Healing through Art

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

We ignite healing in traumatized, underserved youth through creativity. More than 33,000 youth in Los Angeles (LA) are under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCSF), the highest in the nation in percentage and real numbers. They have been removed from their homes due to abuse. They may be placed with a relative; however more than 12,000 are in foster care. While California leads the nation in foster youth, most are in LA while the numbers increase annually.
The youth we serve are 5–18 years old, 56% Latine, 33% Black, 10% Caucasian and under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services and the Children's Court. Born into poverty, abuse, violence, incarceration, mental illness and hopelessness, youth lack the vocabulary to articulate their emotions, resulting in frustration, anger, disappointment and behaviors that land them in the criminal justice systems. 90% of youth have autism, ADD and/or bipolar disorder; all suffer depression & anxiety.

Free Arts engages youth in 1.5 hour weekly art education workshops through community partnerships with other nonprofits that support underserved youth including shelters, schools, family resource centers, hospitals, transitional housing, DCSF & Children's Court. Teaching artists facilitate Free Arts’ evidence-based curriculum, mentoring youth through the process of creating visual, spoken word, or clay art projects with two volunteers. Teaching artists create and bring a sample of the final project for youth to work from. Nearly all youth have never created art or used art supplies. Workshops begins with icebreakers to facilitate engagement and create safety. The curriculum teaches art skills, and focuses on a BIPOC artist, art form or historical site. For example Frida Kalho, The Watts Towers, Talavera painting or LA street artists. Art history is included in each workshop so youth learn about their culture and history, that of others and how it may be similar or different. Youth gain pride in their culture, learn advocacy skills and learn to appreciate other cultures. Free Arts created a dance program at the suggestion of community partners to integrate into art workshops, giving youth a physical creative outlet with mindfulness & movement therapy. Each staff member and volunteer complete a two-day workshop in trauma informed care, Free Arts’ curriculum, CPR, mentoring, and mandatory reporting. All must attend annual DEI training and pass a background check.

Free Arts strategic plan calls for increasing annual revenue from $500KK to $750KK. We envision a Los Angeles where the cycle of poverty and violence is disrupted permanently for youth of the future. Free Arts existing evidence-based programs reduce anxiety and depression and increase coping, communication and life skills, plus boost self-esteem and self efficacy. Next steps are to engage youth in a physical outlet for their depression, anxiety, frustration and anger. This physical outlet was created with credentialed dance and movement therapy experts to help youth be more aware of how their body reacts to their emotions and how physical activity can provide relief and healing. Community partners report youth are highly stressed and after sitting in school all day, frustrated and angry. They lack access to safe neighborhoods or parks in which to walk or exercise, and need a physical outlet. The dance program is fun and engaging, and dancing has been found to be healing.

This is a new initiative of an existing project that has yet to be launched due to funding. It will be piloted fall 2024 with one of community partners Children's Institute Watts or Yetunde' Price Community Center in Compton. Free Arts gathers outcomes data from community partners and existing evaluation partner Hello Insight to measure if programs meet their goals. A peer-reviewed, published research study conducted by Fielding Graduate Institute by Principle Investigator Joseph P. Bush, Ph.D. found that Free Arts youth experienced improved affect and were better able to communicate their experiences, feelings and needs to adults. Hello Insight found statistical significance for existing programs improving youths' social skills, self-esteem and self-efficacy. These outcomes are reinforced by anecdotal evidence from teaching artists/mentors and community partners, which is gathered quarterly; that youth learn teamwork and social skills, and improve self-management behaviors.