“The kids loved it. They didn’t want to stop, even those who were resistant in the beginning were asking me to please keep it going.”
- Sharon Salyers, Scioto County Juvenile Court
We’ve provided commonly asked questions from people who are considering starting a Girls Circle® or The Council for Boys and Young Men®. If you have questions about Girls Circle® or The Council that are not answered here, please contact us directly at (415) 419-5119.
FAQs for all models
What is the best approach as a facilitator?
To be the “guardian” of the Circle or Council to keep youth feeling safe. To bring relevant themes and interesting activities and create a safe space for them to talk about the issues in their lives. Refrain from lecturing, or giving advice, but rather, ask questions that encourage them to express their ideas. Be genuine. Facilitate an environment where they can think through things and make their own decisions with the group’s support.
What qualifications do I need to be a facilitator?
Facilitators can either be adults and young adults who have taken one of the Facilitator Trainings or adults who purchase a Facilitator Manual and Facilitator Activity Guides on how to lead and implement the Girls Circle®, The Council for Boys and Young Men®, or Unity Circle™ program (depending on which model will be utilized.) While attending the training is certainly the best option for preparing facilitators, adults who cannot attend training can do so successfully if they follow the curricula carefully and structure their program and groups according to the principles and format outlined in our Facilitator Manual. The most important qualification is to be a person who youth can trust to be caring, a great listener, responsible to keep the climate emotionally comfortable for the youth, and knowing when to involve other community members as resources for the group and any individual member should the need arise.
Facilitators’ backgrounds and skills are most often in the helping professions and education, such as social workers, nurses, counselors, therapists, and teachers. In addition, prevention specialists, coaches, probation officers, psychologists, undergraduate/graduate students, ministers, business people, and laypersons who are active in youth development are often well prepared to experience the training. People who care about youth, and provide the attention, dedication, positive attitudes, and legal and ethical responsibilities that are integral to the Girls Circle®, Council for Boys and Young Men, and Unity Circle™ models, are generally well qualified to receive the training.
Facilitators’ backgrounds and skills are most often in the helping professions and education, such as social workers, nurses, counselors, therapists, and teachers. In addition, prevention specialists, coaches, probation officers, psychologists, undergraduate/graduate students, ministers, business people, and laypersons who are active in youth development are often well prepared to experience the training. People who care about youth, and provide the attention, dedication, positive attitudes, and legal and ethical responsibilities that are integral to the Girls Circle®, Council for Boys and Young Men, and Unity Circle™ models, are generally well qualified to receive the training.
Does One Circle Foundation work with youth directly or only with service providers?
One Circle Foundation is not a direct-service organization. We developed four models for youth, families, and communities – Girls Circle®, The Council for Boys and Young Men®, Unity Circle™, and Women’s Circle® – and we train service providers and provide curricula to service providers that allow them to facilitate these models in their communities.
What do I need to do to start a Circle or Council?
If you can’t attend a training, you can purchase the Girls Circle® Facilitator Manual or The Council for Boys and Young Men® Facilitator Manual and one or more of the Facilitator Activity Guide(s). The training gives you the opportunity to practice key skills, but many people start groups around the country or globally - just by reading the Facilitator Manual and using the Facilitator Activity Guide(s). A team of committed individuals to support a facilitator can make a program successful.
What about LGBTQ+ youth?
Unity Circle™, Girls Circle®, and The Council for Boys and Young Men® are inclusive, expansive, and welcoming for LGBTQ+ youth and all youth.
Did you know that at any given time, 1-15% of youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning? All youth need acceptance and belonging, and LGBTQ+ and gender-nonconforming youth experience greater social exclusion, harassment, and bullying, putting these youth at greater risk for depression, suicidality, substance abuse, housing insecurity, and involvement with the legal system.
We emphasize emotional and cultural safety in Unity Circle™, Girls Circle®, and The Council. Facilitators aim to develop group members' capacities as allies amongst diverse youth - not allowing derogatory terms, finding commonalities, breaking down stereotypes, and upholding a commitment to respect and dignity for all youth. Topics and activities invite youth to explore gender roles, challenge norms that diminish, limit, or distort the dignity and value of every person, and build on individual and group strengths to promote resiliency.
Always provide choices too, and avoid imposing the program upon, gender non-conforming or questioning youth who may not identify with a particular gender-specific group. These youth may benefit from the supportive environment, not only to explore their identities without fear of judgment or exclusion but also to find acceptance among peers. LGBTQ+ youth benefit from Unity Circle™, a support group specific to sexual orientation and identity experiences. Read more about our commitment to promoting safety for LGBTQ+ youth.
Did you know that at any given time, 1-15% of youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning? All youth need acceptance and belonging, and LGBTQ+ and gender-nonconforming youth experience greater social exclusion, harassment, and bullying, putting these youth at greater risk for depression, suicidality, substance abuse, housing insecurity, and involvement with the legal system.
