The Mariposa Program

HalloweenProviding support and opportunity for female youth to grow into productive young women by building self-confidence, encouraging empowerment, and fostering independent living skills.

The Mariposa Program provides services for females ranging in age from 15 to 21. Mariposa is a gender-responsive program, structured to meet the needs of females. Mariposa’s core is based upon the concept of a butterfly’s life cycle, where growth is encouraged and reinforced through the stages of change.  Youth progress through the stages based on their individualized needs and development within six domains:relational, emotional, intellectual, sexual, physical, and spiritual. Once the youth becomes a butterfly, she has demonstrated full growth and preparedness to move onward into independent living.Depending on the client, this process may take anywhere from three months to two years.

Creating A Place For Girls

Although YPA has historically enrolled female youth, the Mariposa Program was officially created in June 2005 after responding to the increasing need for more gender-specific services in Oregon.  Programs that are gender-specific have shown to be more effective and relevant to females’ experiences, issues, and challenges, and are able to fulfill the previously unmet needs of adolescent females.  Utilizing Oregon’s Guidelines for Effective Gender-Responsive Programming (2002) for structure, implementation, and evaluation, the newly developed Mariposa Program offers female-specific services that are relevant to their strengths, abilities, experiences, and needs.

Youth in Mariposa

“I am most proud of myself and growing in many different ways. I have learned to take better care of myself. I feel as if I’ve matured very much.” -Ally, 18

Mariposa youth have experienced numerous barriers, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and parental neglect.  Most of our girls also have a history of delinquency, emotional problems, mental health issues, and substance abuse.  Mariposa youth may also experience low cognitive and social functioning levels.  Many lack appropriate parental and family support.

Mariposa Services

Mariposa encompasses a holistic approach that addresses each girl within the whole context of her life, including relationships, environment, society, etc.  Holistic programming, in cooperation with a gender-responsive setting, creates the framework to promote a positive identity among each girl.

Mariposa provides: