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Art with Heart 

Description

Art with Heart develops and provides innovative, research-based, therapeutic tools, and trainings that extend the resources of direct service providers in order to bridge the gap for mental health support to under-served populations. Based on best practices of cognitive behavioral, narrative, and art therapies, we help address the emotional needs of children struggling to overcome profound challenges such as serious illness, abuse, and trauma, and enable them to safely and constructively express their anxieties and needs, and cope with difficulty.

Mission Statement
Our mission is to improve the mental health and well-being of high-risk youth through therapeutic books, programs and trainings.
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Art with Heart
PO Box 94402 
Seattle 
WA
98124-6702 
(206) 362-4047 

Ms. Steffanie Lorig 
Executive Director 

Programs

Art with Heart Programs

Our CHILL & SPILL program helps adolescents experiencing crisis and centers around a guided, therapeutic journal that:
  • Fosters Social and Emotional Learning
  • Encourages the Therapeutic Use of Art
  • Supports Direct Service Providers working with high-risk youth

Chill & Spill combines creative and thoughtful activities with the best of art, cognitive behavioral and narrative therapies. It helps bridge the gap between youth in need and the availability of professional mental health workers. Art with Heart offers trainings and supportive curriculum to teach professionals how to utilize the book with youth in their care to reduce the harmful effects of stress.

OODLES OF DOODLES is a therapeutic activity book based in art therapy that offers hospitalized children:
  • Therapeutic distraction during their treatments
  • A meaningful way to express fears and concerns
  • Stress relief and encouragement
  • A much needed sense of control
MAGNIFICENT MARVELOUS ME! helps meet the emotional needs of siblings of children who have passed away, are dealing with a serious illness or disability, or other familial challenges. It was designed to:
  • Decrease their sense of isolation
  • Increase self-esteem and communication
  • Give them a safe place to explore and work through complex feelings
  • Help build resiliency and coping skills
INK ABOUT IT is a therapeutic activity book designed to: 
  • Help struggling teens and ‘tweens adapt and adjust to life’s ups and downs
  • Lead kids toward social and emotional wellness
  • Explore and express what’s going inside of them through a combination of writing and art prompts

 

 

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

In July 2011, Art with Heart launched Ink About It, a new art & activity book for youth in their 'tween years. In six months, the resource sold nearly 1400 copies and received rave reviews from organizations like Committee for Children. Joan Duffel of Committee for Children, "From helping youngsters set goals to discovering the difference between ‘assertive’ and ‘aggressive,’ this gorgeously designed, interactive book takes kids on a journey of self-discovery that will foster their emotional growth during the sensitive period of pre-adolescence."          

Art with Heart is excited about and looking for support for development of two new program initiatives.  The Magnificent Marvelous Me After School Program and Kit would target elementary-age children dealing with family challenges. The “kit” will teach users how to form an after-school club to help address kid’s emotional issues. It will include curricula, discussion questions, and artistic expansion activities to solidify learning.  Our Trauma Response Workshops for local schools are designed to help children process trauma and grief after a crisis.  They include a therapeutic activity book for each child and 3 strategically time visits by volunteers and an art therapist who lead healing art workshops  based on activities in the book.

Evaluation

Art with Heart has developed a series of art therapy workbooks meant to improve the emotional well-being of children through creativity and self-expression.

Proven Success
Art with Heart’s therapeutic workbooks are designed with the help of professionals experienced with helping youth navigate trauma and health crises affecting themselves or family members. Though focused on King County, Art with Heart’s books are distributed internationally and are used by schools, hospitals, and grassroots organizations. In 2011, Art with Heart’s books and programs reached nearly 14,000 children.

Use of Best Practices
Effective train-the-trainer programs allow for broader community reach by training licensed healthcare providers throughout the county and state. The organization works with a number of licensed therapists who train those working with the books to use them effectively. When a traumatic event occurs in a school, Art with Heart is able to provide wrap-around services after the first therapeutic responders have left. This service helps children continue to heal and contributes to longer-lasting emotional well-being for those affected.

Collaboration
Art with Heart works with a number of local partners to maximize the reach of its programs and ensure that services are not duplicated. The organization is currently partnering with Committee for Children (CFC), a leader in social-emotional learning programs, to pilot the use of Magnificent Marvelous Me in elementary schools as a means of helping elementary-aged students identify and manage their emotions and behavior. They also work closely with Sound Mental Health’s therapists on the use of the Chill & Spill and Ink About It programs. The therapists are then able to run group sessions for both of these programs throughout King County. They are in the process of expanding their operations through a unique partnership with Childhaven, allowing them to increase their work space in exchange for facilitating therapeutic workshops for Childhaven clients.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
12/10/2012 $10,000.00provide general operating support.
12/10/2010 $10,000.00support general operating expenses.
12/10/2009 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.
6/21/2007 $20,000.00support general operating expenses.
3/16/2005 $10,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

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