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CoachArt matches volunteer coaches with students for a minimum of 10 lessons. All of the students in this program have completed the inpatient component of their medical treatment and have embarked on the long, outpatient therapeutic period. CoachArt lessons take place at qualified art studios, music centers, dance schools and athletic facilities in the neighborhoods where students live.
Whether participating in a class or an individual lesson, the children gain a sense of control they have lost in other areas of their life. The weekly lessons give them a creative or athletic outlet to cope with their illness. Often, children with chronic illnesses miss school, fall back in grades, and lose touch with peers. These classes offer children the ability to socialize with people outside their families, learn new skills and develop a renewed level of confidence.
Volunteer coaches provide art workshops and lessons to patients inside Childrens Hospital LA. The workshops rotate between playrooms and clinics in order to reach various patient populations at the hospital. For admitted patients as well as their visiting siblings, these workshops provide both a stimulating experience and exposure to a new activity. Upon leaving the hospital, many of these patients are eligible to participate in the Outpatient Coaching Program.
CoachArt provides cultural, educational and recreational activities in the community to patients and their families at no cost. In the summer, CoachArt plans a two-night camping trip at Big Bear Lake and a day surfing camp in Malibu; in the winter, the kids participate in an overnight snowboard and ski trip to Big Bear Mountain. These trips give our students the ability to participate in new activities and achieve goals that they otherwise believed were impossible. They gain a new sense of self-confidence as they learn teamwork, dedication, and how to overcome their fears. Program events also include theater and dance performances, sporting events and museum visits. These events bring patients together for camaraderie and support, and reduce the feeling of isolation that often accompanies illness.
If you would like more information about how CoachArt can work with your healthcare team and/or patient population, please contact Ashley Fontanetta, Program Director at 310.203.2850 or ashley@coachart.org.
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