SkyART serves communities on Chicago’s South and West Sides that are disproportionately affected by trauma and health challenges associated with poverty and systemic racism, particularly impacting children’s sense of belonging, feelings of connectedness and overall wellbeing.
Despite the disproportionate burden, our communities often lack access to mental health services, such as therapy or counseling and face stigma around seeking support. SkyART’s Project Impact program takes a strength-based approach to mental health services for youth, providing support for their families and collaborating with partner organizations or school’s to provide accessible art therapy programs. Expressive arts therapies can be particularly effective for children who have a difficult time articulating their emotions and experiences in words and who greatly benefit from the possibilities art provides for them.
Founded by an art therapist, SkyART believes that art is inherently therapeutic. During the early months of the Coronavirus pandemic, we surveyed 100 families about how SkyART could better support their children through art therapy. Of those families who completed the survey, 79 expressed concern for their children’s well being. Project Impact was created in response to the pervasive mental health crises born from months of isolation, financial hardship and loss.
Through Project Impact, SkyART now provides free individual and group art therapy to more than 50 participants every week.
Please call our front desk at 773.731.9287 to inquire about registration or text “Project Impact” to 708.414.0732 for more info!