Benefits to Populations Served

Children at Risk

Art programs provide positive alternatives for at-risk youth. There are youth at risk in all grade levels. They may have life circumstances beyond their control, may be yielding low grades, have excessive discipline referrals, or abundant absences. These children are at risk of academic failure, not graduating from high school, drug abuse, gang activity and violence. Today's youth face complex challenges affecting their personal lives and future opportunities. National statistics cite that youth account for 18 percent of all reported violent crime and 33 percent of all serious property crime.

ARTreach programs are designed to provide an alternative to delinquent behavior and truancy, while promoting an improved attitude towards a scholastic environment. Our programs help participants learn how to express themselves in an appropriate non-violent manner. The learning and application of these skills lead to less crime. Youth often face difficult choices. Art programs teach creative problem solving skills and help build self-confidence and self-discipline. Art education is central to a youth's individual and social development and nurtures a child's overall development by:

* Strengthening academic performance and communication skills
* Teaching cooperation and team building skills
* Contributing to technological competence
* Fostering an appreciation for cultural and ethnic diversity
* Teaching creative problem solving skills
* Building self esteem and self discipline
* Encouraging and practicing the ability to imagine and articulate thoughts
* Teaching responsibility to complete tasks from start to finish
* Increasing literacy skills
* Deterring delinquent behavior and truancy problems

ARTreach programs are primarily designed to support at-risk children in the public school system, children in Child Protective Services (CPS) custody, in foster care and/or residential treatment or in the Juvenile Justice System. Many of these children suffer from clinical depression and other emotional or behavioral issues that are often the result of abuse, abandonment or neglect. ARTreach programs address anger-related issues and support conflict resolution through the integration of arts and education.

The Elderly

ARTreach advisors are serving a growing number of seniors in assisted living communities making a transition to a new life in Katy and the surrounding Houston area. Sometimes, moving from an independent lifestyle to an assisted lifestyle can be a difficult transition, no matter how important and necessary. Our seniors are often leaving a lifetime of friends and community connections to be closer to immediate family and medical care. Making new friends and feeling connected to their new home is an important part of the healthy transition and lifestyle. ARTreach utilizes the arts as a way to enrich the lives of the elderly, by building friendships and establishing new connections to the community.

Children and Adults with special needs

ARTreach offers art and service programs for the mentally and physically disadvantaged. ARTreach is addressing the need to provide enrichment and educational activities during the day for adults with special needs who have aged out of the public school system but remain in need of educational day care services. ARTreach programs introduce participants to the visual and performing arts through weekly lessons and demonstrations. The program includes dance, drawing, painting and sculpting workshops for the participants, and includes field trips to local artists' studios and local art venues. These programs provide numerous service opportunities for volunteers as well as frequent opportunities for the disabled to share their new art skills with other children and adults in the community.

Victims of Crime, Drug Rehabilitation,
Pregnancy and Education, Grief Counseling

ARTreach programs have been developed to serve primary and secondary victims of the crimes of domestic and/or sexual abuse. These programs support counseling and recovery through the arts, and have also been used to aid in drug rehabilitation, to help individuals dealing with unplanned pregnancies, and as a supplement to grief counseling programs. These ARTreach programs are designed to create a positive environment, to build self-esteem, to introduce positive role models, and to offer a positive outlet for stresses associated with recovery. ARTreach artists and volunteers teach methods of communicating that are effective and relevant, including poetry, RAP, creative writing, and illustration.

Overview

Since 2003 we have designed innovative programs and developed best practices to serve a wide variety of social needs through our mentoring through art programs. We have demonstrated success in a variety of social service applications, and have become skilled in delivering programs to several high risk facilities including juvenile detention and residential treatment centers, plus hospitals, shelters, and alternative schools. ARTreach has introduced new art opportunities to large numbers of children at risk at underserved schools and community centers through staged cultural arts presentations.

Below is a listing of Katy, Houston and Fort Bend agencies and school districts or campuses that recieve ARTreach Program support. New agencies and campuses may apply for assistance at any time to qualify for program support.

Houston Independent School District, Katy and Fort Bend Independent School District- Mentoring through Art, Alternative Schools and after-school programs for at risk children- General assemblies for Elementary and Junior High title one schools.

Houston Independent School District – Cultural Arts presentations and general assemblies supporting TEKS objectives in underserved campuses. Art Enrichment Programs for HISD Summer camps for children at risk. Making if Better- Art enrichment and character building through the arts programs in elementary and junior high schools.

Fort Bend County Juvenile Probation Department – Juvenile Detention Center and alternative school campus in Richmond, Texas. Art programs supporting juvenile justice objectives; conflict resolution, team building and social skills development.

Harris County Leadership Academy and BBRC–
A Harris County Juvenile Probation Department Residential Correctional facilities located in Hockley, Texas and Houston, Texas- Programs supporting juvenile justice objectives incorporate conflict resolution, team building and social skills development. ARTreach develops programs for Residential treatment facilities and children suffering from depression and anger-related issues resulting from abuse, abandonment or neglect. Arts-in-Education programs build self-esteem and self-awareness through the arts, and motivational and inspirational art, dance and music programs support spiritual care.

DePelchin Children's Center in Richmond and Houston – Serving moderate to high level of care children in the foster care system. ARTreach programs supporting Arts-in -Education and Self Awareness through the Arts.

Yes Prep Academy – After school enrichment focused on education and graduation

ARC of Katy – Supporting weekly art-related activities for the participants in the ARC of Katy Day Program supporting intellectually and developmentally disabled adults.

Brookwood Community – Encouraging new volunteer involvement through dance and music programs supporting physical education and social skills development for functioning disabled adults living in the Brookwood Community, in Brookshire, Texas.

Oakmont Medical Care Center – Arts, painting and crafts for Alzheimer's patients residing in this facility.

Senior Living and Assisted Living Communties for the Elderly and Alzheimer's Patients – Expressive Art Workshops, creative movement, drawing, loom weaving, studio tours, special events in the community, and a wide variety of volunteer-driven arts and craft activities. The ARTreach Studio offers free workshops every Tuesday to elderly in assisted living. Find ARTbeat! ARTreach Intergenerational art and music programs at the Forum at Memorial Oaks, Providence Senior Living, Solana, Sunrise and Mamie George Senior Center in Rosenberg

Art Studio Scholarship Programs - available for children at risk in the school districts, and youth in foster care as identified through case workers and child advocates.

Katy Medical Care Community – Texas Children's Hospital, Methodist Hospital West Campus, Christ Clinic programs serving un-insured or underprivileged patients, better health and nutrition, children in long term care.

Adolescents in Recovery (AIR) – Drug rehabilitation programs involving family participation and collaboration.

Palmer Drug Abuse Program (PDAP) –Art programs supporting drug abuse awareness, prevention, and addiction recovery

Katy Christian Ministries Domestic Abuse Center and Sexual Assault Center – Fort Bend Women's Center - families in crisis can apply for free art lessons and studio field trips.
AIDS Foundation of Houston- free workshops to support counseling
We Care Residential Treatment- abused and abandoned girls ages 11-17, free art lessons and group workshops
Behavior Coalition- Above the Influence, Mural projects and drug abuse awareness

Third Ward Outreach Projects – neighborhood outreach, music, art and dance festivals, studio residencies and positive peer mentoring through the arts.