A Foundational Framework for Identity Formation
The Imago Dei Framework is the Institute’s foundational understanding of identity formation. It provides the basis for understanding how identity shapes the way we live, the choices we make, our relationships with others, and the influence we carry into the world. The Adolescent Girls Identity Development Framework applies this understanding to adolescence, translating it into a practical framework for supporting identity development during one of life’s most formative seasons.
Identity develops over time through the interaction of belief, experience, relationships, culture, and personal reflection. The Imago Dei Framework provides a lens for understanding this process, placing identity at the foundation of human development and showing how our understanding of who we are influences how we live.
Identity formation unfolds through a process of understanding, expression, and influence. The Framework organizes this process into three interconnected levels, showing how identity moves from internal understanding to everyday choices and ultimately to purposeful contribution in the world.
The Imago Dei Framework
A model of identity formation from identity to purposeful influence.
A foundational understanding of identity, applied to the formative years of adolescence.
Imago Dei Framework
The Institute’s foundational understanding of identity formation describes how our understanding of who we are shapes the way we live, the choices we make, and the influence we carry into the world.
Adolescent Girls Identity Development Framework
This framework applies the Imago Dei Framework to adolescence. It translates the foundational model into a practical approach that addresses the developmental needs, pressures, and opportunities girls encounter during this formative season. Organized around five integrated dimensions of identity development, it provides a structured approach for exploring and developing key areas of adolescent growth.
These five integrated dimensions provide the structure through which the Adolescent Girls Identity Development Framework is expressed in practice. They represent interconnected areas of growth that support healthy adolescent development.
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SELF-WORTH
Culture
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Well-Being
Sexuality
&
The Body
Integrity
&
Godliness
Purpose
&
Leadership
Identity & Self-Worth
Girls explore who they are and why they matter. This pillar creates space to reflect on values, belonging, and self-perception beyond grades, appearance, comparison, or external expectations.
Digital Culture & Well-being
Girls examine how phones, social media, and online spaces influence their thinking, relationships, and self-image. They develop healthy digital habits, establish boundaries, and gain awareness of how to engage thoughtfully online.
Purity, Sexuality & the Body
Guided conversations explore body image, boundaries, relationships, and sexuality. Girls are supported in developing self-respect, clarity, and wisdom as they navigate personal and relational decisions.
Character, Integrity & Godliness
Everyday choices and habits shape long-term character. This pillar focuses on integrity, consistency, responsibility, and the relationship between faith and daily life, encouraging girls to consider who they are becoming.
Destiny, Purpose & Leadership
Adolescence is a season of direction setting. This pillar invites girls to reflect on responsibility, service, stewardship, and the impact of their choices within families, schools, and communities.
Adolescence has always been a significant season of identity formation.
Identity is shaped through the relationships, experiences, and environments that surround young people, including family, education, community, and culture.
Today’s adolescents must also navigate an increasingly digital environment alongside these traditional influences. Research demonstrates that digital spaces play an important role in shaping self-perception, relationships and emotional well-being.
A third of teen girls say social media makes them feel worse about their own lives, nearly double the rate reported by boys.
Digital culture plays a powerful role in shaping identity, confidence, and emotional well-being.
Source: Pew Research Center: Teens, Social Media & Mental Health (2025)
These realities highlight the importance of helping adolescents develop healthy boundaries and thoughtful habits in digital spaces.
At Imago Dei Institute, we recognize that identity, character, and confidence are shaped within the relationships and environments that surround girls, including families, friendships, schools, faith communities, and wider society.
While the framework focuses intentionally on girls, identity formation is a shared responsibility. Parents, caregivers, mentors, educators, peers, and communities all play an important role in creating environments where girls can develop and thrive. Our approach therefore recognizes the importance of strengthening the people and institutions that shape their lives.
Translating the Model into Practice
The Adolescent Girls Identity Development Framework is translated into practice through structured learning experiences, trusted mentoring relationships, reflective practice, and partnerships with the communities that surround each girl.
Curriculum
Delivered through structured learning experiences organized around the Five Pillars of Formation.
Mentoring
Trusted adult mentors support identity formation through conversation, guidance, encouragement, and accountability.
Reflection & Practice
Journals, guided reflection, practical application, meaningful conversation, and goal setting help girls internalize what they learn.
Community Partnership
Lasting identity formation is strengthened through partnerships with families, schools, churches, and community organizations, creating opportunities for implementation, shared learning, adaptation, and refinement.
We welcome educators, researchers, schools, churches, organizations, and foundations interested in advancing the understanding and practice of identity formation.
Together, we can strengthen the environments that shape young people and create pathways for the next generation to live with purpose.
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