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Girl Power, a new program hosted by an Auburn University Rural Health Fellow, will be held at the Chambers County Community Health and Wellness Center on July 24. 

The program will be an opportunity for young girls to ask questions and learn about the natural changes in their bodies in a safe and engaging environment. 

The program will be hosted by Lisa Carboni, RN, BSN, IBCLC, MSN graduate student, and Sarah Putzer, Auburn University Rural Health Fellow and nurse practitioner student.

According to Carboni, the class covers “essential topics such as body hygiene, understanding the physical transformations during puberty, fostering a positive body image, and developing healthy coping mechanisms for managing emotions.”

The class is designed for girls aged 8-12 years old but is open to all. Carboni encouraged caregivers to stay and learn how they can support their loved ones. Six people have signed up for the program so far, but according to Dr. Linda Gibson-Young, professor of nursing and community outreach, there are enough spots for 20 or more to attend. 

Gibson-Young said the goal is to help young girls develop lifelong changes in their behaviors or activities.

The idea for the class came about when Putzer, a Rural Health Fellow at Auburn University, left out a notebook and encouraged students visiting the community center to write down their questions. 

They were surprised to see a lot of questions come up surrounding health and changes during puberty. She and Carboni, her faculty advisor, decided to host a class at the local high school to share health information with the youth in the community.