“LIVING THE CIRCLE OF COURAGE”
The Circle of Courage is Whaley Children's
Center Program Philosophy. It operates on the basic premise that
children’s
needs must be met and developed in four critical areas in order to
improve their overall daily functioning as well as increase their
ability to
become productive citizens. It is a strength-based framework for
working with children and has a focus on four basic areas: Belonging,
Mastery,
Generosity and Independence.
Belonging emphasizes the importance of
individuals having a sense of connectedness to someone or something
- families, clubs, church groups,
etc. A positive sense of belonging nurtures self-esteem, self-worth,
and ultimately equips children with the ability to develop healthy
relationships with others.
Mastery refers to the importance of children
and youth developing skills that help them produce and exercise competence,
achievement and control
over self. Children gain mastery by learning new skills through daily
life and enrichment activities in which their environment provides
them with multiple opportunities to tap personal talents.
Generosity is intended to provide children
with opportunities to demonstrate altruism and helping behaviors. Children
learn to understand the value
of giving back to the community and making a meaningful contribution
to someone else.
Independence focuses on providing children with experiences
to develop autonomy and essential life skills. Children and youth learn
to accept
responsibility and to act responsibly. They are empowered to understand
how their choices affect their destiny.
