Check Us Out!

Twitter @FreeArts

Facebook Causes

Facebook Jennifer Free Arts
     

Great Nonprofits

PROGRAMS

Free Arts programs are designed to serve children, age infancy to eighteen years, who have been abused, are homeless or at-risk of falling through the cracks of the system.  Many of the children we work with have been removed from their homes and placed in the protective custody of the court system. Free Arts programs interlace the healing and therapeutic power of the arts into the lives of the children and familes we work with. Expressive art forms like dance, drama, writing, music, and painting are used to encourage them to channel emotions, release anger, model positive methods of communication, and develop renewed trust in adults.

Artistic expression builds confidence and self-esteem. The philosophy behind all Free Arts for Abused Children programs is simply that “Art Heals!”

       Free Arts Days and Community Special Events
Free Arts Days are mini art festivals for children living in residential facilities, being served by foster family agencies, or receiving support from other community resource providers. Free Arts volunteers lead a themed and goal-oriented curriculum of age-appropriate art projects such as puppet making, clay sculpting, arts and crafts and music and movement exercises. Surrounded by the supportive and caring adult volunteers working beside them, children learn to work through obstacles and discover their abilities and talents. The day includes a special pizza party allowing the kids and volunteers to spend some social time together. The day concludes with an interactive art project, summarizing the theme and allowing the children and volunteers to complete a final project together.

Community Special Events can be similar to Free Arts Days in that Free Arts volunteer bring creative projects or activities to children and families who are already participating in another event -- fair, celebration, or picnic.  At Community Special Events, Free Arts acitivites are only one of the fun opportunities available to the participants.  Through Community Special Events we also match children and facilities with free tickets to theater, movies and other art-related activities,  enabling them to participate in activities they might otherwise not be able to experience.

Weekly Volunteer Program
The Weekly Volunteer Program brings innovative and creative arts to the many children living in residential facilities, transitional housing, or receiving services from local resource providers. Free Arts collaborates with these partner facilities to offer children an opportunity to develop healthy relationships with adult volunteers and experience an increased sense of self-worth through their participation in creative arts programs. Expressive art activities such as painting, drawing, music, drama, writing and dance are introduced and developed.

Volunteers work with a Free Arts Program Coordinator to customize a creative, art-based curriculum, supported by their special talents and the needs of the partner facilities and children. Volunteers commit to working with a small group of children on a consistent basis, visiting them once a week for 10-20 consecutive weeks. This weekly schedule of continuity helps children to develop trust toward adults who are non-judgmental, supportive, and consistent.

If you are currently a Weekly Program volunteer:
please click here to download the required attendance log or
please click here to submit your required attendance log online

Courthouse Programs
Free Arts operates a daily program at Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court in Monterey Park and provides support and supplies to the Children’s Chambers Room at the Lamoreaux Justice Center in Orange County through our Courthouse Program. Free Arts volunteers lead children, and often their adult caregivers, in simple arts and crafts projects as they wait for their court hearings. The art activities help to alleviate some of the stress and anxiety present in the court situation. Many children arrive at court feeling anxious; they leave with a greater sense of confidence and self-worth because they have had fun creating something special they can take home. These programs are fully integrated into the courts’ activities and are highly valued by the judges, attorneys and other courthouse staff.


Parents and Children Together with Art Program (PACT)
The Parents and Children Together with Art Program (PACT) works with designated at-risk families who have experienced little or no success in spending quality time together. PACT uses family-centered projects that have a high probability of successful completion. While working on these art projects, volunteers skillfully role model for the families how to speak positively to one another and recognize one another’s talents and ideas.

The PACT Program reintroduces parents in crisis to the joy and pride of parenthood and family, thus creating a safer family environment. Following a proven curriculum, Free Arts volunteer teams work with a small group of families, meeting once a week for a period of eight weeks. PACT art projects are designed to enhance respect, patience, trust, and teamwork within the family unit.

Families participating in the PACT Program are often receiving services from domestic violence shelters, transitional living facilities, or family resource centers. They are often consumed by the stress of their daily lives. The 90-minute PACT session each week allows them a moment to escape from their usual routine and focus solely on their family. 

If you are currently a PACT Program volunteer:
please click here to download the required attendance log or
please click here to submit your required attendance log online