Follow
Hello Everyone-
I have been waiting to make an “official” post until I could create a slightly organized pattern as to how these posts would go so that folks would know when to check if a new post has been published. I have decided, until the conversation gets going a bit more, I will publish one post about a specific portion of the green paper every other week, and a post about a general topic regarding the field in the weeks between. So, check the blog each Monday, and something new should be up. 
Specific topic #1
Reading thru the green paper, I came across this sentence that I thought many of us could relate to:
“Changes in the American economic and healthcare systems, coupled with the growth of our aging populations, bring opportunities for expansion of the arts in healthcare into rural communities and the realms of public health, social services, and human services.”
It is clear, according to each of our prospective green papers, that we all believe in the importance of the arts integrated into a variety of professions. However, a challenge that our organization continually faces, although we are moving forward to find a solution to this obstacle, is how we can efficiently approach this idea. Should we be going straight to the source (i.e. the actual professions themselves and encourage social worker and public health professionals to integrate the arts) or should we be going to our students, the future of each of these professions?
Also, how have you seen the arts brought into rural communities around each of your areas? In the next post, I will speak on a project that an organization I work for was able to bring the arts to a rural community in the Florida panhandle – specifically to the seafood industry.
I believe each of these options – regarding bringing art directly to professionals versus first to the students – have their pros and cons, and would love to hear feedback as to which way you believe could be most impacting and effective. The answer could even be that according to the profession the approach taken could be varied.
Thank you in advanced for your thoughts and discussion!
I have pondered this question many a time. I am a creativity specialist in nursing homes where I do creative interactive sessions in the arts. Nursing home administrators are required to run by state regulations. They do not see the essential elements (higher morale, less meds etc) that the arts bring. They can barely make room for all of all the required meetings and all care plans and documentation of EVERYTHING. An administrator is so stretched, that he (or she) does not have room for his (or her) own personal creativty. Creativity brings life….and health (as we have discovered to be true through recent research). Anything new must come down from the top. My arts experience in many different nursing homes shows me that the entire facility reflects the administrator. Preparing college students is very good, but if there is no place in the system for the creative element, it is wasted.
I want to reply to a specific comment you made…
“They can barely make room for all of all the required meetings and all care plans and documentation of EVERYTHING.”
Which makes sense – so then how can they make room for an art component? I believe the answer is MUCH easier said than done: The art component must be integrated into the “everything” that is required by state to accomplish. You are right, many things must come from the top down. However, a single artist in a larger system can “be the pebble” that starts the ripple effect. That’s how things work from the bottom up…