The Circle of Courage model portrays four universal growth needs of all children: Belonging, Mastery, Independence, and Generosity. This philosophy emerged from collaboration of Martin Brokenleg, a professor of Native American Studies, and Larry Brendtro, a professor in children’s behavior disorders. They studied how traditional indigenous cultures were able to rear respectful, responsible children without resorting to coercive discipline. Their findings were first presented in 1988 to an international conference of the Child Welfare League of America in Washington, DC, and at the Trieschman Center in Boston. The Circle is portrayed by Lakota artist George Bluebird as a medicine wheel with four directions (see accompanying art).

This unique model integrated the cultural wisdom of tribal peoples, the practice wisdom of professional pioneers with troubled youth, and findings of modern youth development research. In 1990, the Circle of Courage entered the mainstream of education and youth work with the publication of Reclaiming Youth at Risk by Larry Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg, & Steve Van Bockern who were then colleagues at Augustana College.

In 1992, the journal Reclaiming Children and Youth was formed to advance research and practice related to the Circle of Courage. It was founded by Larry Brendtro and Nicholas J. Long, a prominent expert on the education of troubled students. With an editorial board of 100 leading researchers and practitioners, the journal is the most longstanding publication in this field.

In 1994, the annual Black Hills Seminars were established in collaboration with Fred Tully of the South Dakota Children’s Home Society. These conferences have expanded to Canada and abroad and are now sponsored by the non-profit organization Reclaiming Youth International, headed by Steve Van Bockern and Mark Freado and a distinguished board of leaders in the field. RYI also provides a wide range of training courses in Circle of Courage curriculums.

A second edition of Reclaiming Youth at Risk was published in 2002 with a foreword by Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. A dozen other books and hundreds of articles have extended the Circle of Courage model into education, treatment, juvenile justice, faith-based interventions, peer helping, resilience science, and indigenous education. (see annotated bibliography below)

Dean of Training of the Circle of Courage Institute Martin Brokenleg and colleagues have presented to 200,000 professionals worldwide. The model was adopted to transform youth services in South Africa during the administration of the first democratically elected President Nelson Mandela under leadership of Minister Geraldine Moloketi and Lesley du Toit. This led in 2005 to the The Developmental Audit® is a trauma-informed, strength based assessment protocol based on the Circle of Courage which is being adopted in schools, treatment centers, and with youth justice.

In 2009, the Circle of Courage Institute became a program of Starr Commonwealth under the leadership of Starr President and CEO, Dr. Martin Mitchell, a long-time colleague of Larry Brendtro. Starr is among the nation’s leading non-profit organizations serving troubled children and families. Circle of Courage trainings are grounded in resilience science, neuroscience, best practice, and reclaiming values as documented in Deep Brain Learning by Larry Brendtro, Martin Mitchell, & Herman McCall. This publication outlines the evidence based principles for success with challenging children and youth.

Starr Commonwealth has produced a range of strength-based research publications and trainings grounded in the Circle of Courage model. This includes the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC), headed by William Steele, and the Academy for Positive Peer Culture, headed by Erik Laursen and Tom Tate. Starr is also affiliated with the National Center for Healing Racism with the mission of building communities grounded in the oneness of humankind.

Canadian anthropologist Inge Bolin describes how "rituals of respect" permeate the values and child rearing practices of traditional indigenous cultures. When needs for Belonging, Mastery, Independence, and Generosity are met, children and youth thrive and achieve their full potential. But in modern society, the ecology of childhood is disrupted and children experience conflict in home, school, peer group, and community. Disconnected from caring adults and hyper-influenced by peers, basic growth needs go unmet and children present a host of problems and risky behavior. The Circle of Courage and its affiliated organizations and professionals have the mission of addressing these challenges.

Annotated Bibliography: Circle of Courage Related Publications

Reclaiming Youth at Risk by Larry Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg, & Steve Van Bockern (1990, 2002). An overview of the Circle of Courage model which applies Native American principles of child rearing to education, treatment, and youth development. Published by Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN.

Reclaiming Children and Youth journal, edited by Larry Brendtro, Nicholas Long, & Martin Mitchell (Published quarterly from 1994 to present). Includes topical issues on a full range of strength-based interventions for children experiencing emotional and behavioral problems. Published by Circle of Courage Institute at Starr Commonwealth, Sioux Falls, SD.

Positive Peer Culture: A Selected Bibliography edited by George Giacobbe, Elaine Traynelis-Yurek, Larry Powell, & Erik Laursen (1994). Summarizes research on peer helping grounded in Circle of Courage principles of attachment, achievement, autonomy, and altruism. Published by the National Association of Peer Group Agencies, Richmond, VA.

The EQUIP Program by John Gibbs, Granville Potter, & Arnold Goldstein (1995). Integrates Positive Peer Culture with research on Aggression Replacement Training. Published by Research Press, Champaign, IL.

