Creative Recovery:Creative Recovery:

The Use of Arts for Personal Growth The Use of Arts for Personal Growth

and Community Integrationand Community Integration

Sarah Gallant Sarah Gallant Recovery Center ofRecovery Center ofHamilton CountyHamilton County

Reneé Kopache Reneé Kopache Mental Health and Mental Health and Recovery Services BoardRecovery Services Board

AgendaAgenda

Overview of the Recovery Center & Art ProgramOverview of the Recovery Center & Art Program

Using Art to facilitate RecoveryUsing Art to facilitate Recovery

We are the Evidence – Using Art for Personal We are the Evidence – Using Art for Personal Growth and Community Integration Building Growth and Community Integration Building Relationships through ArtRelationships through Art

Funding and establishing an art program at your Funding and establishing an art program at your centercenter

The Recovery Center: OverviewThe Recovery Center: Overview

Who we areWho we are

How we developedHow we developed

Who we serveWho we serve

What we doWhat we do

Recovery Center Overview Con’tRecovery Center Overview Con’t

Self Help/Peer Support:Self Help/Peer Support:

– Individualized goal/recovery planningIndividualized goal/recovery planning

– Support GroupsSupport Groups

– Peer to Peer ClassesPeer to Peer Classes

– WellnessWellness

Recovery Center Overview Con’tRecovery Center Overview Con’t

Education/Vocation:Education/Vocation:

– Computer access and classesComputer access and classes

– Educational Skills DevelopmentEducational Skills Development

– Vocational Training and supportVocational Training and support

Recovery Center Overview Con’tRecovery Center Overview Con’t

Community Involvement:Community Involvement:

– Community OutreachCommunity Outreach

– VolunteeringVolunteering

– CollaborationsCollaborations

Why Art?Why Art?

Level of talent among those with mental illnessLevel of talent among those with mental illness

Non-threatening way for people to meet othersNon-threatening way for people to meet others

Social Activity that also leads to personal growthSocial Activity that also leads to personal growth

It’s hands on which some people prefer over It’s hands on which some people prefer over discussiondiscussion

History of consumer art group in CincinnatiHistory of consumer art group in Cincinnati

Overview of Art ProgramOverview of Art Program

Designed to meet differing needs and skill sets Designed to meet differing needs and skill sets

Designed to match individual interest (preferred Designed to match individual interest (preferred medium)medium)

Goal oriented activitiesGoal oriented activities

Members facilitate groupsMembers facilitate groups

Art Program: Class DescriptionsArt Program: Class Descriptions

““Recovery thru Arts” (goals & objectives)Recovery thru Arts” (goals & objectives)

– To foster more of a focus on Recovery through the arts, To foster more of a focus on Recovery through the arts, and appreciation for the role creativity plays in healing.and appreciation for the role creativity plays in healing.

– To introduce participants to a variety of supplies and how To introduce participants to a variety of supplies and how to use and care for them.to use and care for them.

– To encourage increased relaxation and the ability to focus.To encourage increased relaxation and the ability to focus.

– To encourage creative self-expression leading to greater To encourage creative self-expression leading to greater self-worth and productivity.self-worth and productivity.

– To assist in empowering individuals. After 4 years in To assist in empowering individuals. After 4 years in existence, this group is now member ledexistence, this group is now member led

Art Program: Class Descriptions Con’tArt Program: Class Descriptions Con’t Creative Expressions – Goals and ObjectivesCreative Expressions – Goals and Objectives

– To create a space where participants can express their To create a space where participants can express their creative spirit and learn new skills.creative spirit and learn new skills.

– To create a space where work on an ongoing project is To create a space where work on an ongoing project is possible.possible.

– To create opportunities for participants to plan and lead To create opportunities for participants to plan and lead groups, sharing their creative talents and skills with their groups, sharing their creative talents and skills with their peers.peers.

– To promote healing, greater insight, self-worth, responsibility, To promote healing, greater insight, self-worth, responsibility, group sharing and productivity through the arts.group sharing and productivity through the arts.

– To create sharing opportunities with fellow artists in the To create sharing opportunities with fellow artists in the communitycommunity

Other Creative GroupsOther Creative Groups

Recovery Quilt – Karen Bryant

Advanced Creative Writing – Larry Gross

Scrapbooking – Terry Wood

Soul Story Collage, Creative Expressions – Sarah Gallant

Photoshop Elements – Bill Click

Coming soon…photographer’s club

Using Art to Facilitate RecoveryUsing Art to Facilitate Recovery

Three levels of connection lead to recovery:Three levels of connection lead to recovery:

1.1. Connecting self to self. Art…Connecting self to self. Art…

– Helps people concentrate/helps reduce symptomsHelps people concentrate/helps reduce symptoms

– Helps people relaxHelps people relax

– Thought process (helps with thinking); Stimulates brain Thought process (helps with thinking); Stimulates brain activityactivity

– Put insides outside (objectivity)Put insides outside (objectivity)

– Self-esteem/self-worthSelf-esteem/self-worth

– Work through complex emotions/releases emotionsWork through complex emotions/releases emotions

Using Art to Facilitate Recovery Con’tUsing Art to Facilitate Recovery Con’t

2.2. Connecting self to others. Art…Connecting self to others. Art…

– Provides ValidationProvides Validation

– Helps people establish relationshipsHelps people establish relationships

– Increases Awareness of Self and Others Increases Awareness of Self and Others

3.3. Connecting individuals and group to communityConnecting individuals and group to community

– Universal languageUniversal language

– Recognition of a larger pictureRecognition of a larger picture

- - Special Interests become shared interestsSpecial Interests become shared interests

