Expressive Arts School Based Group -Positive Outcomes Reported

https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/step_reports/21/

Betsy Funk, contracts with Project Harmony’s Connections program to offer ‘The GREAT Kids Group’ in the Omaha Metro area (Nebraska, USA). ‘The GREAT Kids Group’ is an 8-week school-based expressive arts group designed to assist children and teens in recognizing, processing, and appropriately expressing their emotions. Project Harmony’s Connection program in conjunction with school personnel identify elementary and middle school students who may benefit from participating in ‘The GREAT Kids Group’. These students are identified by teachers or school counselors who have concerns about the students’ emotional well-being based on disclosures by parents, teachers and/or the students themselves. They are invited to participate in the group and this participation is approved by their guardian or caregiver. This group has been provided to elementary, middle and high school students in several different public school settings throughout the Omaha Metro area from 2016-2021. Betsy Funk contracted with UNO STEPS program to evaluate initial findings of the groups effectiveness resulting in positive outcomes thus far. Groups have continued to be provided in numerous schools in the Omaha, Bellevue, and Millard School Districts.