We emphasize emotional and cultural safety in Unity Circle™, Girls Circle®, and The Council. Facilitators aim to develop group members' capacities as allies amongst diverse youth - not allowing derogatory terms, finding commonalities, breaking down stereotypes, and upholding a commitment to respect and dignity for all youth. Topics and activities invite youth to explore gender roles, challenge norms that diminish, limit, or distort the dignity and value of every person, and build on individual and group strengths to promote resiliency.
Always provide choices too, and avoid imposing the program upon, gender non-conforming or questioning youth who may not identify with a particular gender-specific group. These youth may benefit from the supportive environment, not only to explore their identities without fear of judgment or exclusion but also to find acceptance among peers. LGBTQ+ youth benefit from Unity Circle™, a support group specific to sexual orientation and identity experiences. Read more about our commitment to promoting safety for LGBTQ+ youth.
How many participants should I have in my Circle or Council and what should the age range be?
Eight seems to be a magic number for participants. Somewhere between six and ten is common. With large groups, it is very helpful to co-facilitate groups. Small groups of about five members may be more useful for youth who have special needs or have been through some extra hardships or trauma. These youth often feel safer in smaller groups. Try to keep youth within a one or two-year age difference, or close in their developmental stages. While there are some groups in which youth range in ages of up to four years difference, generally older youth have a longer attention span for listening, while younger youth are interested in a good balance of activity and sharing. Youth want and need to relate to one another, so it is best to try to match them up developmentally where possible.
What’s the best way for me to create safety, trust, and cohesion in my circle?
If you have ever participated in a group of any kind yourself, you know that these important characteristics take time to develop. They also take skill and dedication on the facilitator’s part and the involvement of the group. From the very first day and hour of a Unity Circle™, Girls Circle®, or Council for Boys and Young Men, youth are invited to state the kinds of agreements and behaviors they need and want from each other to feel emotionally safe. Strategies are developed within the group to support the positive climate that engenders trust and cohesion. The facilitator then acts consistently to encourage positive interactions and to discourage behaviors that interfere with safety and trust. Fortunately, youth want safety, and when they are able to participate in setting the limits and defining the goals of the group, they are willing to bring their best relationship abilities to the circle. The youth end up helping each other to show the kind of respect they want to be shown themselves.
How can I find a Unity Circle™, Girls Circle®, or The Council for Boys and Young Men® in my area?
Because as an organization we do not work directly with youth, this can be a challenging question to answer. If you contact us, we will do our best to connect you with individuals in your area who have recently attended a training or purchased curricula. We do have a wonderfully active Facebook Community- this is a great resource for asking questions about groups in your area. Additionally, parents/caregivers and youth can contact local organizations serving youth to inquire about Circles or Councils. When some parents/caregivers and community members have not found Circles or Councils offered in their area, they have provided our information to local organizations or school counselors and offered assistance and encouragement to initiate groups. It is amazing to see the numerous, creative ways people make a difference!
Should everything that’s said in the group be kept confidential?
Unity Circle™, Girls Circle®, and The Council for Boys and Young Men® are places to share experiences, at a youth's own pace, in a confidential setting. This confidentiality creates emotional safety and trust. They learn to appreciate the group agreements that “everything said in the circle stays in the circle”. There are exceptions to confidentiality. Facilitators must contact parents or other responsible adults and community professionals when they believe a youth may be suicidal or is threatening to seriously harm another person. Facilitators are mandated reporters and are legally and ethically bound to report to appropriate child protective services when they suspect a youth is or has been abused - physically, sexually, or emotionally. The safety of youth from harm is the number one responsibility of facilitators.
Should I charge for participation in the Circle or Council?
That is certainly an option and a decision for you to make. Unity Circle™, Girls Circle®, and The Council for Boys and Young Men® are very rewarding experiences for facilitators, but many cannot afford to invest the time and energy without receiving fees for their service. Some adults who want to independently start groups in their communities do charge anywhere from $10 to $50 per session depending on the economics of their community and what parents/caregivers can reasonably afford. Others are able or interested in facilitating circles and councils voluntarily.
Schools, youth programs, and prevention and treatment settings always involve costs for the time, training, curricula, space, and support of the providers. These settings generally seek funds from local, state, and federal grants and foundations that support youths' growth and development. Private practitioners such as therapists and other counselors charge reasonable fees to cover their time and expenses. It is our hope and vision that every youth who wants to participate in a circle or council can access one. We hope that barriers can be avoided wherever possible. Sliding scales or scholarships are often essential components of a strong and healthy program.