Using Art to Facilitate RecoveryUsing Art to Facilitate Recovery Woven Through All 3 Levels, Art Is…Woven Through All 3 Levels, Art Is…

– A way of reflecting on and recounting where we have beenA way of reflecting on and recounting where we have been

– A source of inner wisdom and guidanceA source of inner wisdom and guidance

– A means to repair and renew the SelfA means to repair and renew the Self

– Assists in living in the present; a meditationAssists in living in the present; a meditation

– Helps Create a Path to the FutureHelps Create a Path to the Future

Using Art to Facilitate Recovery Con’tUsing Art to Facilitate Recovery Con’t

Sarah’s Recovery Story Renee’s Recovery Story Video

Building Relationships thru ArtBuilding Relationships thru Art

Why build relationships:Why build relationships:

– Fight stigmaFight stigma

– EducateEducate

– Generate income/revenueGenerate income/revenue

– Enhance personal growthEnhance personal growth

– Network with communityNetwork with community

- individual members and Recovery Center as - individual members and Recovery Center as an organizationan organization

Building Relationships thru Art Con’tBuilding Relationships thru Art Con’t

How to build relationships:How to build relationships:

Look through the past…Look through the past…

– Take advantage of relationships that staff/members Take advantage of relationships that staff/members established prior to the development of the Recovery Center.established prior to the development of the Recovery Center.

– Re-connect people that had been active in past initiatives.Re-connect people that had been active in past initiatives.

Be active in the present…Be active in the present…

– Stay involved, put ourselves out there in various initiatives Stay involved, put ourselves out there in various initiatives that fit our mission, that may lead to additional opportunities.that fit our mission, that may lead to additional opportunities.

Prepare for the future…Prepare for the future…

– Recognize the need to change and adapt relationships as the Recognize the need to change and adapt relationships as the organization and it’s members changeorganization and it’s members change

Building Relationships thru Art Con’tBuilding Relationships thru Art Con’t

Recovery Center collaborations:– Art for LifeArt for Life

– Art Beyond BoundariesArt Beyond Boundaries

– Southwest Ohio Wellness InitiativeSouthwest Ohio Wellness Initiative

– University of Cincinnati’s Design, Art and Architecture Program (DAAP) University of Cincinnati’s Design, Art and Architecture Program (DAAP)

– Occupational Therapy Program at Xavier UniversityOccupational Therapy Program at Xavier University

– Celebration of Hope and Heroes, Partnership for Mental HealthCelebration of Hope and Heroes, Partnership for Mental Health

– Celebrate Creativity Day - Art, Poetry, Music – Community ParticipationCelebrate Creativity Day - Art, Poetry, Music – Community Participation

– Mental Health Arts Collaborative – Freedom Center, Art Museum, Mental Health Arts Collaborative – Freedom Center, Art Museum,

Photography ProjectPhotography Project

– Individual Artists – connected to resourcesIndividual Artists – connected to resources

Building Relationships thru Art Con’tBuilding Relationships thru Art Con’t

Benefits from relationships:

– increased access to resources & support• Access to expertise• Members access to opportunities in the community

– opportunity to educate community & fight stigma

– recognition• Name recognition of Center• Media coverage (center & members)

– additional funding

Building Relationships thru Art Con’tBuilding Relationships thru Art Con’t

Challenges with relationships:

– Limited resources (staffing and funding)Limited resources (staffing and funding)

– Competition for limited fundsCompetition for limited funds

– StigmaStigma

– Member involvementMember involvement• Feeling comfortable in various settingsFeeling comfortable in various settings

• Access…often times events are during evening hoursAccess…often times events are during evening hours

• Time commitment…pulls members from center Time commitment…pulls members from center activitiesactivities

Establishing & Funding ProgramEstablishing & Funding Program

Initial Funding

– Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati GrantHealth Foundation of Greater Cincinnati Grant

– Mental Health and Recovery Services BoardMental Health and Recovery Services Board

Sustained Funding Sustained Funding

– Mental Health and Recovery Services BoardMental Health and Recovery Services Board

GrowthGrowth– Generating additional revenue (grants, Generating additional revenue (grants,

donations, etc.)donations, etc.)

Posters and Greeting CardsPosters and Greeting Cards

Generate Revenue for the Recovery CenterGenerate Revenue for the Recovery Center

Generate Revenue for ArtistsGenerate Revenue for Artists

Provide a way for artists to give back and Provide a way for artists to give back and interact in the communityinteract in the community

Provide an outlet for talents and help persons Provide an outlet for talents and help persons feel more productive and fulfilledfeel more productive and fulfilled

Posters and Greeting Cards Cont’dPosters and Greeting Cards Cont’d

Christmas Cards for FundraiserChristmas Cards for Fundraiser

2010 Photography Calendar 2010 Photography Calendar Rack of greeting cards regularly for sale in a local Rack of greeting cards regularly for sale in a local

restaurant: Parkside Caférestaurant: Parkside Café

Showing of Posters in another local restaurant: Showing of Posters in another local restaurant: – Myra’s DionysusMyra’s Dionysus

Q & A and Contact InformationQ & A and Contact Information

Sarah Gallant, CPS

Creative Expressions Coordinator

sarahsnowowl@gmail.com

Recovery Center of Hamilton County

2340 Auburn Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio 45219

(513) 241-1411

www.recoverycenterhc.org

Renee Kopache, M.S., CPRP

Coordinator of Wellness Management

reneek@hamilton.mhrsb.state.oh.us