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ORGANIZATION: GIFFORD YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER PROGRAM : SUMMER CULTURAL CAMP FUNDER: CHILDREN' S SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION (Entire Section C, 1 — 6, not to exceed two pages) 1 . List priority needs area addressed. Focus Area I . Mental Wellness Issues in Children ages 7- 18 . This program improves the capacity of children in Indian River County to succeed to adulthood in a safe, healthy, and productive manner by meeting the following objectives : Promotes enhanced emotional and social skills; Provides early intervention screening for children; Promotes life skills training and effective use of emotional and social skills ; Promotes independent living skills; Promotes accessible locations for healthy, productive activities. Focus Area IL Childcare Access. This program supports caregivers, a child' s most important resource, to be and do what is needed to shepherd children to adulthood in a safe, healthy, and productive manner by meeting several stated objectives. This program increases the availability of affordable quality summer programs to those who would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience these cultural and ethnic activities . 2. Briefly describe program activities including location of services. The main activities of this program are chosen to provide children and teens with creative tools to help them succeed to adulthood in a safe, healthy and productive manner. Community artists teach the classes in visual, dramatic arts. Classes are held in the art studios and the foundry at the Vero Beach Museum of Art and also are held in the learning lab and the stage area at the Riverside Children' s Theatre. 3. Briefly describe how your program addresses the stated need/problem. Describe how your program follows a recognized "best practice" (see definition on page 12 of the Instructions) and provide evidence that indicates proposed strategies are effective with target population. Several studies cite the use of the, arts as a prevention tool and for positive development of children. A recent report issued to the Florida Senate from the Committee on Criminal Justice in December 2002 , entitled "Review Effectiveness of Juvenile Programs that use a Visual and Performing Arts-Based Intervention Approach" summarized numerous studies that illustrate the positive impact these types of arts programs, especially ones containing mentorship opportunities and relationships to the community, influence at-risk children toward positive goals and behaviors. (The Arts and Prosocial Impact Study, Rand, 1999 .) Students who have been consistently involved in music and theatre exhibit higher levels of success in math and reading. (Secretary 's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills, U. S . Department of Labor, 1991 ) . A lengthy national project that studied children from low income backgrounds found that those exposed to arts learning were more likely to be class officers, involved with math and science fairs and to be recognized with a writing award (Community Counts: How Youth Organizations Matter for Youth Development), Shirley Brice Health, Milbrey W. McLaughlin, 2000. Exposure to arts impacts the developmental growth of children and helps to equalize the learning curve that cuts across diverse socio-economic backgrounds (UCLA Imagination Project, Americans for the Arts, 1998). By providing arts opportunities and 9hoices at a young age, children become motivated and engaged in this healthy outlet for expression. 6