Schools, youth programs, and prevention and treatment settings always involve costs for the time, training, curricula, space, and support of the providers. These settings generally seek funds from local, state, and federal grants and foundations that support youths' growth and development. Private practitioners such as therapists and other counselors charge reasonable fees to cover their time and expenses. It is our hope and vision that every youth who wants to participate in a circle or council can access one. We hope that barriers can be avoided wherever possible. Sliding scales or scholarships are often essential components of a strong and healthy program.
What about parents/caregivers? How can parents/caregivers be involved?
Supporting a child's or teen's experience in a circle or council program is an important role.
- Attend an orientation if offered, and read all literature provided.
- Learn the purpose and what is expected of the members - time, place, attendance, and participation. Understand that attendance is very important to the overall experience for all circle members; the cohesion in the group increases the positive impacts for all the members.
- Find out what the general topics are, and invite your daughters or sons to talk with you about those issues whenever they wish to do so.
- Support the circle or council by letting your child or teen know that it's a good place for them to be themselves and enjoy activities with other peers.
- Communicate with the facilitator(s) about concerns that arise for your child. Communications within the groups are generally confidential except when a child is in danger or being harmed; however, a parent/caregiver can always contact the facilitator to share important information that can assist the facilitator in responding positively to specific situations or needs.
- Some programs are able to offer separate parent circles to promote awareness, discussion and ways in which parents can maintain positive relationships with their sons and daughters throughout adolescence.
- For parents/caregivers of girls or youth who identify as female: Pay attention to your behaviors and attitudes toward women and those who identify as female and toward yourself. Girls Circle® challenges many stereotypical notions. For example, Girls Circle® believes that women, girls, and those who identify as female have the strengths to come together to work things out and support one another, rather than letting jealousy, envy, and conflicts dictate relationships. Girls Circle® believes that individuals can be more effective in all their relationships when they can express their thoughts and feelings safely, directly, and respectfully. Parents/caregivers who model this behavior and support their youth's growing skills have a great influence on the positive direction of circles.
- For parents/caregivers of boys or youth who identify as male: pay attention to the messages you communicate about what it means to be a man. Youth are bombarded with messages to "act cool" and "be tough". They can be angry but not scared. These are socialized messages that cause boys or youth who identify as male to feel shame and worthlessness when they experience "unaccepted" emotions, which they learn to shut out, shut down, or overcompensate with aggression. Question media messages and stereotypes that limit full human development and put them at risk of increased harm.
- Share snacks or meals with the groups; food is always a very welcome added dimension to the council or circle experience!
How do you protect youth from potential abuse?
We recommend that every organization, school, or community setting that provides Councils or Circles follow standard safeguard practices to protect all children and youth from any type of abuse or crime. Protective measures are essential steps to any solid program’s successful implementation.
Agencies should require all adults, staff, and volunteers, who work with children and teens to obtain fingerprint clearances, to receive child abuse prevention and response training, including how to recognize signs of possible abuse, responsibilities as mandated reporters, and procedures to report suspicion of child abuse.
In every setting, we recommend that children and youth are never alone and isolated with one adult. Ideally, two adults or young adults co-facilitate the groups, or, when there is not the capacity for two facilitators, at least one other responsible adult is on-site and available before, during, and after each session. In addition, the on-site adult should have permission to come and go freely, albeit respectfully, from the group room.
If your setting’s policy is unknown to you, or inadequate, contact your state’s child welfare department to request recommended guidelines for staff and volunteers. Children's and teens' rights and safety policies should be posted, spoken, distributed, and reviewed with children, parents/caregivers, and all staff on site. Administrator contact information should be given to all participants and families to report any concerns or problems.
Agencies should require all adults, staff, and volunteers, who work with children and teens to obtain fingerprint clearances, to receive child abuse prevention and response training, including how to recognize signs of possible abuse, responsibilities as mandated reporters, and procedures to report suspicion of child abuse.
In every setting, we recommend that children and youth are never alone and isolated with one adult. Ideally, two adults or young adults co-facilitate the groups, or, when there is not the capacity for two facilitators, at least one other responsible adult is on-site and available before, during, and after each session. In addition, the on-site adult should have permission to come and go freely, albeit respectfully, from the group room.
If your setting’s policy is unknown to you, or inadequate, contact your state’s child welfare department to request recommended guidelines for staff and volunteers. Children's and teens' rights and safety policies should be posted, spoken, distributed, and reviewed with children, parents/caregivers, and all staff on site. Administrator contact information should be given to all participants and families to report any concerns or problems.
Can I attend a Girls Circle® training if I plan on facilitating The Council for Boys and Young Men® or Unity Circle™?
