ART HEALS ARIZONA CREATES A SAFE SPACE FOR PERSONAL EXPRESSION

Britni Shrout| July 28th, 2026

MJ Foundation

The human urge to create isn’t just about making something beautiful or even telling a story but about gaining self-knowledge and finding connection that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. What a person can share in a painting, poem, or song surpasses what they might feel comfortable expressing in conversation or even in a therapeutic setting. For many young people who have faced challenging times, the impulse toward creative expression builds a pathway for coping with trauma, building resilience, and finding hope.

Art Heals Arizona (formerly Free Arts) connects children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or homelessness with an adult mentor who guides them through arts activities designed to help them heal and develop not just creative skills but a strong sense of self.

OFFERING HOPE THROUGH CREATIVITY

The struggles a person faces during childhood aren’t simply outgrown. Children who have experienced ongoing trauma and toxic stress also face a high likelihood of lasting negative impact including substance abuse and prolonged poverty—even early death. Those outcomes aren’t inevitable, and Art Heals Arizona exists to help children build resilience through art.

For 33 years, Art Heals Arizona has used a range of arts activities to encourage, nurture, and support children after trauma. Kids and teens who live in foster or out-of-home care at a partner agency can find community and learn to express themselves through a range of art by participating in programs from Art Heals Arizona. The organization now offers approximately 139 activities for more than 7,000 kids, teens, and families each year.

And those activities make a real and lasting difference: As former participant Eric said, “This program helped me to express things I can’t say out loud.” That’s a tremendous benefit for children who are dealing with acute stress and trauma and may feel isolated by their experiences. In fact, 97% of Art Heals Arizona participants report feeling not only that they had the chance to express themselves but that they left the program feeling great about themselves and the work they created.

PROGRAMS FOR HEALING AND SELF-EXPRESSION

Using a trauma-informed, research-based program model, Art Heals Arizona gives kids a safe space to work through their past alongside trained volunteer mentors within these programs:

Weekly Mentor Program: Groups of children living in social service agencies are matched with trained adult volunteer mentors who provide weekly art sessions designed to help participants develop trusting relationships while learning art skills and expressing themselves creatively.

Professional Artist Series: Kids learn skills like painting, cooking, dancing, sculpture, and drumming through professional teaching artists—and then show off their new skills to peers at a celebratory event when the series has finished.

Free Art Days: Local arts and culture organizations partner with Art Heals Arizona and its volunteer mentors to give children a day of learning, support, and self-expression.

Camp Series: A safe, focused, longer-term opportunity for children to work with teaching artists and volunteer mentors to creatively share their personal stories. Art Heals Arizona camps focus on collaboration and community, and end with a performance where participants share their work.

Resilient Roots Program: Tailored toward refugee children, the Resilient Roots Program prioritizes sharing participants’ culture of origin within art activities designed according to Art Heals Arizona’s research-backed program design.

Family Program: Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate in this program focused on children who have experienced family violence, separation, or homelessness. The program focuses on building harmony and resilience through transition.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Art Heals Arizona depends on approximately 238 volunteers each year to serve as mentors, help out at single-day events, or provide administrative help. You don’t need to be an artist to volunteer.

Volunteering is essential but not the only way to get involved.

Host an art supply drive. Art Heals Arizona offers step-by-step guidance and maintains wish lists to help make your impact really count.

Host a fundraiser. Encourage direct donations to Art Heals Arizona’s programming by setting up an online funding drive.

Schedule a group volunteering effort. There’s no shortage of behind-the-scenes projects your team can work together to provide.

Make a donation. With one-time, monthly, planned, or corporate gifts, you can easily help make Art Heals Arizona’s programming possible. Art Heals Arizona is a Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organization (QFCO), which means Arizona taxpayers can redirect their state tax liability toward its services.

Too many children have endured family trauma, and for those who end up in foster care and shelter services, the road back to stability can be challenging. Art Heals Arizona provides a way forward that can set children on a happier, hopeful trajectory.