CHART a path to positive mental health creates healthy arts experiences that support social-emotional development. It is an intensive program with a special focus on middle school students to support their mental health and social emotional development. Our program approach works with all aspects of a child’s network including caregivers and educators to set them on a positive trajectory for a lifelong love of learning. The arts – specifically songwriting, visual arts, theatre, writing and dance – create a bridge to access and therefore success. Integrating the arts promotes accessibility and equity in learning, therefore closing the gap for youth with limited access to learning resources, which in turn improves their health outlook.

Children and families are experiencing great mental health challenges as well as economic hardship. Many of children have fallen behind their peers in academic achievement. In addition, many of adults who were struggling to improve their economic situation long before the pandemic now are set back even further by stress, burnout, feelings of isolation, and other mental health struggles. Story Tapestries has the tools and community connections to be able to reach these children, their educators, their caregivers and family members with a unique set of resources and services that boost their learning, overcoming barriers such as access and language, while also increasing an important ingredient in their daily lives – JOY! The arts create a bridge, promoting accessibility to learning and therefore a more equitable learning environment. Frequently students who are lagging behind their peers, when engaged in an arts integrated lesson, have lightbulb moments of understanding that launch them forward and feed their confidence and joy for learning so they continue and become more successful. This results in increased attendance, increased positive engagement in the classroom, and higher test scores.

Reports:

Needs Assessment: Arts Integration Approach to Address Student Mental Health:

https://bit.ly/STMentalHealthNeedsAssessment

Evaluative Report for the uNight program at Neelsville Middle School, which included CHART as one component of program activities in 2022-23:

https://bit.ly/STuNightReport2022-23

Evaluative Report for the uKnight program at Neelsville Middle School, which included CHART as one component of program activities in 2021-22:

https://bit.ly/uKnightReport2021-22

Video Highlights:

These songs were written and performed by students during Story Tapestries programs at Neelsville Middle School:

Additional videos featuring the CHART initiative:

Return to Named Initiatives