Building Up STEAM: Empowering LA’s Chronically Ill Youth

K-12 STEAM education

Central LA East LA South LA San Gabriel Valley West LA San Fernando Valley South Bay Long Beach Antelope Valley Gateway Cities Other County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

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

According to National Children’s Health (2023), over 1 million of CA children (ages 0-17) suffer from chronic illness. These children face a lot of barriers when it comes to getting a full education. Frequent hospital visits, ongoing medical treatments, and physical limitations often mean they miss school and feel isolated from their peers. In 2022, nearly 15% of children with disabilities experienced chronic school absenteeism for health-related reasons. Low-income families in LA are disproportionately affected by limited access to after school programs. Nearly 40% of children with special needs live in households earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level, with rates exceeding 50% among Latino families. Without these opportunities, pediatric patients miss out on important experiences that let them just be kids, leaving them disconnected from the world around them. This gap can affect both their education and emotional well-being, with long-term impacts on their success.

CoachArt addresses the inequity in services by providing free, adaptive STEAM education to chronically ill kids and their siblings in LA through two main programs: 1:1 lessons and monthly group clubs. Using our custom-built 2 sided marketplace app, CoachArt Connect, we can efficiently match kids with talented volunteer coaches based on each child’s interests, availability, and special needs. Our in-person and virtual programs make it possible for kids to participate whether they’re at home or in the hospital, providing flexibility and consistency. One parent shared, "CoachArt has been pivotal in his life, and the rock for our family. Erick feels that he belongs to each program, and he’s starting to feel more confident and less anxious."
What makes CoachArt unique is our embrace of innovative technology combined with a focus on merging creativity with hands-on learning. Kids don’t just learn painting, coding, or robotics; they find joy, build friendships, and feel like kids again. Funding would ensure we could offer monthly STEAM clubs and weekly 1:1 sessions for our kids over the next year, creating over 10,000 hours of free lessons. This includes shipping quality STEAM supplies and kits directly to their homes, background checks for new volunteers, and compensation for head coaches developing our curriculum. Together we can provide thousands of hours of accessible STEAM lessons, fostering creativity, confidence, and a love of learning for a new generation of students.

In the year ahead, children with chronic illnesses will have weekly opportunities to explore creativity and curiosity through free, adaptive STEAM activities, regardless of their medical limitations or income. They'll feel less isolated and more empowered as they connect with peers and volunteers who understand their challenges.
CoachArt will continue to scale the accessibility and quality of our programs using innovative technology, ensuring each student connects with a coach who provides meaningful engagement and skill-building. Over time, LA’s education system will become more inclusive- reaching more kids who are homebound or underserved.
Additionally, our volunteers, often professionals in arts and science, gain life-changing perspective and become more connected, compassionate leaders. By demonstrating how adaptive learning can reach all students, CoachArt hopes to influence how the county approaches access to education; building a more supportive, equitable Los Angeles.