About Us
Our Vision
Vision
We envision a world where young people have the skills, resources, and support they need to thrive.
Mission
The mission of Circles of Connection & Resilience is to provide a safe place where young people can pause, connect and build skills to create their own path toward mental health and wellbeing.
Our Philosophy
Circles strives to foster connections among young people and support their mental health. Our core values are:
Growth and Healing
Connecting with yourself and others can foster growth and healing from loss, trauma, and other forms of harm
Shared Power
Sharing power with young people at every step of the process supports their autonomy and brilliance. This helps young people improve their critical thinking skills, decision making and emotional intelligence.
Inclusion
Creating a safe space where young people’s identities related to gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and other cultural factors are valued.
Safety
Creating safety is complex. Physical, psychological, social, moral, and cultural safety are essential for growth.
Our Story
Our team has worked in the behavioral health system for decades. Through our experience, we came to believe that the way the behavioral health system engages with young people must fundamentally change. Services are often not accessible, and they are not designed to meet the developmental needs of young people. Yet services are essential because all young people face challenges growing up, and many have been exposed to high levels of adversity and other ongoing stressors.
We adapted the groundbreaking work of Sandra Bloom, M.D., and Joe Fodero, MSW, to provide a model that meets the need for developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant care. We recognize that intervening early can help young people navigate the challenges they face and support their healing and growth.
Our Team
Patricia Cobb, Co-Founder
Patricia Cobb, MS, has over twenty-five years of experience in developing and leading trauma-responsive, developmentally grounded, and resilience-driven programs for adults and young people nationally and internationally. Patricia’s work has been shaped by her experiences collaborating with young adults. She is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and well-being whose approach is trauma-responsive, committedly collaborative, co-designed, and culturally inclusive.
Lynn Mumma, Co-Founder
Lynn Mumma, MSW, has over fifteen years’ experience leading behavioral health and child welfare systems. Through this work, she developed a deep appreciation for the wisdom that young people hold about their health and wellness and a passion for supporting their growth.