Overview

Healing – Opportunity – Prevention – Education (HOPE) is a 4-6-month program that offers a range of services to help strengthen families and empower participants to work through conflict and remain as a cohesive family unit. Great Circle’s experienced and compassionate staff assist in developing attainable goals, establishing healthy relationships and creating a reliable support system.

HOPE strives to meet families where they are in their life journey and help eliminate barriers to success, such as lack of transportation or insurance. Great Circle staff members provide services either in-office or in-home. HOPE also eliminates out-of-pocket costs by providing services for free if the individual/family does not have insurance.

Program Details

HOPE was developed in response to continuing increases in the number of children in Boone County coming into state’s custody and becoming part of the foster care system. Recent reports indicate there are about 450 children from Boone County in foster care. That number represents a 45% increase over the last 10 years.

HOPE uses natural support networks and community resources to support the family. Partners include: Missouri’s Children’s Division, Boone County’s Juvenile Court and Juvenile Office, Center for Dispute Resolution, Columbia Public Schools and rural school districts, Community Action Agency, Boone County Health Department and Family Access Center for Excellence (FACE).

Services include:

• Screening and assessment. This includes:
• Trauma screener and assessment
• Parenting Stress Index (PSI)
• Stress Index for Parents with Adolescents (SIPA)
• Individual and family counseling. This includes:
• Motivational interviewing, using an evidence-based approach that respects all family members’ knowledge of situations and encourages making positive decisions and accomplish goals based on internal and family needs.
• Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), which is an evidence-based, conjoint child-parent treatment for children and adolescents impacted by trauma.
• Alcohol and substance abuse therapy, as needed
• Family group decision-making. This evidence-based program empowers families to resolve concerns and improve planning skills and family life.
• Case management. This collaborative process includes advocacy, communication and resource development to evaluate options and services required to meet individual needs.
• Support groups: Monthly support groups are held on the last Thursday of each month. Different psychoeducational and parenting topics are discussed. Parents meet from 1-2 pm, while youths meet from 4-5 pm. We award $10 incentive gift cards for attendance at each group. Snacks and drinks are served.

HOPE is funded through the Boone County Children’s Services Fund (CSF), which supports programs that promote the physical, mental and social well-being of Boone County residents to cultivate a safe and healthy community. Learn more about CSF here.