yes, there is a future in schools

[Guest guest]

Greetings,

After working several years in the non-profit world, I am now involved

the public school system. So, it has been very interesting

reading the dialogues about working as an Art Therapist/CAT in the

schools. I have contacted some of you personally about art therapy in

the schools earlier this year as I was developing contracts.

Mia and Meredith mentioned Bedford Central School District - I am the

consultant who has been hired to provide the art therapy pilot program.

They do have a music therapy program and this is the first time they

are introducing Art Therapy. They are familiar with Art Therapy

not only because of their Music Therapy program but because they do

have Art Therapists hired there as Art Educators. However, this

is the first time they are hiring art therapists as therapists (the

music therapists aren't doing psychotherapy or counseling per se, but

working more in collaboration with the music educators). My work

is specifically with students who have IEPs. To my understanding,

the funding comes straight from the superintendent of special

education. (everything that Meredith said in her previous e-mail!)

On another note, I will also begin to work with the NYC DOE this fall

through Counseling In Schools (Dana mentioned them previously).

The work is NOT for youth with IEPs but for AIDP (attendance

improvement drop-out prevention). The monies are through DOE, but

they do not hire the therapists directly. From what I gather, DOE

has a list of contractors that they choose from and the

contractors in turn hire who they choose. Counseling In Schools

do not work only with one school or in one neighborhood but throughout

the city (I will be at a high school campus in the bx).

In both of these positions, Bedford and Counseling In Schools, I was

hired specifically because I am an Art Therapist and/or Licensed

Creative Arts Therapist and will be explicitly providing Art

Therapy/Psychotherapy/Counseling services (not educational).

I would be interested in learning more about other people's experiences

working in schools and/or discussing this topic further off-list.

much respect,

yasmine

-- Yasmine Awais, MAAT, ATR-BC, LCATart therapy*psychotherapy*supervision