While some of the foundational approaches of Girls Circle®, Unity Circle™, and The Council for Boys and Young Men® are similar (e.g. the strengths-based approach, motivational interviewing strategies, developing trust and safety in the circles, etc.) each training uniquely focuses on the developmental needs that are specific to individuals. Additionally, each training spends the first part of Day 1 focusing on the theoretical framework specific to The Council and Girls Circle® and these pieces are different, based on the needs of individual gender. Finally, the circle format, circle experiences, and the practicum on Day 2 are completely different; each is uniquely designed to replicate the types of discussions/topics/activities that are relevant and important to individual gender.
Therefore, we don't recommend that a participant substitute one training for the other if at all possible. However, if the choice is to attend a training of a different model vs. not attending at all, we do recommend attending what you can get to. There will be many positive facilitation skills gleaned from attending any of our trainings.
If you’re unable to get to a training at all, then the next best option is to read the facilitator manual for the model that you’re using, co-facilitate with someone who has been trained, and call One Circle Foundation with any questions or for individual consultation. You can also attend the free, monthly Facilitator Support Meetings for additional support.
Therefore, we don't recommend that a participant substitute one training for the other if at all possible. However, if the choice is to attend a training of a different model vs. not attending at all, we do recommend attending what you can get to. There will be many positive facilitation skills gleaned from attending any of our trainings.
If you’re unable to get to a training at all, then the next best option is to read the facilitator manual for the model that you’re using, co-facilitate with someone who has been trained, and call One Circle Foundation with any questions or for individual consultation. You can also attend the free, monthly Facilitator Support Meetings for additional support.
Printed vs. digital activity guides – what's the difference?
In 2023 we debuted our first digital activity guide, the Mitigating Gender & Racial Bias: Intersectionality and Allyship Digital Flipbook. Our physical activity guides come in a durable 3-ring binder with a full-color cover and spine entrapped in plastic. The material within is printed on standard 8 ½” x 11” pages, which are 3-hole-punched and can be removed for duplicating handouts and forms or facilitator preparation and returned in place. Our digital flipbook activity guides are formatted for screen viewing and take advantage of this medium by employing a lot of color and interactive elements, such as embedded videos, web links, and navigation options for quickly jumping to different areas of the guide. Deciding which is right for you depends on which of these experiences you would find most comfortable as a facilitator.
Printing from the downloadable PDF file of the digital flipbook: You may find it useful to print small portions of the digital activity guide to prepare for your circle session. Please be aware that the digital files are formatted for 2-page viewing on a device, and therefore printing larger sections may require a huge number of pages and abundant ink. Additionally, you will note large blank spaces in the PDF where an embedded video appears when viewed as a digital flipbook.
Printing from the downloadable PDF file of the digital flipbook: You may find it useful to print small portions of the digital activity guide to prepare for your circle session. Please be aware that the digital files are formatted for 2-page viewing on a device, and therefore printing larger sections may require a huge number of pages and abundant ink. Additionally, you will note large blank spaces in the PDF where an embedded video appears when viewed as a digital flipbook.
My activity guide includes mention of outdated media devices or pop culture references that my participants don’t understand or can’t relate to. Should I get an updated guide?
In 2022, all our activity guides were or are being revised to update outdated references. Please note these updates have no effect on the intention, instruction, or supplies needed to lead discussions and activities within the guides, and as such we do not advise letting go of your existing curricula and re-purchasing them. As we note in the introductory pages of our activity guides, "adaptations may be necessary to fit the emerging needs of your group.”
Why does One Circle Foundation utilize the term "Latine" and not "Latinx"?
One Circle Foundation embraces the term 'Latine' to honor all gender expressions and identities within our diverse Latin American community, valuing the dignity of every individual. Our intentional adoption of 'Latine' reflects our deep commitment to inclusivity, rooted in the collective wisdom of our wide community.
(One Circle Foundation adopta el término 'Latine' para honrar todas las expresiones de género e identidades dentro de nuestra diversa comunidad latinoamericana, valorando la dignidad de cada individuo. Nuestra adopción intencional de 'Latine' refleja nuestro profundo compromiso con la inclusividad, arraigado en la sabiduría colectiva de nuestra amplia comunidad.)
(One Circle Foundation adopta el término 'Latine' para honrar todas las expresiones de género e identidades dentro de nuestra diversa comunidad latinoamericana, valorando la dignidad de cada individuo. Nuestra adopción intencional de 'Latine' refleja nuestro profundo compromiso con la inclusividad, arraigado en la sabiduría colectiva de nuestra amplia comunidad.)
FAQs for Girls Circle®
OCF is an organization that is expansive and celebrates all our youth. When we state girls, we are including girls and youth who identify with female development.
What do girls want?
Girls want and need to be listened to by grown-ups and peers and not be judged. They want to be supported and have adults believe in them. They want to know that even if they’ve messed up, they’re still good individuals. They want to be in safe, healthy relationships that encourage, support, and empower them. They want to belong, to make a difference, to give voice to their thoughts, values, and beliefs, and to have a say in the decisions that affect them.
