Dr. Theresa Van Lith and Art Therapy Masters Students Co-Authored Article in the “Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy”
The FSU Department of Art Education would like to congratulate Art Therapy Assistant Professor Dr. Theresa Van Lith and Art Therapy masters students Angela Quintero and Elissa Pizzutto for co-authoring “‘Vamos a la Escuelita Arte Terapia’: An Art Therapy Protocol for Promoting Resilience with Latino Farm Worker Children” in the Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy.
The abstract for the article provides a brief introduction:
Children of Latino farm worker families risk experiencing emotional and behavioral issues. Yet mental health resources are often inaccessible because of transportation and communication disparities. Subsequently, there is a need for accessible therapy-based programs which cross language and cultural barriers. The pilot study, la Escuelita Arte Terapia, sought to address the compounding needs of the children by running a six-week art therapy protocol within a Latino farm worker community in southern Georgia. The average attendance was 95 percent, with approximately 25 children between the ages of 2 and 7 attending each session. Observational data revealed that several therapeutic goals were successful in building internal resiliency while working to reduce risk factors and improve the participant’s school-readiness. Specifically, participants displayed increased developments in their fine and gross motor skills, creative development, emotional expression, behavioral focus, and social engagement. Several factors contributed to the success of la Escuelita Arte Terapia, which included how the promotores acted as mediators between the art therapists and the families, the art therapists’ supportive role, the art therapy milieu, and the community connections. It is hoped that future endeavors will build on the intervention proposed to help determine how art therapy can address emotional and behavioral disparities with Latino farm worker children.
In “‘Vamos a la Escuelita Arte Terapia’: An Art Therapy Protocol for Promoting Resilience with Latino Farm Worker Children,” which is also co-authored by Department of Family & Child Sciences Chair & Norejane Hendrickson Professor Dr. Joseph G. Grzywacz, authors created and conducted a pilot program to determine if art therapy was a feasible therapeutic method for promoting an increase in these resiliency characteristics and skills. Furthermore, they investigated if integrating community resources and health promotion material within an art therapy program would not only help with personal expression of ongoing adverse experiences but also provide accessible strategies for the participants. Based on the success of la Escuelita Arte Terapia, the intention of the authors, especially Dr. Van Lith, is to integrate this initiative on a larger scale to determine effectiveness, salience, and acceptance of using art therapy to address emotional and behavioral disparities with Latino farm worker children.
Consider learning more and reading the full article.
Congratulations, Dr. Theresa Van Lith, Angela Quintero, Elissa Pizzutto, and Dr. Joseph G. Grzywacz for this exceptional and impactful achievement!