You can think of a circle as a life preserver, a ring-shaped, life-saving flotation device. Great Circle, a nonprofit agency that provides behavioral health services to children and families, is just that—a support in rough seas, a lifeline when things get tough. With regional campuses, including one in Webster Groves, counseling centers and community-based offices, the organization addresses behavioral health problems. Last year, it touched the lives of 30,000 individuals across the state of Missouri, where 65,000 children have mental health issues. “We want people to know that it’s OK to ask for help, no matter how small or large you perceive your problem to be,” says president and CEO Vince Hillyer. “We encourage families not to wait until the stress or trauma has reached crisis level, but to reach out as soon as they can.”
And hard times can fall on anyone; vulnerability is not just a province of the poor. Great Circle understands, however, that shoring up families and making those important social units stronger helps ensure better outcomes for both the family and the community.
“One drop of support for Great Circle can produce ripples that reach far beyond the immediate recipients of our services,” Hillyer says. “When children and families are stronger, communities are stronger. With the right tools and support, healthy, loving families can spread the wealth, helping people around them thrive as well.”
In addition to in-home services that include crisis and parenting support, Great Circle also provides 24-hour residential treatment, autism services, counseling, specialized education services and foster care. An adventure and wilderness therapy program to help youth and families discover self-awareness and inner courage takes place at the nonprofit’s 1,200-acre ranch in Steelville, Missouri. Every day during the school year, nearly 500 children who struggle in a traditional school setting are educated at four nationally accredited schools operated by Great Circle.
“The organization serves all of Missouri, and stays dedicated to meeting people where they are,” Hillyer says, adding that in the past few years, it has doubled its footprint, helping tens of thousands of children, teens and family members in every corner of the state.
Hillyer stresses that one of the organization’s goals is to remove the stigma that surrounds mental health, because that often can prevent people from asking for help. But he says he is optimistic: “There’s more public discussion around the issue, and we are seeing momentum. We’re not alone in the conversation anymore.” And the more Great Circle can help keep families stitched together, the more hopeful their children will be.
All Great Circle programs are made possible through donations, grants, fundraisers and slidingscale fees. On Nov. 11, the nonprofit hosts its biggest annual event, Starry Starry Night, at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. The evening includes cocktails, dinner, an auction, testimonials from alumni and their families, and a musical and magical performance by Great Circle children.
Great Circle is one of the largest providers of family support and behavioral health services in Missouri. On Nov. 11, it hosts its biggest annual event, Starry Starry Night, at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. Pictured on the cover: Vice chair Jeanne Crawford, Great Circle alumnus Jake Bremer, and co-chairs Paul and Amy Inman. For more information, call 314.968.2060 or visit greatcircle.org.
Cover design by Allie Bronsky | Cover photo by Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton Photography
