Arts Connect
Arts Connect is an intervention and recidivism prevention program developed by the Museum of Glass that supports formerly incarcerated young men on parole and young women who are in detention or on probation in Pierce County, Washington. A partnership with both Pierce County Juvenile Court and the Washington State Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration/Department of Social and Health Services (JRA/DSHS), Arts Connect gives court-involved youth the skills to express themselves through the arts, with a focus on how they can use the power of choice and their newly acquired skills to reintegrate into their community. Hands-on arts projects are coupled with a team of professional artists and other adult mentors in a Museum environment. The purpose of Arts Connect is to help court-involved youth realize their potential, make healthy life choices and become active participants in the community. The goals are to reduce violent and anti-social behavior in young men and women in the juvenile justice system and enable them to successfully complete their probation or parole by channeling their creative voices and reconnecting them to the community.
The Arts Connect Young Women's Probation Program begins with a weekly class in detention, during which girls aged 11 - 17 work with a professional artist to use writing and visual arts projects as an avenue towards healing, to develop critical thinking and positive social skills, and to reconnect to their potential. The Young Men's Parole Program begins with orientation meetings that include the young men, Museum staff and parole officers. Young men on parole and young women on probation are then referred by parole counselors or probation officers to weekly, gender-specific post-release classes (one for boys and one for girls) at the Museum. In these classes, led by a professional artist with the help of guest artists, volunteers and probation officers, hands-on projects and related contemporary art works are paired with discussions and writing assignments about identity, social issues and healthy lifestyles.
At the completion of each 6-11 week thematic session, youth participate in a public showcase of their art in which they serve as docents and performers, allowing them to experience a range of ways in which their ideas and feelings can educate, inspire and affect the greater community. A healthy, balanced dinner of diverse cultural cuisines is served at each class. Probation officers use the Young Women's Program as a probation requirement and to fulfill mandated community service hours; some young women also receive school credit. Young men and young women with perfect attendance and completion of all session projects earn $25 VISA gift cards.
Since its inception in 2001, The Arts Connect Young Women's Program in detention has served over 1,000 young women; the young women's post-release program at the Museum has helped over 100 young women stay out of jail and find a meaningful, healthy life in the community since it began in Spring 2004. The Young Men's Parole Program began in Spring 2008 and is now in it's first year.
Specific questions can be directed to Program Manager/Lead Artist Diana Falchuk: diana@dianafalchuk.com
Evaluation - The Young Women's Program
Arts Connect undergoes regular evaluation via a comprehensive tool designed and administered by Dr. Jerry Finn, Professor of Social Work at the University of Washington, Tacoma. The tool is based on a "Developmental Assets" model in which certain developmental assets such as positive relationships with responsible adults, community involvement, and positive self-esteem have been associated with better outcomes in crime and delinquency, school, and pro-social behavior. Developmental outcomes are measured using a triangulation approach that includes reliable and valid self-report scales, instructor evaluations, focus groups, juvenile justice system records, and probation officer reports and feedback. Participants are evaluated at the end of each session using pre- and post-test survey instruments, as well as through periodic formal and informal focus groups. Measures used to assess progress and achievement of results are: increased developmental assets, high youth satisfaction ratings reported by youth participants on self-evaluations and by probation officers in reports, successful completion of probation contracts, staff attendance/behavior reports and lesson plans. Feedback from all areas is considered in improving program design and operation; girls are encouraged to share ideas for improvement and change.
Participant evaluation analysis indicates that the Arts Connect program for young women rates in the 85th and above percentile on outcome benchmarks focused on increased protective factors. These outcomes include that young women will:
- Learn accountability through taking charge of their schedules
- Build self-esteem
- Learn to be seen in a positive light by their community and especially by their parents. The public accomplishment witnessed at the session showcases validates the young women's success to their family, friends, case aides and court officers. Fractures within families are often reconciled as a result of the Arts Connect experience
- Have an outlet for reflection upon the wisdom of past decisions and to effectively control and manage future decisions
- Have a safe and positive environment that gives them the space they need to build academic and social skills
- Form a positive peer community
- See themselves as leaders who can impact their community in a meaningful way
Evaluation - The Young Men's Program
Currently in it's pilot year, the Arts Connect program for young men on parole uses formal participant pre- and post-session survey forms (adapted from the young women's program evaluation forms) as well as formal and informal focus groups to evaluate program success and help define which goals will be measured long-term.
