What Is Girls Circle Program?
The Girls Circle program is a structured support group for girls and youth who identify with female development from 9-18 years, integrates relational theory, resiliency practices, and skills training in a specific format designed to increase positive connection, personal and collective strengths, and competence in girls.
It aims to counteract social and interpersonal forces that impede girls growth and development by promoting an emotionally safe setting and structure within which girls can develop caring relationships and use authentic voices.
The Girls Circle Activity Guides are designed to help the facilitator provide a creative environment and weeks of age-appropriate themes and activities. Girls Circles are most often held weekly for 1 to 2 hours.
The facilitator will lead a group of girls through a format that includes each girl taking turns talking and listening to one another respectfully about their concerns and interests. The girls express themselves further through creative or focused activities such as role playing, drama, journaling, poetry, drama, dance, drawing, collage, clay, and so on. Gender specific themes and topics are introduced which relate to the girls’ lives, such as being a girl, trusting ourselves, friendships, body image, goals, competition, and decision-making.

When girls voice their ideas and opinions in a safe environment, it strengthens their confidence and self-esteem and encourages them to express themselves more fully and critically think through their behavior and choices. By examining cultural expectations in a safe and supportive setting, girls gain greater awareness of their options and strengthen their ability to make choices that are consistent with their values, interests, and talents.
YWCA Southwestern Illinois is offering a Girls Circle program for middle school girls in the Alton area. YWCA will provide a Girls Circle Facilitator to coordinate the weekly sessions. There is no cost to the Girls Circle program.  

YWCA insists that all girls participating in the Girls Circle Program follow established guidelines for the Girls Circle and general societal rules for good behavior. Parent/Guardian will be contacted if needed regarding behavioral incidents. Should a child consistently violate rules of the Circle or exhibit inappropriate behavior, participant may be removed from the Circle.

I understand that The Girls Circle encourages creative and verbal expression and that the circle guidelines that follow provide the foundation for circle communication.
1. Everything heard and said in circle stays in circle. Its confidential. Only matters, which indicate possible harm to or by a circle participant, will be revealed.
2. We can “pass” whenever we choose. No one will be pressured to speak.
3. We will talk about our own experiences. If we talk about others, it is only to explain how they affect us in some way.
4. We will not try to advise others but listen to them. If they ask for advice, we will share any experience we have that might be useful.
5. We will avoid interrupting others.
6. We will accept other’s opinions or feelings as their own, without making them out to be wrong when they think different.
7. We will participate in each meeting. If we have to miss, we will phone the facilitator before the meeting, so people will know what’s happening with us.