A new therapeutic art workbook is helping rural teens creatively navigate the challenges of adolescence.
The Arts for Youth (A4Y) Book emerged from a collaboration between Healthy Jackson County, the IU School of Social Work, and the IU Center for Rural Engagement. Designed for youth ages 11-14, the book serves as a therapeutic guide to improve well-being through arts-based exercises that incorporate education, art, play therapy practices, and other wellness resources.
The book debuted on September 26 at the Mental Health Fest in Seymour. It’s being provided free of charge to about 2,000 youth in Jackson County and nearby areas over the coming months through Healthy Jackson County coalition partners including local schools, pediatric clinics, after-school providers, and faith communities.
The 135-page book is available in both English and Spanish and comes with an art kit including colored pencils, painting materials, and modeling clay.
The Center for Rural Engagement welcomes opportunities to collaborate with other organizations across the state to increase the distribution of the Art for Youth books beyond Jackson County.
“Issues around youth in Jackson County are the same issues that youth are facing around any county – rural, urban, suburban,” said Todd Burkhardt, the center’s director of campus partnerships.
This post was originally published on here