What do girls like most about Girls Circle®?
Girls like the feeling of being supported by their peers and offering support to others. They appreciate having the caring support of an adult facilitator who is willing to listen. They like the fun of participating in gender-relevant activities in Girls Circle® and participating in a community setting. Girls regularly report that Girls Circles help them realize that they are not alone and that other girls have similar experiences and feelings. They also love the positive tone and respect that is experienced within the circle in addition to being treated as capable and confident to make their own wise and healthy decisions.
Should girls who are good friends be in the same Girls Circle®?
Girls are often more willing to try a new experience if they can bring a friend or two. The key issue is that all girls who are willing to join a circle need to know that the circle’s purpose is for all participants to get more acquainted and be there for each other. Inclusiveness is an integral value of Girls Circles. Therefore, friends will be expected to stretch out of their comfort zones, to participate with others in icebreakers, activities, and sharing. Close friendships can leave other girls feeling excluded, so these relationships will be addressed early on, acknowledging girls’ friendships while expecting commitment to friendly and inclusive interactions with everyone. Some girls prefer to be in a Girls Circle® where they don’t already have relationships. It feels like a fresh place to present oneself and be free from some of the emotional demands of other relationships.
Is Girls Circle® a therapy group? It sounds like one.
Girls Circle® is a support group and is a model for promoting girls’ wellness in groups. The model is applicable in community groups such as scouting, at camps, and in many prevention programs AND is also being applied in therapeutic settings.
Across all settings, Girls Circle® maintains that girls have the basic right to safety and health. Many girls need protection and safety from relational, emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuse. This is a sad, but true reality.
While most Girls Circles spend the vast majority of time sharing stories and creating positive personal or team-oriented skills and solutions to gender-relevant issues, there are times when active adult intervention to protect girls from harm may occur.
Across all settings, Girls Circle® maintains that girls have the basic right to safety and health. Many girls need protection and safety from relational, emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuse. This is a sad, but true reality.
While most Girls Circles spend the vast majority of time sharing stories and creating positive personal or team-oriented skills and solutions to gender-relevant issues, there are times when active adult intervention to protect girls from harm may occur.
Is it okay for a mother/caregiver to facilitate a Circle?
It depends on if your child wants to be with you in the group. It also depends on the nature and purpose of your Circle or Council. We have run circles as mothers and caregivers and run other circles professionally. Whatever role we are in, it is important to keep the role as a facilitator clear while we are in Circle. A youth whose parent or caregiver is the facilitator may feel awkward and uncomfortable; conversely, they may be very interested and comfortable in that environment. They may choose to speak freely or select what they share carefully.
Many youth and parents/caregivers, however, find that these roles are tricky to balance. We’ve seen groups work very well when the circles begin while the youth is in early adolescence. One or more parents/caregivers as facilitators in this sort of group can be great. By high school, many youths need and value other adult role models, as they are learning to define themselves. So, again, it depends on your own child's comfort zone.
Many youth and parents/caregivers, however, find that these roles are tricky to balance. We’ve seen groups work very well when the circles begin while the youth is in early adolescence. One or more parents/caregivers as facilitators in this sort of group can be great. By high school, many youths need and value other adult role models, as they are learning to define themselves. So, again, it depends on your own child's comfort zone.
How should I publicize my Circle if I don’t work for a youth serving agency?
By far the best method is word of mouth in your community - your friends, school community, neighbors, faith or sports networks, and the youth themselves! Our Girls Circle® Facilitator Manual provides you with a detailed unit on various ways to advertise and publicize your group. Having a team of motivated youth who help spread the word in a fun and creative ways can be a great jump start to getting other youth interested to learn more. Many interested individual facilitators can team up with community organizations in existence, such as a neighborhood recreation center to offer the group. Places where youth naturally convene are great places where you can offer a Girls Circle®.
Can Girls Circles have male facilitators?
Girls Circle® and The Council for Boys and Young Men® are designed to be gender-specific models. We know that positive male role models can be very important to girls’ growth and development, just as positive female role models can be important to boys' growth and development. However, girls and boys need places to talk about the pressures of growing up, including pressures and attitudes they experience from the other. Because many girls won’t talk honestly when boys and men are around about their personal concerns, they need female facilitators for circles. The same is true for boys’ groups that address male issues.
The Girls Circle® model maintains the notion that girls’ wellness stems from strong connections in their community and that a specific community of girls and women is a core component of developing a positive identity as a young woman.
The Girls Circle® model maintains the notion that girls’ wellness stems from strong connections in their community and that a specific community of girls and women is a core component of developing a positive identity as a young woman.
FAQs for The Council for Boys and Young Men®
OCF is an organization that is expansive and celebrates all our youth. When we state boys we are including boys and youth who identify with male development.
