Windsor Regional Children's Centre, Healing Arts Program Incorporates Creative Arts in Mental Health Program for Children and Families

I received news recently about the Windsor Regional Children's Centre Healing Arts Program.

The centre offers programs and services delivered by interdisciplinary teams that provide programs including in-school, in-home and on-site services. In addition to traditional family, parental and group therapy The Healing Arts Program also makes use of music, art, drawing and painting, drama, dance and creative movement approaches.

In March 2005, the Centre conducted a research study supported by the Ministry of Culture and Children's Mental Health Ontario which demonstrated the effectiveness of children's mental health interventions that made use of the arts specifically music, painting and dance.

The study concluded the arts did have a positive impact on children (self-esteem, self confidence improved, positive social interaction between children, children's independence increased) Some parents also expressed children were happier, less depressed, more spontaneous and listening skills improved.

Source: Windsor Regional Children's Centre

The Windsor Regional Children's Centre would like to announce that they are sponsoring a new event called "Jazz Up the Arts" to take place September 21, 2008 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m at the Centre. Professional jazz musicians will perform and there will be a silent auction and wine tasting...all to help support the Healing Arts Program.

If you would like to sponsor or donate to this event contact Lindy LeDuc-Wilson at lleducwilson@wrh.on.ca

Website: www.wrh.on.ca

Research Study Proves Arts Have Positive Impact on Children's Therapeutic Wellbeing

Today I had an opportunity to speak with Lindy LeDuc-Wilson, Coordinator of the Healing Arts Program at The Windsor Regional Children's Centre about new research into arts
approaches and children's mental health and wellbeing. CM


An excerpt below from the website at:
http://www.wrchildrenscentre.org/HEALARTS/Healin~1.htm

"The Windsor Regional Children’s Centre falls under the umbrella of the Windsor Regional Hospital, and has a mandate to provide mental health services to emotionally, behaviourally and socially troubled children/youth ages 6 through 18, and to their parents/families. The Centre offers programs and services delivered by interdisciplinary teams that provide specific goal-oriented programs including in-school, in-home and on site services. In conjunction with using the “traditional” methods of treatment (i.e. family therapy; individual, parental and group therapy; psychiatric and psychological assessments, etc.), the Windsor Regional Children’s Centre established the Healing Arts Program. The Healing Arts Program makes use of music, art (drawing and painting), drama, dance and creative movement and reflects a partnership between mental health services for children and youth and the Windsor area arts community. In 2005, the Centre conducted a Research Study for the Ministry of Culture via Children’s Mental Health Ontario. The project demonstrated the effectiveness of children’s mental health intervention that made use of the arts (music, painting, and dance.) It concluded that the arts did have a positive impact on children who were in treatment. The study demonstrated that the art classes had a significant positive impact on children’s therapeutic well-being.