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“The fun part was watching the group bond and grow and come together as a group. I would recommend this training to anyone who works with youth.”
Anna Davis, Program Coordinator, East Akron Community House, Akron, Ohio

Models & Best Practices

One Circle Foundation offers four models — Girls Circle®, The Council for Boys and Young Men®, Unity Circle, and Women’s Circle®.

Our programs employ evidence-based principles of a strengths-based approach, motivational interviewing strategies and have a strong focus on positive youth development. The age old process of communing in a safe circle is the foundational strength of all programs.

 

Girls Circle®

A structured support group for girls and gender-expansive youth from 9-18 years which integrates relational theory, resiliency practices, and skills training. Designed to increase positive connection, strengths, and competence in girls. Also offered under the model is Mother-Daughter Circle, for mothers or female caregivers and their daughters. >

 

The Council for Boys and Young Men®

A strengths-based group approach to promote boys’ and young men’s safe and healthy passage through pre-teen and adolescent years. In this structured environment, participants gain the vital opportunity to address masculine definitions and behaviors and build capacities to find their innate value and create good lives individually and collectively! >

 

Unity Circle

A structured support group model for people of all genders that addresses critical needs and strengths while honoring and celebrating the unique lived experiences of circle participants. Rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles, it aims to boldly counteract racial and social forces that impede growth and development in all types of environments. >

 

Women's Circle®

A support group for women to share, explore, build skills, and encourage one another to live authentically in mind, body, heart and spirit. A program for women in colleges, careers, recovery programs, institutions, job training, military or volunteer service, faith- based settings, homemakers and caregivers. >
“There have been several moments during this process, after different group sessions, where we are left with a feeling that we have bared witness to something so special, almost spiritual occurring.”
Rebecca Davis, MSW, Orr High School, Chicago

How it Works

5-10 participants with 1-2 facilitators meet for 1.5 - 2 hour weekly sessions during an 8-12 week period*. Groups are age-appropriate with gender-relevant themes and employ strengths-based facilitation strategies.

Our Facilitator Trainings and Curricula help ensure that these circle models will be implemented successfully, with fidelity and confidence. *Adaptable to school and high transition settings

Who Can Be A Facilitator?

Caring adults lead and implement the supportive circle programs, including teachers, parents, counselors, therapists, probation and peace officers, youth advocates, health practitioners, program directors, youth ministers, and correctional staff, business and lay persons. Please see our Training Calendar if you are interested in becoming a Certified Facilitator.

Who Can Participate in the Groups?

Girls Circle®, The Council for Boys and Young Men®, and Women's Circle® reach across cultures, race and ethnicity, across demographics, socio-economic status, sexual orientation and gender identity, and religious or spiritual beliefs. The programs are successful as an intervention program or as a prevention program, yet both are delivered in the same manner. Why? Because the fundamental approach is to create connection and build a community that provides, safety, respect, non-judgment, and a listening environment. Facilitators do not lecture nor provide advice. They meet group participants where they are at and believe they have the capacity to critically think and make good decisions regardless of their age or backgrounds. They affirm strengths and promote leadership. Even troubled teens learn how to use their skills and talents in positive ways.
All people deserve a voice; all people deserve to be believed in, and all people want to know that “they are not alone.” One Circle Foundation's circle models are very successful in helping children, youth and adults to find connection, build assets, improve self-confidence, and lead meaningful, purposeful lives!

Key Programming Elements Apply Across All Youth, Family, and Women’s Service Sectors

Girls Circle® and The Council for Boys and Young Men® models offer gender-relevant, culturally responsive circle programs for safe and healthy youth development. Women’s Circle® offers a female adult development program model to strengthen women’s competencies and capacities in relationships, health, and identity.

Our circle models offer a unique level of programming sustainability, adaptable to meet the needs of varied populations with the appropriate level of care and relevant content. Programs benefit from the clarity of structure and the strengths-based approach of the models. They choose from the full range of OCF curricula and can implement one 8-12 week cycle from beginning to end or select units according to the needs and interests of their groups. The groups can be short term or ongoing, and are usually “closed” groups but in high-transition settings, “open” groups are successful as well.

Organizations can additionally choose to incorporate other curricula into the specific format and approach of these Circle/Council models. In this way, while the focus of the circles and their topics and activities vary, the structure and facilitation approaches become a regular, predictable, sustainable and enjoyable method of service delivery ensuring consistency for clients, staff, and stakeholders.

To view a chart of key elements of each model and their application across service sectors, view our Grant Writer's Template (PDF).



Testimonials

Hear from youth participants, facilitators, and decision-makers about the impact of these models on our testimonials page. If you have a story you'd like to share, email us.