Why do boys and young men need The Council program?
Boys need a gender-specific group program to have a safe, protected, and focused place to address an array of harsh realities and to create healthy options for growing up male today. Findings of recent studies tell us that boys are not faring well in areas of education, mental health, health care access, bullying, violence, or substance abuse in this new millennium.
- About 20% of students ages 12-18 experienced bullying nationwide (ASPA, 2021).
- In 2019, 19% of male students ages 12-18 reported being bullied at school during the school year (NCES).
- A 2016 report from the Cyberbullying Research Center indicates that 33.8% of students between 12 and 17 were victims of cyberbullying in their lifetime (Cyberbullying Research Center, 2016).
- More than two-thirds of teens who had been cyberbullied said it negatively impacted their feelings about themselves. Almost one-third said it affected their friendships. Finally,13.1% said it affected their physical health, while 6.5% shared it influenced their schoolwork (Cyberbullying Research Center, 2020).
- Around two-thirds of kids with a specific learning disability (as defined by special education law) are boys. And boys are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
- More than twice as many male students (7.3%) than female students (3.2%) received one or more out-of-school suspensions in 2013–14 (U.S. Department of Education, 2019)
- As early as the fourth grade, girls perform better than boys on standardized tests in reading and writing, and as they get older that achievement gap widens even more, according to research published by the American Psychological Association (2018).
- Firearm homicide rates are consistently highest among males, adolescents, young adults, and non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people (CDC, 2022).
- Homicide is the fourth leading cause of death in people aged 10-29 years, and 84% of these homicides involve male victims (World Health Organization).
- In 2020, adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 had a suicide rate of 14.24. In 2020, men died by suicide 3.88x more than women (AFSP, 2022).
- Men are almost two times more likely to binge drink than women: Not only do men binge drink more often than women, men consistently have higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations. Men are also more likely to have used alcohol before dying by suicide (Mindwise, 2019).
- As compared to girls, boys are more likely to become dependent on multiple substances, according to a joint study conducted by Johns Hopkins University, the University of Minnesota, and the Bloomberg School of Public Health (Monroe, J., 2022).
- 30% of teenage males do not receive any sex education before their first-ever intercourse (Admissionly, 2022).
- Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls (n.d).
- Adolescent boys aged 12 to 18 years have a significantly higher prevalence of prediabetes (22.5%) than girls (13.4%) in the same age group (CDC, 2021).
- Teen fathers have a 25 to 30% lower probability of graduating from high school than teenage boys who are not fathers (n.d).
- In two national surveys, investigators found that between 4% and 8% of boys reported having sex before they were 13 (Gordon, S., 2019).
- Nearly 1 in 38 men have experienced completed or attempted rape during their lifetime (CDC, 2021).
- About 1 in 4 male rape victims experienced it for the first time between 11-17 years old (CDC, 2021).
- Approximately 1 in 10 men in the U.S. experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime and reported some form of IPV-related impact (CDC, 2020).
How do you motivate boys to join a strengths-based group program like The Council?
If boys are not accustomed to a council-type and youth-oriented group, they might lack interest in initial invitations. Groups might sound boring if boys associate them primarily with sitting around talking. Youth typically experience groups as frustrating because they have to sit and listen to lots of talks, and many students are not accustomed to having their own opinions and interests taken seriously. Councils will change those experiences!
By far the most effective tool to increase boys’ interest is peer group word of mouth. If the word on the schoolyard is a good one about The Council, then the groups will likely fill easily. Initial strategies could include any of the following:
By far the most effective tool to increase boys’ interest is peer group word of mouth. If the word on the schoolyard is a good one about The Council, then the groups will likely fill easily. Initial strategies could include any of the following:
- Invite a small group of peer leaders to a gathering to discuss boys’ interests, needs, and challenges in that setting. If this group meeting is successful, the boys are likely to want to return. Introduce and use The Council format as a structure for the meeting. Provide a meal or fun snacks and/or other incentives for their attendance and their ideas. Ask the boys how to get other boys interested, and create a plan together.
- Present the group as a leadership opportunity. Utilize peer resource students or anti-bullying teams to make and send personal invitations to other students.
- Have older boys, such as juniors and seniors, provide co-facilitation in teams with trained adult facilitators in groups for younger boys.
- Acknowledge with the boys that because they haven’t experienced The Council before, they may think it sounds weird or cheesy, but tell them it's rooted in ancient traditions. Let them know that as boys are transitioning through adolescence, across cultures, and throughout the ages, they have come together in council to discuss concerns and develop strategies, celebrate their masculinity, and harness their strengths.
- Another important factor is the boys’ knowledge of the facilitators. Building relationships with the boys in one–to–one or very small group conversations can make the difference in their decision to join up.
Incentives help:
- Incorporate incentives such as a technology project or field trip of interest.
