Vision Statement
Circle of Hope MO strives to be the leading organization in delivering professional-quality support and resources to children who have experienced the loss of a parent, sibling, or guardian due to homicide or tragic deatn to a close loved one.
Core Values
At Circle of Hope MO, our core values guide every action we take:
- Compassionate Support: We provide a victim-focused environment, ensuring all staff and volunteers offer compassion, dignity, sensitivity, confidentiality, and respect to families in crisis.
- Continuous Improvement: We consistently evaluate and expand our efforts to assist children affected by homicide, always seeking to make a positive difference.
- Collaborative Advocacy: We work closely with outside advocacy support and law enforcement to provide accurate information and resources, and to help rebuild victims’ trust in the justice system.
- Empowered Growth: We commit to ongoing education and the implementation of Trauma-Informed Care for all staff and volunteers, ensuring the highest quality of support for our families.
Pre-Funeral Resources
Circle of Hope is now partnering with a local barber and stylist to provide simple haircuts and hairstyles for children of the deceased before their funeral. We also offer prayer/candlelight vigils and emotional support to families during the planning of the funeral services. A trained volunteer or staff member will talk to the child before the service about what to expect. All services are provided at the request of the child’s parent or guardian.
How You Can Help:
Circle of Hope relies on the support of the community to provide its services. There are many ways to get involved:
- Donate: Financial donations help A Circle of Hope to provide its services to children and families in need.
- Volunteer: Volunteers provide essential support to the organization, including helping with administrative tasks, leading support groups, and mentoring children.
- Spread the word: Help A Circle of Hope reach more children and families by sharing its story with your friends and family.
Together, we can create a circle of hope for children who have been impacted by homicide or other tragedies.
Grief and Loss Support Groups
Circle of Hope offers support groups that are age appropriate that deal with grief and loss. These groups offer several benefits to children including:
- A safe space to express their feelings and experiences. Children often feel isolated and misunderstood after experiencing grief or trauma. Being in a support group with other children who have had similar experiences can help them feel less alone and more accepted.
- An opportunity to learn from others. Children can learn from other children in the support group how to cope with their grief and trauma. They can also learn about the different stages of grief and how to heal.
- A sense of hope and resilience. Seeing other children who have experienced grief and trauma go on to heal and thrive can give children hope for their own future. It can also show them that they are not alone in their journey.
Life Coaches and Mentorship
Circle of Hope offers life coaches and mentorship for grieving children to provide support and guidance as these children navigate the grieving process. Life coaches and mentors can help children to:
- Understand their emotions. Children often have difficulty understanding and expressing their emotions, especially after experiencing a loss. Life coaches and mentors can help children to identify and label their emotions, and to develop healthy coping mechanisms.
- Process their grief. The grieving process is different for everyone, but it typically involves a range of emotions, such as sadness, anger, guilt, and confusion. Life coaches and mentors can help children to work through these emotions in a healthy way.
- Navigate their new normal. Life after loss can be difficult for children, but life coaches and mentors can help them navigate their new normal. They can help children to develop coping mechanisms, build resilience, and find meaning in their lives.
In addition to supporting children through the grieving process, life coaches and mentors can also help children to develop their life skills and to reach their full potential.