Art Would LLC is looking to find partners in offering a cutting-edge peer respite opportunity to house people in a mental health crisis as a hospital and board and care alternative. Modle Researched by Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee with a business background based on proven best practices in similar models.
The targeted Medicaid county areas of interest include starting in San Bernadino or Los Angeles County, serving as a hospitalization alternative- Board and care-based peer respite. By building in a nature-rich environment, we create an added layer of well-being often out of reach for Medicaid clients.
Funds will be used to acquire land on the edge of the county in a natural setting and construct environmentally friendly, cost-effective housing that meets the codes and terrain of the chosen land. Attention to detail will create a visually appealing environment that has an artistic flair that will be co-created by organization artists during the design and construction.
Fund will also be used for Construction. The board and care building will have Up to 5 bedrooms in an eco home. An additional building will hold the peer respite. A third building will hold the art studio.
The founder was able to heal through art and nature-based immersion and has studied clinical psychology to create the design of this inclusive facility. The reason an art studio is essential is that “Artist activists and cultural workers have used art-based methodologies to demonstrate the link between critical inquiry and Praxis when critiquing the social and personal consequences of violence, trauma, shame, and stigma.” Art also works as a healing tool “when our practice links trauma, the body's feelings, memory, affect and subjective formation of the social construction of race, class, gender, sexuality or disability.” Additionally, with an “Analysis of power relationships that question the status quo about transforming relationships” deep cultural healing may also be possible(Talwar, S. K. 2019)
Since deinstitutionalization, people with disabilities have been through years of inhumane treatment. “In every year from 2009 to 2015, the rate of violent victimization against persons with disabilities was at least twice the age-adjusted rate for persons without disabilities “(Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2017). In addition, many people with disabilities face stigma and are met with fear by others who do not understand them. “Only 3-5% of violent crimes can be tied to a person's mental illness,(Larson, Z.). People with mental illness need to be protected and treated differently in California. Art Would LLC has a viable solution to re-empower people who have experienced social exclusion to heal through nature and the creative arts in a safe, contained environment without losing autonomy in a peer respite or peer-run board and care to set.
This specialized peer respite aims to increase the quality of life, rewiring trauma to recognize the safe place provided. This safety is essential for those who would otherwise live in harsh environments where they are more likely to be stressed or not receive adequate care and create a model that could be repeated where needed. Art Would LLC would like to target those with severe mental health issues that are either in crisis and would enjoy a short-term stay at the respite or are training to become artists in residence while staying at the board and care. Treatment methods need to be less traumatic and more alluring to get people the help they need. “As many as a thirds of individuals with a serious diagnosis do not receive any consistent treatment”(Larson, Z). This may be adding to the significant health outcome detailed by Larson. “Individuals with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, or bipolar disorder (about four percent of the population) live on average 25 years less than other Americans” (Larson, Z). Not only are people more likely to die younger ‘severe mental illness increases the likelihood of living in poverty. “According to some estimates, a quarter of homeless Americans are seriously mentally ill” (Larson. z). If living in poverty is not enough, there is also a higher likelihood of incarceration. “At least a fifth of all prisoners in the United States have a mental illness of some kind, and between 25 and 40 percent of mentally ill people will be incarcerated at some point in their lives”( Larson Z.) By Partnering with Art Would LLC, there are opportunities to create meaningful change in an underserved community provided by a passionate artist and peer-run team.
The is also a possibility of receiving grants to support this project with a state application due in Dec. Art Would LLC would like initial funds and support to have a good chance at receiving additional investment through grants to sustain the project in the future by supporting start up and building costs.
Item 1-Building Styles.
Possible building styles include super adobe, earth ship construction, or hempcrete.
SuperAdobe: sandbags are filled with earth and arranged in layers or coils. Strands of barbed wire are placed between each layer of sandbag to act as both mortar and reinforcement. Stabilizers such as cement, lime, or asphalt emulsion may be added.
https://www.calearth.org/intro-superadobe
Hempcrete: a nontoxic form of concrete that uses hemp pulp to create structures such as homes or other dwellings. https://californiahempcrete.com/
This is your call to action to help a Graduate level professional to reduce the homeless population and incarceration of the mentally disabled by providing an alternative life that has the power to be inspirational
Item 2- Sources
Talwar, S. K. (2019b). Art therapy for social justice: radical intersections. Routledge.
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