Creative Wellbeing integrates arts and mental health strategies to support social-emotional development and healing from trauma. The goal of this work is to make systemic change toward healing-centered arts engagement. The approach is being implemented at school sites, congregate care facilities, online for caregivers and providers, within county departments, and as part of the Los Angeles County Suicide Prevention Network.

Over the past four years, the Creative Wellbeing network has evolved to include educators, mental health professionals, advocates, youth content advisors, youth development workers, teaching artists, the staff of the Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Health Services, UCLA, and more. In partnership with the UCLA Prevention Center of Excellence (COE) and the Wellbeing for LA Learning Center, we are forming a Creative Wellbeing learning community and will host virtual quarterly gatherings for those who have participated or been involved in a Creative Wellbeing initiative. There will also be a virtual hub on the Wellbeing for LA Learning Center platform for ongoing asynchronous networking. 

These virtual learning community gatherings will feature conversations with peers and subject matter experts, and there will be opportunities to share insights, challenges, and perspectives. The gatherings will nurture community-building and provide structured ways to discuss, ideate, and uplift collective wisdom. The goal is to help more individuals and groups adapt and implement a healing-centered arts approach into their work, healing journeys, and systems-change efforts.

We look forward to including you in a supportive Creative Wellbeing community that provides connection, healing, and opportunities for transformation and growth to better effect change for young people across LA County.