| Arts
Reaching Youth at Risk |
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An
Overview |
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In
1998 the Corvallis Arts Center/Linn-Benton Arts Council
began a creative collaboration first with the Oregon Arts
Commission, then with the Benton County Commission on
Children and Families to provide arts programs for youth
at risk. Youth arts programs have been proven to be powerful
crime prevention tools. They offer instructive and engaging
environments for young people who have been identified
as being at high risk. High risk youth are children and
teens whose circumstances and behavior put them at greater
risk of entering our courts or dropping out of school.
Studies across the country have shown that arts programs
for at-risk youth have decreased involvement in delinquent
behavior, increased academic achievement, and improved
youth's attitudes about themselves and their future. The
arts programs are designed to provide a meaningful opportunity
for these young people to use their creative talents,
enhance their self-worth and self-discipline, improve
their decision-making ability, and increase their community
involvement. |
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| Six
factors that put children at risk of becoming delinquents
are: |
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1.
School dropout or poor school attendance
2. Substance abuse by youth or within
the family
3. Victim of child abuse
4. Ineffective parenting
5. Severe behavior problems
6. Lack of parenting after school from
the hours of 3 to 6 pm |
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| Our
Current Programs |
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The
programs we offer vary, according to the needs of the
youth and organizations with whom we work, but the following
are programs served in 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. We hope
to expand the number of youth we are able to reach in
future years. |
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| Programs
We Serve: (offered during regular school hours) |
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1.
The Children's Farm Home - for students who are in the
residential treatment center
2. Fresh Start (housed at Corvallis High School) - for
students who have dropped out or are in danger of dropping
out of school
3. Center for Alternative Learning - CAL (housed at Franklin
School) - at risk students from around the district are
referred to this center |
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| Programs
We Serve: (after school programs) |
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1.
Middle schools in 509J
2. Philomath Middle School
3. Alsea and Monroe Middle Schools |
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| Sample
Projects in our Arts Reaching Youth At-Risk Programs: |
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The
artists who have worked in our Youth At-Risk programs
are dedicated, innovative artists who designed projects
that bring out the creativity in youth. |
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| ArtsCare |
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In
2001, the Linn-Benton Arts Council hosted a regional workshop
of leaders from health care institutions, social service
agencies, community organizations, and the arts community
to explore the role of arts in healing. Led by Dian Svendsen,
an international consultant in Human and Organizational
Development, participants responded enthusiastically to
this idea and began to focus on what could come from such
a partnership.
A steering committee was
formed to act in an advisory capacity to the Linn-Benton
Arts Council. The committee outlined some preliminary
steps which included an ongoing assessment of needs within
the two-county region, the development of a small-scale
model program, a meeting with artists interested in working
in this program, and the development of a workshop which
would provide training to artists working in alternative
settings. These preliminary goals have been completed.
We are dreaming on a large
scale for this program and will keep the community informed
through our web site and Artspirit. For more information
about the range of work being done in this field, please
take a look at the web site for The Society for the Arts
in Health Care, based in Washington D.C. for the express
purpose of assisting organizations wishing to establish
or advance the arts in health care settings. Though the
use of arts in health care settings is still relatively
new and innovative, great strides have been made in the
last fifteen years in recognizing the crucial role that
arts can play in healing processes. (www.societyartshealthcare.org)
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| Speakers
Bureau |
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In
2001 the staff of the Linn-Benton Arts Council
developed a Speakers Bureau to provide information about
the
Linn-Benton Arts Council and Corvallis Arts Center. Organizations
and clubs seeking speakers for monthly meetings or businesses
who provide informational presentations to their employees
can contact Mary Van Denend (maryv@caclbca.org)
or Victoria Fridley (victoria@caclbca.org)
to arrange for a speaker. Each year the staff will develop
a different presentation focusing on exciting programs
or new developments for the LBAC and CAC. |
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| Workshops |
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The
Linn-Benton Arts Council, with funding assistance from
the Oregon Arts Commission, has offered a variety of workshops
aimed at assisting artists and nonprofit arts and cultural
organizations. Workshops have ranged from grant writing
information to marketing ideas for artists. In 2002 we
worked with the Benton County Commission on Children and
Families to offer a workshop to provide training to artists
working in alternative settings, whether in our youth
at risk programs or health care settings. We will continue
to offer workshops based on the needs of our artists and
non-profit organizations. |
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| Professional
Assistance |
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The
Linn-Benton Arts Council staff answer questions on a daily
basis on a wide range of topics, from "where can
I find a classical guitarist to play at my daughter's
wedding?" to "how can I secure nonprofit status
for my organization?" We are eager to be of assistance
to artists, organizations, and the general community.
In addition, staff members serve on a number of community
committees and boards: da Vinci Days, Corvallis Fall Festival,
Madison Avenue Task Force, and STARS to name a few. Staff
are also available to serve as consultants on specific
projects or to developing organizations. |
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