- Provide community service credits or hours.
- Offer food at every meeting.
- Extend the invitation to students as an honor and special recognition of their peer relationship abilities or their respectful behaviors.
- Try making a deal with them. For example: Meet in The Council for 5 weeks, earn a trip to the ball game. If you like it, we meet for another 5 weeks.
Alternatively, integrate The Council into an existing class or program, such as a health and sciences class, sports team, school play, chess club, environmental action team, or detention period.
For highly disconnected youth, find a way to pay them cash for their time. Make their time meaningful to them, and worth academic credits or community service. They need a strong reason to bother. Look for ways to provide transportation for boys who need it.
Can The Council have female facilitators?
Girls Circle® and The Council for Boys and Young Men® are designed to be gender-specific models. We know that positive male role models can be very important to girls’ growth and development, just as positive female role models can be important to boys' growth and development. However, girls and boys need places to talk about the pressures of growing up, including pressures and attitudes they experience from the other. Because many girls won’t talk honestly when boys and men are around about their personal concerns, they need female facilitators for circles. The same is true for boys’ groups that address male issues.
The Council for Boys and Young Men® model emphasizes the need for positive male role models in boys' lives. Especially during their teen years, boys benefit from male role models who can show care, attention, empathy, and strength in an emotionally safe setting. Nevertheless, the reality is that the vast majority of those who work with youth are women. When male facilitators are not available, we strongly recommend including another adult or young adult male as a positive role model who can participate with the female facilitator as a supportive co-facilitator or peer mentor where possible. When female facilitators are unable to include male role models, we encourage facilitators to state the obvious and to bring in the voices of adult males as much as possible through articles, stories, songs, and literature.
The Council for Boys and Young Men® model emphasizes the need for positive male role models in boys' lives. Especially during their teen years, boys benefit from male role models who can show care, attention, empathy, and strength in an emotionally safe setting. Nevertheless, the reality is that the vast majority of those who work with youth are women. When male facilitators are not available, we strongly recommend including another adult or young adult male as a positive role model who can participate with the female facilitator as a supportive co-facilitator or peer mentor where possible. When female facilitators are unable to include male role models, we encourage facilitators to state the obvious and to bring in the voices of adult males as much as possible through articles, stories, songs, and literature.
Is The Council a rites of passage program?
Yes. Adolescents across all cultures have a powerful need to develop an identity, have a purpose, and establish a respected role in their social communities. Coming of age taxes all systems- biological, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual. The Council's structure anchors boys within steady adult and youth relationships provide social-emotional skill-building and engages them in processes that help make meaning from chaotic and stressful life experiences. The program activities challenge boys to take healthy risks in the peer group, and to develop an understanding of self and others. These activities help promote multi-dimensional growth inside and amongst boys who are journeying into manhood. When an eighth-grade boy was recently asked to describe any change he may have noticed since participating in The Council, he wrote, “I’ve become a better person.”
How is The Council a culturally-competent approach?
Some of the best programs we've heard running are serving diverse youth in urban settings, but also serving marginalized youth, rural youth, and boys at public and private schools as well. The structure of The Council and its strengths-based approach give boys many opportunities to explore, express, and celebrate identities.
An important quality of The Council is the flexibility within the model for facilitators to bring cultural principles, practices, role models, stories, self-expression practices, music, or traditional foods into the program. The Council has many elements of traditional practices for boys and young men across cultures and regions over time. Meeting in a council format, coming together with other males, using a talking piece and showing respect for different viewpoints and experiences, using humor and playfulness, fun, and challenges - these and other practices allow facilitators to meet boys where they are at and offer acceptance, while further developing their capacities for self-reflection, resiliency, and positive social interaction. In a study about The Council, a boy told a researcher: “What I learned was we could all come together even though we don’t really like each other, we can learn about each other and all come back together and be friends, it helped.”
An important quality of The Council is the flexibility within the model for facilitators to bring cultural principles, practices, role models, stories, self-expression practices, music, or traditional foods into the program. The Council has many elements of traditional practices for boys and young men across cultures and regions over time. Meeting in a council format, coming together with other males, using a talking piece and showing respect for different viewpoints and experiences, using humor and playfulness, fun, and challenges - these and other practices allow facilitators to meet boys where they are at and offer acceptance, while further developing their capacities for self-reflection, resiliency, and positive social interaction. In a study about The Council, a boy told a researcher: “What I learned was we could all come together even though we don’t really like each other, we can learn about each other and all come back together and be friends, it helped.”
Why the name “Council” instead of “Circle” for boys?
We surveyed groups of adolescent boys with different names for this model. They responded with a clear preference for the word "Council", and we went with that preference.
- In Girls Circle®, Unity Circle™, and The Council we use the "Council Format" during an important Check In step each session, a practice traditionally utilized by indigenous groups to express themselves, listen to one another, and relate in a social group.
