Changes to the Caring Arts Program Offer Enhanced Respite Opportunities
The Caring Arts Program, a partnership program of Hillcroft’s Art and Recreation Department and Ball State’s Counseling Psychology Department, has been offering services to children with emotional disabilities and their families for well over ten years.
The Caring Arts Program began in the Spring of 2000 with identification of a need for respite opportunities for parents of children with emotional disabilities by the Delaware County Prevent Child Abuse Council. The Caring Arts Program centers on arts programming and opportunities for social development and is facilitated by Hillcroft’s Teaching Artists and Ball State Counseling Psychology Graduate students.
In an effort to enhance these services and more accurately meet family needs, the program will take on a few changes in January 2012. Beginning in January, the program will be available to children with emotional disabilities in kindergarten through completion of sixth grade and their siblings. Additionally, the program will now be held once a month on Saturday from 9am-4:30pm. Program facilitation with include sessions for participants and their siblings to participate together as well as, sessions designed for participants and their siblings to engage separately.
The Caring Arts Program will offer skill development in self-expression and social skills while providing respite opportunities for parents of children with emotional disabilities.
The program will occur on January 28, February 25, March 24, and April 28. Each session will include:
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dance, music, and visual arts instruction with a professional Teaching Artist,
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two group counseling sessions with Ball State Counseling Psychology Students,
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a large group social activity,
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lunch and snacks.
For more information on program registration, please contact Sarah Strom at 765-288-1073 or sstrom@hillcroft.org.