Strength-Based Strategies for Children and Youth: An Annotated Bibliography edited by George Giacobbe, Elaine Traynelis-Yurek, & Erik Laursen (1999). Reviews research on Positive Peer Culture, teamwork approaches, and cognitive restructuring. Published by the National Association of Peer Group Agencies, Richmond, VA.

Reclaiming Our Prodigal Sons and Daughters by Scott Larson & Larry Brendtro (2000). Applies Circle of Courage principles to faith-based organizations and those concerned with spiritual development of youth. Published by Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN.

Restructuring for Caring and Effective Education by Richard Villa & Jacqueline Thousand (2000). A text on the paradigm shift and strategies for creating inclusive schools and classrooms. Published by Paul H. Brookes, Baltimore, MD.

Schools with Spirit: Nurturing the Inner Lives of Children and Teachers edited by Linda Lantieri (2001). Discusses Circle of Courage values as central to social and emotional learning in this exposition on transforming schools. Published by Beacon Press, Boston, MA.

Mentoring for Talent Development edited by Ken McCluskey & Annabelle Mays (2003). Integrates concepts from gifted education, creativity, and mentoring marginalized young people.
Published by Reclaiming Youth International, Sioux Falls, SD.

Troubled Children and Youth: Turning Problems into Opportunities by Larry Brendtro & Mary Shahbazian (2004). Presents research based strategies for using crisis as opportunity and cultivating strengths in young people. Published by Research Press, Champaign, IL.

Kids Who Outwit Adults by John Seita & Larry Brendtro (2005). Discloses the private logic behind troubled and defiant acts and strategies to reach adult-wary youth. Published by Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN.

No Disposable Kids by Larry Brendtro, Arlin Ness, & Martin Mitchell (2005). Challenges the notion that any kid is “too far gone” to be helped and shares strategies based on research and actual cases. Published by Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN.

Response Ability Pathways: Restoring Bonds of Respect by Larry Brendtro & Lesley du Toit with foreword by Martin Brokenleg (2005). This text accompanies RAP training which provides practical training on connecting with youth in conflict, clarifying problems and challenges, and restoring harmony. Published by Pretext, Cape Town, South Africa.

Kinder stärken Kinder [Children helping children] by Gunther Opp & Nicola Unger (2006). Applies strength-based principles for building positive peer cultures to emotionally troubled students. Published by Körber-Stiftung, Hamburg, Germany.

The Resilience Revolution by Larry Brendtro & Scott Larson (2006). Practical strategies to help children overcome pain in their lives and develop resilience. Published by Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN.

Conflict in the Classroom: Positive Staff Support for Troubled Students by Nicholas Long, William Morse, Frank Fescer, and Ruth Newman (2007, 6th ed.). An exhaustive compendium of articles on all aspects of building safe and reclaiming schools. Published by Pro-Ed, Austin, Texas.

Connecting with Kids in Conflict: A Life Space Legacy by William C. Morse (2008). Historical perspectives and principles by a pioneer in the education and treatment of troubled children, William C. Morse [1915-2008] of the University of Michigan. Published by Reclaiming Children and Youth and Starr Commonwealth, Sioux Falls, SD.

Deep Brain Learning: Pathways to Potential with Challenging Youth by Larry Brendtro, Martin Mitchell, & Herm McCall, 2009). Identifies evidence-based principles for effective interventions with challenging children and youth through a consilience of neuroscience, positive psychology, practice wisdom, and expertise of children and families. Published by the Circle of Courage Institute at Starr Commonwealth, Albion, MI.

Kündenorientierung-Partizipation-Respekt [Client focused-participation-respect] edited by Karen Sanders & Michael Bock (2009). Highlights new directions in youth work including Positive Peer Culture and RAP models. Published by VS fur Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden, Germany.

Classroom Management: Engaging Students in Learning by Tim McDonald (2010). Develops a “Positive Learning Framework” based on Circle of Courage principles with strategies for developing environments where students can flourish. Published by Oxford University Press, Melbourne, Australia.

TherapyWise: Creating Courage from Within by Robert Foltz (in press). The essential guide for teens in therapy (and their parents) for getting most out of treatment with psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors. To be published by Circle of Courage Institute at Starr Commonwealth, Albion, Michigan.

Related Websites

Circle of Courage Institute (www.circleofcourageinstitute.org)

International Child and Youth Care Network is led by Brian Gannon, Thom Garfat, and Leon Fulcher (www.cyc-net.org)

Reclaiming Children and Youth Journal (www.reclaimingjournal.com)

Reclaiming Youth International (www.reclaiming.com)

Psychoeducational Network is edited by Dr. Charles Chrystal (www.psychoED.net)

Starr Commonwealth (www.starr.org)