Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona

The mission of Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona is “transforming children’s trauma to resilience through the arts.” Every year, over 78,600 children in Arizona experience the pain of abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Our research-based program model, Art + Mentors = Resilience, helps children build the resilience they need to overcome their trauma by connecting them with caring adults and creative activities that develop their skills and sense of self. Free Arts serves children ages 3 to 26 years old residing in homeless and domestic violence shelters, foster care group homes, residential treatment centers, with foster and kinship families, or attend alternative program schools, using intentional art to transform children’s trauma to resilience. Free Arts is the only nonprofit organization in Arizona that brings trauma-informed creative arts programs to abused and homeless children free of charge. Many of these children have been removed from their families and have been traumatized due to physical and/or sexual abuse, neglect, or other dangerous conditions. Undergoing this type of trauma often results in feelings of shame and isolation, inability to function at school, the use of negative coping tools (like drug abuse or self-harm), and significant health risks. Children in these situations need to be connected with positive, caring adults and the opportunity to build skills and discover their talents. Our volunteer mentors support and build healthy relationships with children as they engage in the arts. Free Arts is committed to interrupting the cycle of trauma in these children’s lives and, through the arts, provide a path to a healthier life. Free Arts creates a safe environment where children can express themselves, learn new skills, developed self-efficacy, and build resilience.