Discover the strength within.
Fall 2014
Amazing life turn around for a young girl Your support of Fostering Futures makes it possible
M
ikaela’s story began in January 2011, when
she was placed in protective custody due to alleged physical abuse by her biological father. Mikaela grew up with little parental oversight. She was neglected and abused and experienced sexual abuse by age 11, leading to a pregnancy at age 12.
When Mikaela was placed in foster care, she felt unanchored and that no one in the world loved or cared for her. She was enrolled in Fostering Futures, a program that helps kids and teens thrive in stable homes. Her therapist helped her overcome her anxiety and fears and taught her how to deal with her anger and feelings of sadness and guilt. The therapist worked with the foster family to help them understand what Mikaela was going through and the importance of their support, encouragement and consistency. Mikaela participated in Great Circle’s Changing Prisms program, an all-female program for empowerment and building self-esteem. She also participated in adventure therapy at the Meramec Wilderness Learning Ranch. Mikaela discovered that she could be supportive of others and help them overcome some of the hardships they have experienced.
She grew stronger as she tried new things, even activities that she viewed as scary. Mikaela now has a part-time job, is studying for the ACTs and is attending independent living classes. She has a 4.0 grade point average. She dreams to attend a prestigious music school such as Julliard to pursue a career in music production. Without Fostering Futures, Mikaela may have experienced multiple foster placements due to her complex needs. Instead, Mikaela found stability, began defining success for herself, and is ready to graduate from high school and move forward with her life. Fostering Futures is partly funded by St. Louis Mental Health Board and St. Louis County Children’s Services fund. Great Circle relies on additional investment from the community to ensure the success of kids and teens like Mikaela.
Help brighten kids’ holidays Visit www.greatcircle.org or call your local campus to help make holiday wishes come true. There are many ways to help—fill wish lists, volunteer to wrap gifts, host a party, donate gift cards and more. Columbia (573) 442-8331 St. James (573) 899-7142
Springfield (417) 865-1646 St. Louis (314) 919-4733
The mission of Great Circle is to reshape vulnerable lives through a community of partners, teachers, and leaders, giving children and families the confidence to create bright futures.
Great Circle • Fall 2014
Tribute & Memorial Gifts
What you need to know about our new strategic plan
March 1–Sept. 30, 2014 Thank you for supporting treatment programs for children and families by honoring family members, friends and loved ones.
Letter from the president & CEO
In Honor of Claudia Hartner Mrs. Charlotte K. Martin Duane Howard Mr. and Mrs. Fred Harle Jon Jay Mr. and Mrs. Steven Pelch The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Kent Mr. and Mrs. Howard L. Wood Roger L. Popp Mr. James C. Barnes, II Susan Reeves Mrs. Cheryl Unterschutz Brent Vanconia SSM Health Care
In Memory of Martha H. Belzer Mr. William D. Kleyboecker Catherine A. Brauch Mr. and Mrs. Peter M. Rexford William Cornelius Ms. Phillury Platte and Mr. Joseph Antosek Mary J. Dickherber Mr. James L. Dickherber Richard C. Dunn Mr. Theodore C. Salveter, III Lawrence Gallagher Mr. and Mrs. Jerald W. Meers Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Nappier Josephine Gasloli Mrs. Sandra A. Boyd Mr. Raymond L. Frank Glen Hanselman Ms. Ann Dzengolewski Jessica Hillyer Mr. and Mrs. Michael G. Brimer Mr. James L. Dickherber Bill James Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Wydick Ron James Mr. and Mrs. Jerald W. Meers Brenda Manker Mr. James Manker Margaret Anonymous
W
hen Edgewood Children’s Center merged with Boys & Girls Town of Missouri in 2009, we created a new, unified agency stronger than the sum of its parts—Great Circle. We achieved operating efficiencies. We directed more resources into programs. We knew we needed to do more. We set the stage for creating new ways to help children, individuals and families meet today’s challenges. Over the last few months we gathered input from clients, board, staff members, referral resources and industry professionals. The result was an exciting new strategic plan. The plan guides our growth beyond child welfare to an agency with expanded mental health and emotional well-being services, known as behavioral health. Our legacy programs for children and families such as community-based services, education and day treatment, 24-hour specialized care and crisis services will remain. Our goal is to help those struggling with difficult circumstances cope with the daily challenges of life. Great Circle wants to be the first place people go to
get help. Below there is information about our new logo. While our logo has evolved, our commitment to quality programs, innovative intervention and courageous implementation will always be the same. Thank you for your past and continued support. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
Vincent D. Hillyer, ACSW, LCSW, BCD President & CEO
Our new logo We’re excited to share the new Great Circle logo with you. We began featuring it on our website earlier this year and we are introducing it to you in this newsletter. We wanted a logo that was more reflective of our brand which spans many programs, services and locations. To echo the idea that Great Circle adapts to the needs of each person, the texture behind the logo adapts and changes in different contexts. The white circle highlights the Great Circle name in an inviting font, a constant feature in the same way that the passion of our staff across Great Circle is a constant. The name within the circle symbolizes the safe, nurturing environment we provide for those in our care. The logo feels organic and handcrafted to reflect a human feel.
