Healing In Our Shoes Ceramic Play

K-12 STEAM education

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

The issues we are seeking to address are prevention of childhood and long term mental health diagnosis through our on set of crisis system of care approach. Transition experiences from being unhoused and grief or loss of a primary loved one, are burdens that effect child health and their education. Play is a natural way for children to express and process their difficult emotions. The groups offer normalization for youth to express a range of emotions to reduce shame or stigma related to their experiences. These play groups will also address the shortage of traditional mental health services that continue to increase student truancy and impact overall health and wellbeing.

Healing In Our Shoes Ceramic Play groups involve a multi systems approach with the collaboration of healing centered professional artists, licensed therapists, teachers and school admin joined to effectively impact students skill development. Students K-6th grade are identified by the schools admin to participate in groups of 8-12 students in 8 week rotations for early detection and intervention through ceramic play groups following a childs crisis. This grant will support prevention of developing severe or dysfunctional coping behaviors that lead to diagnosis. The Healing In Our Shoes model aims to change the perception of impact, leading to a future positive focus on their healing walk. Students celebrate their loved ones though guided conversation and play, and they increase their self identity reflections more positively, artistically and creatively.

Successful implementation of therapeutic play groups and therapy interventions in LA County can bring about several positive changes and benefits for students, faculty, and family systems. This program has already improved the lives of more than 22 children and their families by improving access to mental health services, students and parents developed improved crucial social and emotional skills which has increased our participants school attendance by 48%. Further, this program has fostered improved teacher facilitation of academics as student behaviors improved. Staff also were observed as being more empathetic. These groups lead to improved mental health outcomes, increased academic success, trauma support, and postive school climate which all affect and serve LA County residents throughout all communities. Crete Academy is a charter school that caters to students living in multiple zip codes throughout LA County.

We are measuring impact through program evaluations and surveys that dictate students grades, behaviors, and truancy. First we provide a needs assessment survey within the school community, and an impact assessment survey to ensure perceived impact of change, along with program evaluation surveys to assess feedback on program outcomes, relevance, implementation, and sustainability to determine the impact of the interventions.

Crete Academy will provide onboarding support, student participants, and family engagement support.