2022 COMBAT Funding: $25,000.00

In United Inner City Services' Own Words

Arts@UICS Child Centered Creativity (C-3) is an art-focused behavioral intervention program developed to expand exposure to the arts while providing behavioral health supports for students. 

The program uses lay art therapy practices to support children who are exhibiting maladaptive behaviors in the classroom. C-3 provides students designated time in the arts to work on social skills and build confidence in small groups or individually with a teacher. 

Based on documented observations, students who have participated in C-3 have decreased disruptive and withdrawn behaviors in the classroom. Arts@UICS aligns with several of COMBAT’s Anti-Violence Areas of Focus, including:

1) programs that work with victims of violence, including families experiencing domestic violence; 

2) high-risk students identified by schools; 

3) children of incarcerated parents; and 

4) programs that address bullying—including targets of bullying and those bullying others.

Serving 230 Vulnerable Students

In 2021, UICS anticipates serving approximately 230 economically vulnerable students (age six weeks to five years) and their families through its early childhood educational centers in Jackson County. Many of these students and their families struggle each day to meet their basic needs. 

Due to the considerable challenges of poverty, students face many obstacles to achieving healthy development. The target population for the program is primarily children and their families with low income who reside in neighborhoods with high crime and violence, or “hot-spots” as identified by the Kansas City Police Department.

Addition Help Need Due To Trauma

Young children who experience the stress and trauma associated with poverty and community violence need additional interventions to ensure healthy social and emotional development and ensure educational success. Children who have experienced adversity and trauma are more likely than their peers to face mental health issues, anxiety and depression, and to develop aggressive behaviors.

Research shows that caregivers can counteract the risks for violence and aggression in youth, as well as promote healthy behavioral development, by providing a warm, supportive environment and positive values. 

Early Interventions Needed

Interventions that take place in early childhood can change the trajectory of student’s educational futures. UICS’ early engagement of families and young children plays an important part of instilling healthy coping techniques to reduce violence and promote a positive educational experience for children as they advance in their education. UICS provides an environment in which children and their families feel secure and is committed to providing a safe and stable place for all students to learn and grow.  

Arts Supports Academic Achieve & Social Behavior

A growing body of research finds that arts integration—the “blending of content and skills between an art form and a co-curricular subject”— supports academic achievement and social behavior.

The COMBAT-supported Arts@UICS program infuses the arts into the learning environment and offers community experiences in the arts. Arts@UICS supports a full-time arts educator, daily arts instruction, teacher training and family engagement activities designed to align with developmental needs.

As a leader in the movement to incorporate arts into early education, Arts@UICS programming utilizes several different delivery methods, including artistically enriching performance events for families; Tiny Tuesday Concert program guest artists; classroom art experiences; Stay, Play, and Learn; and field trips.

C-3 Launched In 2018

In 2018 UICS launched Child-Centered Creativity (C-3) as a part of the Arts@UICS program. C-3 is an art-focused behavioral intervention program meant to expand exposure to the arts, while providing behavioral health supports for students. The program is designed to support all students while addressing the needs of those who require additional support for social and emotional development.

C-3 uses lay art therapy practices to support children who are exhibiting maladaptive behaviors in the classroom, such as aggressive violence towards peers or concerning social withdrawal. Children are identified and referred to the program by classroom teachers. 

Children meet in small groups or individually with program staff (Student Success Coordinators and Arts Coordinators) to work on identified social skills and build confidence. Interventions are tailored to build skills that program staff identify students are lacking in the classroom. Activities are centered around movement, mindfulness and art. 

Using Acquired Skills On An Everyday Basis

Classroom teachers also receive coaching regarding the techniques and interventions. Once interventions are successful in a small group setting, the student then receives coaching in the classroom so that they can use their new skills on an everyday basis. Students who have participated in C-3 have shown decreased violent, disruptive and/or withdrawn behaviors in the classroom.

The goal of the C-3 program is for all students to demonstrate positive growth in social and emotional skills and creative self-expression skills. Specific outcomes for students in C-3 include an increase in total protective factors and an increased ability to recognize and appropriately manage feelings and emotions.

A Weekly Studio & More

Families look forward to Arts@UICS programming. Stay, Play, and Learn is a weekly art and play studio that provides an opportunity for parents and children to experience the joy of creativity and play together. Stay, Play, and Learn invites parents to take part in creative experiences as they pick up their children in the afternoon. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has adapted to becoming “Zoom, Play, and Learn,” with the sessions being held virtually each Thursday afternoon. Arts@UICS also hosts other artistically enriching events throughout the year, such as seasonal festivals, guest artists, and community art exhibitions and performances, which are open to all families in the community. 

These events widen access of the arts to an underserved population, particularly since many of the students and families the Centers serve have been largely alienated from the cultural hub of the Kansas City area.