www.greatcircle.com
Much-needed autism services open in St. James
T
his spring, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new data on the prevalence of autism in the United States identifying 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls) as having autism spectrum disorder. Great Circle offers many programs for children and teens diagnosed with ASD from our St. Louis campus. Seeing a need for similar services in South Central Missouri, Great Circle opened a school for children with autism on the St. James campus. The school is a self-contained section adjacent to the larger school. Staff includes a certified special education teacher, licensed clinical therapists and teaching assistants. The program replicates our successful
program in St. Louis and includes classrooms, a sensory room, a white room and a life skills room. Students use smart board technology and iPads for learning. To date, the program has seven students ages six to 16.
Ronnie E. Martin Mr. L H Attebery Mr. Tony Barnes Mr. Bruce Burgher Durflinger Livestock Mr. Arthur Freeland Gary Simmons Agency, Inc. Mr. Danny Hall Mr. Kirk Houston Mr. Jim Keim Kirksville Chiropractic and Rehab Ms. Laurie Love Mr. David Perkins Mr. Phil Randolph Ms. Laura Mae Reynolds Mr. Charles Scott Ms. Anita Slaughter Mr. Larry Voyles Ms. Sara Jo York Betty Oldham Mr. and Mrs. Paul Austin Ms. Wilda Brozek Ms. Shirley F. Bussel Ms. Phylis A. Peluso Ms. Jill Porter Ms. Barbara A. Reed Mr. and Mrs. Steve Sisson My Dear Parents Mr. John L. Rose Mary L. Parker Mr. and Mrs. James V. Stepleton Mr. and Mrs. James Wuertenberg
New classroom for students with autism in St. James
School buildings strive to be A+ A warm and welcoming place to learn coming soon
O
ur school in St. Louis serves 220 children with emotional and behavior disorders and children on the autism spectrum from 40 school districts. The main buildings were built in the 1950s and 1970s and are showing wear and tear despite updates and renovations. As soon as we added two new classrooms in 2013, they filled. Renovation and new construction began this summer. The state-of-theart education complex will serve 250 students. The dining hall and a cottage will be refurbished. All work is being funded by contributions. To donate, contact advancement staff in your region. See list in column to the right of this story.
In Memory of (cont.)
Ronnie Partin Mr. and Mrs. K. J. Baker Mr. and Mrs. Billy J. Mallett William G. Pitcher Mrs. Mary Pitcher Vivian Siegel Ms. Joan T. Enloe Linda Studt Ms. Kathleen V. Keveney Doris Wood Ms. Joan T. Enloe
Would you like to
honor
someone? Go to greatcircle.org and click
donate!
or contact advancement staff! Columbia (573) 442-8331 Susan.Reeves@greatcircle.org View overlooking construction site
Springfield (417) 865-1646 Heather.Landwer@greatcircle.org St. James (573) 899-7142 Dale.Martin@greatcircle.org St. Louis (314) 919-4733 Jennifer.Wilson@greatcircle.org
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID St. Louis, MO Permit #2349 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 330 N. Gore Ave. St. Louis, MO 63119-1600
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping my son” Letter from a father whose son received treatment in our 24/7 intensive services program I’m the father of Steven. I wanted to call and thank you people very much. I’ve been coming to get Steven the last two months every weekend. And every weekend he’s doing a little better. And now he’s even wanting to work with me to earn money! He is getting motivated and I’m so proud. And I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping my son because he’s come a long ways. He’s done better in your care than anywhere he’s ever been. And I can see a lot of the indecipherable now which makes me very grateful as a father. And I can’t thank you guys enough. If there’s anything I can do to help you guys don’t hesitate to ask because you’ve done so much for my son. Thanks for doing what you’re doing for my son. Thank you.
This newsletter is a publication of Great Circle. Please direct questions to Great Circle’s Office of Communications, 4485 Westminster Place, St. Louis, MO 63108 or contact (314) 535-7911 or news@greatcircle.org.