The Girls to Women Initiative was undertaken by a group of Maryland professionals and volunteers to identify and help meet the needs of Maryland's girls and young women in the 21st century. The professionals and volunteers researched and held conferences examining gender-specific issues concerning health and lifestyle, family life, education, and economics and career choices. They reviewed the information gathered and formulated recommendations for immediate action and for a dramatic change in how Maryland will address issues affecting girls and young women in the future. The recommendations included calls for additional research, policy initiatives, funding, and empowering educational programs to address the following problems affecting girls and young women: (1) behavioral problems and lack of health care; (2) rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and fighting; (3) inadequate access to health information services and health care; (4) inadequate numbers of women in math, science, and technology programs; and (5) poverty, income disparity, and inadequate education/training and community supports for women. (The bibliography lists 19 references. Appendixes, constituting approximately 50% of the document, contain a description of future efforts needed and a report on the November 1997 conference on current and future roles of girls and young women.) (MN)