It may look stable—a nice house, a tidy lawn, good schools for the kids, good jobs—but no family is immune from life’s twists. Things go wrong; the unexpected happens—a death or diagnosis, addiction or divorce, and the downward spiral can start quite easily. For affluent families, a stock market crash can mean disaster; for low-income families, something as simple as a broken water heater can wreak havoc—a child goes to school with dirty clothes; bullying, shame or truancy ensue; the parent has to work overtime and is not at home to supervise. This is how a ‘simple’ problem can be anything but.
That’s where Great Circle comes in. The nonprofit addresses this ‘domino effect’ through its focus on building family strength and stopping problems before they start. Founded on the concept that when families are stronger so are communities, Great Circle provides comprehensive services to shore up households facing challenges and stop the snowball of hardship. The organization’s emphasis is on behavioral health (social and emotional issues) and it is one of the largest providers in our state. Missouri is home to 65,000 children with mental health conditions, and one in 10 preschoolers is expelled because of them. Last year, the nonprofit touched the lives of 27,000 individuals. Families are referred to Great Circle by social services, health centers, schools, courts and other organizations.
“Trauma and stress can cause a family suddenly to be in crisis, not knowing where to turn or what to do,” explains Vince Hillyer, Great Circle president and CEO. “Unfortunately, our world is becoming increasingly more stressful. For our children and young adults, the impact of 24/7 news coverage creates not only a sense of fear, but it also leaves them feeling less safe and less trusting.”
Hillyer says studies show that people don’t seek help unless it is easily accessible, but Great Circle’s network of 18 sites across the state ensures that assistance is never very far away. Either the organization helps directly, or it connects families to other behavioral health resources in the community. And sometimes, help goes directly to the home: A program called Intensive In-Home Services is designed to keep families together safely and address any obstacles, whether it be behavior issues in a child, the unemployment of a parent or other stressful situations. This
program has crisis-intervention specialists spending 20 hours per week in the home for a period of four to six weeks, living and breathing the family life and taking inventory of problem areas. “We encourage families not to wait until the stress or trauma has reached a crisis level, but to reach out as soon as they can. We can do our best work when Great Circle is a first step, not a last resort,” Hillyer says.
Among other services, Great Circle also provides 24-hour residential treatment, an emergency shelter, parenting support and therapeutic foster care. Because of an upswing in addiction in all levels of society, there are plans to add a substance abuse program.
Hillyer says all these programs are made possible through donations, grants, fundraisers and sliding-scale fees and on Nov. 12, the nonprofit hosts its biggest annual event, Starry Starry Night. The evening includes cocktails, dinner, auction and live entertainment, and takes place at Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. “Events like these help us be even better in helping our clients and families
become stronger and capable into the future,” Hillyer says.
Photo Courtesy of Great Circle
Great Circle provides a spectrum of services to keep families in distress healthy and intact. It is one of the largest behavioral health providers in Missouri. The organization’s biggest fundraiser, Starry Starry Night, takes place Nov. 12 at Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. For tickets and information, call 314.919.4733 or visit greatcircle.org/events. Pictured on the cover: gala vice chair Amy Inman, co-chairs Rick Messey and Lisa Prinster-Messey and Mary Ann and John Hunzeker.
Cover Design by Jon Fogel | Cover Photo by Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton Photography