently served birthday cake to the PACE girls and buried a time capsule at the center on Schoolhouse Road in Fort Myers.

The time capsule contains thoughts from the girls on how the PACE Center has helped them along with their hopes for the future. PACE will contact the girls to open the time capsule in three years to learn how many of their dreams came true. PACE follows each of the girls for three years after they leave PACE.

"I am so proud of what our girls have accomplished," said Executive Director Debra Webb. "Because of the PACE curriculum and the ongoing support of the PACE staff and the community, these girls are staying in school, making good choices about their behavior, and learning skills that will last them throughout their lives."

The PACE Center for Girls is a nonresidential delinquency prevention program targeting the unique needs of girls who are identified as dependent, truant, runaway, delinquent, or in need of academic skills In addition to academic challenges, many girls also experience abuse and neglect, death of a parent, substance abuse, and/or a family history of incarceration.

Ms. Webb gave several examples to demonstrate the effectiveness of the program.

Upon entering the Lee County PACE Center:

• 37 percent of the girls were sexually abused

• 66 percent of the girls used drugs • 47 percent of the girls drank alcohol

• 26 percent had a criminal charge

Upon leaving the Lee County PACE Center:

• 89 percent had no involvement with the juvenile justice system within a year of leaving PACE

• 86 percent were placed in appropriate educational settings

• 93 percent improved their academic performance

• 89 percent increased their grade point average

• 81 percent advanced one full grade level

PACE accepts referrals from the juvenile justice system, the Department of Children & Families, school personnel, community services agencies, parents, family members, friends and self-referrals. PACE Center goals are to intervene and prevent school withdrawal, juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, substance abuse and welfare dependency in a safe and nurturing environment.

For information about PACE, contact Ms. Webb at 425-2366, ext. 23, or visit www.pacecenter.org.