DrawBridge Art Program Overview

The core of DrawBridge is its innovative expressive arts programs for homeless and formerly homeless youth. Groups meet once a week at the shelter, transitional housing, or low-income housing where the children are living. Each group is staffed by a facilitator and volunteers who support the children and youth as they make art.

A typical group will start with the facilitator and volunteers preparing for the group by checking-in and getting the art supplies ready for the children. Once the children arrive there may be an art project the facilitator has prepared but the children are free to do whatever they like. Maybe the plan was to paint, but someone wants to work with clay, that's okay at DrawBridge. And if a single yellow paint stroke on a piece of paper is the complete work, then the child can start a new project. We will do what ever we can to accommodate the child's wishes for those couple of hours they are with us. There are times that something deeply emotional takes shape in the art the child is creating, then there is an adult present to gently support and listen to the story the art is telling.

If you are interested in volunteering in an art group, please visit our Volunteer pages to learn more.

Art Groups Structure

The basic premise of DrawBridge art groups is to provide a safe and supportive environment for the children's own expression.

Underlying principles:

Be present: Listen, witness and offer loving encouragement.

Maintain boundaries: Distinguish between what you need and the needs of the children.

Avoid expectations of the children.

Come from an attitude that there is nothing to fix.

Respect and adapt to each child's needs.

Interact honestly.

Show up at every group.

Draw attention to the child's experience rather than their artwork.

Give positive feedback about behavior in the group to children, parents and staff whenever possible.

Overall Structure:

The group is for the children, and we emphasize that it is a place for them to explore materials. We will deter outsiders from commenting and intruding.

We provide a wide range of quality materials to show the children that they are cared for and valued. This also restores a sense of control by offering them different sizes of brushes, paper and a variety of mediums from which to choose.

During the group we will respond to the requests of the children to give them a sense of having their needs met. Keep in mind that they often have to worry about issues of safety and survival and need to have a safe place that is just for them.

Group Structure:

The group will last 2 hours (set-up and clean-up included).

Each child will wear a smock or T-shirt to protect their clothing.

All art will be done on the table, unless it's a special project.

The facilitator or volunteer will handle the paints.

If possible/necessary, there will be an opening and closing circle.

Help Maintain Safety.

Please do not comment on the artwork of others.

Please keep paints in your own space.

Please do not touch someone unless you have asked permission.

Please do not touch other people's artwork, unless you have asked permission.

Please speak respectfully to each other.

Respecting Art Materials:

Treat brushes with care; wash them carefully with soap and dry upright.

Place tops on markers after they are used.

Use clay tools for clay only.

Overview of Expressive Arts Framework

The heart of the DrawBridge program is the art group. Through drawing, painting, ceramics and collage, feelings that are experienced by traumatized children are made accessible.

The act of producing art has a proven, powerful healing impact, particularly for children who are unable to put words to their experiences. Through art, children can more easily express deeply felt and painful emotions.

Trained DrawBridge group facilitators use art to transform these emotions into feelings of hope, initiating both an emotional recovery as well as meaningful dialogue with parents, teachers and shelter staff.

Supporting self-expression during and immediately after homelessness through the wide range of DrawBridge art projects relieves the negative impact of the experience and can free the child to dream of and have positive life experiences.

The DrawBridge staff uses a variety of artistic mediums to enable children to re-discover the playful creativity that is at the core of healthy development.

DrawBridge Art Program Overview

If you are interested in volunteering in an art group, please visit our Volunteer pages to learn more.

If you are interested in volunteering in an art group, please visit our Volunteer pages to learn more.

Art Groups Structure

The basic premise of DrawBridge art groups is to provide a safe and supportive environment for the children's own expression.

Underlying principles:

Be present: Listen, witness and offer loving encouragement.

Maintain boundaries: Distinguish between what you need and the needs of the children.

Avoid expectations of the children.

Come from an attitude that there is nothing to fix.

Respect and adapt to each child's needs.

Interact honestly.

Show up at every group.

Draw attention to the child's experience rather than their artwork.

Give positive feedback about behavior in the group to children, parents and staff whenever possible.

Overall Structure: The group is for the children, and we emphasize that it is a place for them to explore materials. We will deter outsiders from commenting and intruding.

We provide a wide range of quality materials to show the children that they are cared for and valued. This also restores a sense of control by offering them different sizes of brushes, paper and a variety of mediums from which to choose.

During the group we will respond to the requests of the children to give them a sense of having their needs met. Keep in mind that they often have to worry about issues of safety and survival and need to have a safe place that is just for them.

Group Structure:

The group will last 2 hours (set-up and clean-up included).

The group will last 2 hours (set-up and clean-up included).

The group will last 2 hours (set-up and clean-up included).

Each child will wear a smock or T-shirt to protect their clothing.

Each child will wear a smock or T-shirt to protect their clothing.

Each child will wear a smock or T-shirt to protect their clothing.

All art will be done on the table, unless it's a special project.

All art will be done on the table, unless it's a special project.

All art will be done on the table, unless it's a special project.

The facilitator or volunteer will handle the paints.

The facilitator or volunteer will handle the paints.

The facilitator or volunteer will handle the paints.

If possible/necessary, there will be an opening and closing circle.

If possible/necessary, there will be an opening and closing circle.

If possible/necessary, there will be an opening and closing circle.