Free Arts For Abused Children Of Arizona

FREE ARTS FOR ABUSED CHILDREN OF ARIZONA (FREE ARTS) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT TRANSFORMS CHILDREN'S TRAUMA TO RESILIENCE THROUGH THE ARTS. SINCE 1993, FREE ARTS HAS SERVED MORE THAN 155,400 CHILDREN IN MARICOPA COUNTY IN ARIZONA. FREE ARTS HAS 28 STAFF MEMBERS AND OVER 200 VOLUNTEER MENTORS SERVING OVER 7,000 CHILDREN EACH YEAR. FREE ARTS PARTNERS WITH FORTY-THREE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AT MORE THAN 110 LOCATIONS AND 25 ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT MARICOPA COUNTY TO PROVIDE A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF ARTS, TRAUMA-INFORMED CURRICULUM AND MENTORING TO CHILDREN WHO ARE IN OUT-OF-HOME CARE.

CAMP BRINGS TOGETHER CHILDREN FROM MULTIPLE PARTNER AGENCIES TO ENGAGE IN ART ACTIVITIES WITHIN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS AND VOLUNTEER MENTORS LEAD WORKSHOPS AND EMPOWER CHILDREN TO ARTISTICALLY EXPRESS THEIR PERSONAL STORIES. INTENTIONAL STRUCTURE AND A FOCUS ON COLLABORATION CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR PARTICIPANTS. EACH CAMP SERIES CONCLUDES WITH A FINAL PERFORMANCE WHERE PARTICIPANTS SHARE THEIR ART AND STORIES WITH THE PUBLIC.

IN THE PROFESSIONAL ARTIST SERIES PROGRAM, PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS LEAD THE CHILDREN THROUGH FOCUSED ART-MAKING SESSIONS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP SKILLS AND SELF-EFFICACY. ART FORMS INCLUDE PAINTING, DRAWING, COOKING, DANCING, DRUMMING, AND BEAT MAKING. AT THE END OF EACH SERIES, CHILDREN CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SHARE THEIR SKILLS AND TALENTS WITH THEIR PEERS AT A CULMINATING EVENT. IN THE YOUNG ADULT EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, COMMUNITY-BASED YOUNG ADULTS (AGES 18-26) WHO ARE CONNECTED TO SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES, ARE OFFERED SKILL BUILDING, PROMOTION OF SELF-EFFICACY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH EXPRESSIVE ARTS, PEER MENTORSHIP, LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND INTERNSHIPS. THE FREE ARTS FAMILY PROGRAM FOCUSES ON FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA THROUGH SITUATIONS SUCH AS FAMILY VIOLENCE, SEPARATION, OR HOMELESSNESS. FREE ARTS AIMS TO ENCOURAGE HARMONY AND RESILIENCE WITHIN THE FAMILY UNIT BY EMPOWERING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS THROUGH EDUCATION ON TRAUMA INFORMED CARE AND ENGAGING CHILDREN IN ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-DISCOVERY DURING THEIR FAMILY TRANSITIONS. PROGRAM EVENTS ARE DESIGNED FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY INCLUDING FOSTER, KINSHIP, AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES AND CATER TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. WITH THEIR PARTICIPATION, FREE ARTS HOPES TO FOSTER A SAFE AND STABLE ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS FAMILY MEMBERS- BOTH PARENT/CAREGIVER AND CHILD- TO DISCOVER AND DEVELOP THEIR UNIQUE STRENGTHS AND USE THEM TO CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER TO CREATE A STRONG AND SECURE HOME ENVIRONMENT. THE RESILIENT ROOTS PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SERVE UNACCOMPANIED REFUGEE MINORS IN COMMUNITIES IN ARIZONA. PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO INCORPORATE ASPECTS OF THEIR CULTURE OF ORIGIN SUCH AS LANGUAGE, VALUES, AND CUSTOMS INTO THE INTENTIONAL ART ACTIVITIES TO HELP THEM BUILD RESILIENCY FROM BOTH PAST TRAUMAS AND NEW CHALLENGES THAT COME FROM BEING IN AN UNFAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT. BY HONORING THEIR STORIES WITH CULTURALLY FOCUSED ART ACTIVITIES, THEY WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO DEVELOP INDIVIDUALISTIC COPING STRATEGIES THAT WILL ENCOURAGE STRENGTH, PROMOTE FEELINGS OF HOPE, AND HELP THEM MAINTAIN THEIR UNIQUE IDENTITIES.

DURING FREE ARTS DAYS, CHILDREN IN PARTNER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES PRACTICE SELF-EXPRESSION WITH THE SUPPORT OF VOLUNTEER MENTORS DURING THESE ONE-DAY PROGRAMS HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS.

THE WEEKLY MENTOR PROGRAM MATCHES ADULT VOLUNTEER MENTORS WITH GROUPS OF CHILDREN LIVING IN SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND PROVIDES WEEKLY ART SESSIONS FOR UP TO 16 WEEKS. MENTORS USE TRAUMA-INFORMED TECHNIQUES TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR GROUP, HELPING CHILDREN TO BUILD TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES CREATIVELY.