ARTS THERAPY @ WHITTIER

(formerly the Boston Institute for Arts Therapy)

PROGRAMS & PARTNERS 2005-PRESENT

The Arts Therapy Department at Whittier Street Health Center is dedicated to using the creative arts to facilitate growth, learning, healing and hope. We provide educational and therapeutic programs to over 2,500 children and families throughout Eastern Massachusetts who are challenged emotionally, physically and developmentally.

Arts Therapy Counseling

Arts Therapy Clinic

The Arts Therapy Clinic, located at the Whittier Street Health Center, provides individual and group counseling services to children, adolescents, adults, and families. We work with all of the creative modalities – art, music, movement, drama, poetry/writing and integrative arts. We offer services at Whittier's Roxbury location and also provide school-based services, agency-based services, and home-based services. Our goal is to meet the therapeutic needs of individuals and families in our community with compassion, creativity, and integrity.  We accept Mass Health and most insurance providers.

Children & Youth Programs

 DecisionArts

An innovative peer leadership, after school violence prevention program for inner city adolescent girls in Boston, provided in collaboration with the Youth Services, Witness to Violence and Behavioral Health Departments at Whittier.  Combines arts, educational support, mentoring, and community service to assist young women to successfully pursue healthy choices that lead to a meaningful, productive and positive adulthood.

Big Draw Creative Arts Summer Camp for Girls

A “model arts” program started in 1995, this unique visual and performing arts summer camp provides 40 Boston inner city girls, ages 6-12 with the opportunity to explore their creative imagination and transform the summer into a powerful learning and fun filled experience. Each year 15 girls from local shelters and foster care are provided full scholarships to attend.

GirlsWorld

An innovative after school program for inner city adolescent girls in Boston provided in collaboration with Dimock Community Health Center and The Coalition of 100 Black Women. Combines arts, educational support, mentoring, and community service to assist young women to successfully pursue choices that lead to a meaningful, productive and positive adulthood.

Arts Reach @ the Attleboro Museum

This network of after school arts programs offers children and youth throughout the greater Attleboro region opportunities to become involved at the Museum and in the community. Through yearlong programs, culminating with exhibitions at the Museum, children learn to make positive life choices and contribute towards the healthy development of their community. Outreach programs for at-risk youth include: the Grace Middle School and the Network High School .

Healing Arts Project

Responding to the challenges following September 11, this program instills the values of respect, dignity and creativity while teaching children about co-existence within their local, national and global communities. The program was first piloted in Boston and New York City 2002-3 in collaboration with the New York City Department of Youth and the Unity Project.

The Artful Experience

After school ‘conflict resolution through the arts' programs for children in public housing sites operated by the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency throughout Eastern Massachusetts.

New Visions for At-Risk Youth

An innovative curriculum program designed by BIAT to help at-risk and incarcerated youth to change their destructive habits and return to become productive members of the community. New Visions offers hope and new skills to deal with life's challenges at the following partner sites: Waltham Middle and High Schools; Network High School , Attleboro .

Boston Medical Center

A music therapy ‘healthcare through the arts' program for children with severe medical illness at the Pediatric Unit at Boston Medical Center .

Boston Fire Department

A pilot art therapy program in collaboration with the Boston Fire Department Juvenile Fire Prevention Program, providing art assessment and educational/prevention programming for children who have been convicted of setting fires

Early Education Programs

Fostering Development through the Arts

A training program developed for day care centers that teaches how to strengthen curriculum dealing with important child and classroom development issues such as: social skills; team work; behavioral management; inclusion; language development. Program partners include Boston Public School s/Community Partnerships and serves over 10 day care centers throughout Boston 's neighborhoods.

Raising Readers through the Arts

An innovative training program developed in collaboration with Children's Hospital that prepares children to read through building strong foundational skills in the home, daycare and preschool settings. Brings children, parents, and teachers together in a fun-filled learning environment.

Children's Museum of Boston

Music and movement groups for parents, caregivers and toddlers focusing on learning and early childhood development.

Arts Therapy in Boston 's Early Learning Centers , Day Care and Pre-School Programs

Providing individual and group services for children with developmental and behavioral challenges. Serving Blue Hill Early Ed Center, Horizon's Day Care for Homeless Children and over 10 day care centers throughout Boston 's neighborhoods. 

Tri-City Early Intervention, Medford

Providing small group Music Therapy in an early intervention classroom for children ages 0-3 with special needs and their families.

Programs for Women and Children in Shelters  

Horizons for Homeless Children

Weekly music, movement and art therapy groups for children, and in-service staff training, for this day care program serving children from 14 Boston area homeless shelters.

Parenting Resource Associates

Art Therapy group for women currently living in Shelters.

Women's Educational and Industrial Union

Art Therapy program for women and their children in a shelter for the homeless

Big Draw Creative Arts Summer Camp for Girls (see description above)

Includes 15 girls from various shelters and foster homes in Boston.

Programs for Individuals with Special Needs

CHAMPS! Children and Adults Have Arts and Music Programs

CHAMPS! is a network of accessible after school arts programs throughout Eastern Massachusetts for individuals who are physically, emotionally, and developmentally challenged. CHAMPS collaborate with parent advisory groups, schools, ARC's, Genesis Fund, Department's of Recreation and other groups interested in the inclusion of all children. Program locations include: Danvers, Arlington, Framingham, Boston, Brockton, Lawrence, Newton, Mansfield, and Franklin .

Boston Public Schools

Providing weekly music, art and movement therapy classes for children with developmental and physical disabilities in Boston 's Public Schools, at The Carter Center.

Eastern Massachusetts Schools

Weekly arts and music therapy programs for children with mild to severe disabilities in both contained and integrated classrooms at: BIP in Arlington; CHARMS Collaborative in Holbrook, Stoughton, Sharon; SPOKE Collaborative in Foxboro, North Easton, Mansfield, and Norton; Shore Collaborative in Chelsea; LABBB program in Belmont, as well as Newton, Lowell, Framingham, Natick, and Waltham Public Schools

Boston Families for Autism

After school music, movement and art programming for children and teens on the Autism Spectrum.

Programs for Elders

The Art and Creativity Connection

Weekly wellness music, movement and art programs for elders in Massachusetts housing sites from Boston to Worcester.

From Isolation to Inspiration

This program assists elders in coping with life transitions such as loss and diminishing physical and mental capacity. Combining music, movement, art and drama, participants receive supportive / nurturing guidance to help them transform and cope with difficult experiences.