- In all models, the participants sit in a circle together and hold activities often in or around the circle.
FAQs for Unity Circle™
What do LGBTQ+ youth need?
All of our youth are looking for a supportive space where they can feel safe and heard. Youth who attend Unity Circle™ want a space where they can celebrate who they are without judgment.
Why is it important to have safe spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth?
The Williams Institute reports that there are approximately 3.2 million LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of eight and 18, more than half of whom (52%) are youth of color (compared to 39% of LGBTQ+ adults who are people of color) (LGBTQ Youth, 2022).
- It’s estimated that about 7% of youth in the United States are LGBTQ+, while 40% of youth experiencing homelessness are LGBTQ+ (True Colors United, 2021).
- Almost one-third of LGBTQ+ students have missed at least one entire day of school in the past month because they felt unsafe or uncomfortable (Wriston, B., & Washick, B., 2022).
- Over 70% of LGBTQ+ students reported avoiding school functions and extracurricular activities because they felt unsafe or uncomfortable (Wriston, B., & Washick, B. 2022)
- 42% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth (Paley, A., 2021)
- Among LGBTQ+ middle and high school students, 59% felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, 37% because of their gender, and 42% because of their gender expression (Trevor Project, 2021).
- LGBTQ+ Youth in The Juvenile Justice System: LGBTQ+ youth are extremely overrepresented in the juvenile justice system. Researchers estimate that 20% of youth in the juvenile justice system are lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, gender nonconforming, or transgender compared with 4-6% of youth in the general population (Jones, A., 2021).
Who can attend a Unity Circle™?
This model is a safe space beyond the gender binary that responds to the needs and strengths of LGBTQI+ youth, gender diverse and gender non-conforming youth, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) populations, intersectional youth, allies, and adults. For youth ages 9-18; or teens and/or adults, depending on the selected curriculum.
Do I need to identify as LGBTQ+ to facilitate a Unity Circle™?
1 or 2 adult facilitators, ideally at least one person representing the diversity of identities or similar life experiences of participants in the circle.
FAQs for Women's Circle®
OCF is an organization that is expansive and celebrates all individuals. When we state women, we are including women and individuals who identify as female.
Who is Women’s Circle® for?
Women's Circle® is a support group for women to share, explore, build skills, and encourage one another to live authentically in mind, body, heart, and spirit.
The Women’s Circle® program is for women in colleges, careers, recovery programs, institutions, job training, military or volunteer service, faith-based settings, homemakers, and caregivers.
The Women’s Circle® program is for women in colleges, careers, recovery programs, institutions, job training, military or volunteer service, faith-based settings, homemakers, and caregivers.
Most OCF Groups are for youth. Why is there a Women’s Circle®?
The Ohio State University (OSU) implemented a service learning project using the Girls Circle® model. College women who were facilitating the circles for girls in their local communities began to participate in their own Women’s Circles using the same format and were convinced by the impact. A team of six OSU staff with Master’s Degrees in Higher Education & Student Affairs and Counseling partnered with One Circle Foundation to present the Women’s Circle® activity guides now available for women everywhere.
What are some of the themes in the Women’s Circle® Activity Guides?
There are Three Activity Guides for Women:
- Being a Well Woman
Focuses on holistic health and wellness using a variety of creative processes such as collages, games, surveys, case studies, and analysis along with guided visualization, stress relief and inspirational role models to explore self-care and how to support one another. Themes include physical, emotional, spiritual, occupational, and financial wellness, as well as intimacy and sexual wellness in women’s lives. - Relationships
Addresses relationships in women’s lives, including intimacy, sexuality, and personal standards. Explores working and professional relationships, family, and friendships, as well as competition and community. Women journal, brainstorm, role-play, and discuss topics with an inclusive approach, fostering deep connections and exploration of the importance of healthy relationships to women’s lives and well-being. - Identity – Who I Am
Supports women’s self-discovery and the importance of each one's place in family, community, and culture by examining “What Does it Mean to be Me?” and societal messages about identity. Women share values, influences, dreams, and roles within the context of family and culture leading to sharing of self-expression, acceptance, and affirmations in a supportive community.
Is there a Women's Circle® Training?
No there is no specific training for Women’s Circle®. Women’s Circle® follows the Girls Circle® 6-Step Format. While attending the Girls Circle® training is certainly the best option for preparing facilitators, individuals who cannot attend training can do so successfully if they follow the curricula carefully and structure their program and groups according to the principles and format outlined in our Girls Circle® Facilitator Manual. The most important qualification is to be a person who others can trust to be caring, a great listener, responsible to keep the climate emotionally comfortable for the participants, and knowing when to involve other community members as resources for the group and any individual member should the need arise.