As the city of Chicago grapples with the lingering effects of the pandemic, including job loss and worsening mental health, a new pilot program aims to address both issues. Launched by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Arts & Health Pilot for Creative Workers provides job training opportunities for professional artists whose creative skills could help bolster mental health treatment and services within the city. These artists, whose livelihoods were heavily impacted by the pandemic, are offered a chance to not only rebuild their careers, but also meaningfully contribute to the mental health sector.
During the pilot, participating artists will receive a salary of $66,000 with benefits to complete a community health worker certification program and apprentice at one of five mental health clinics under the Chicago Department of Public Health. According to Alisha Warren, assistant commissioner of mental health at the Department of Public Health, the main objective is to “address some of the workforce shortages in behavioral health,” while exploring a more holistic approach to mental health treatment. This recognition of alternative healing methods, such as art, music, or physical activity, comes in response to research that suggests these methods can improve health outcomes for patients.
Findings from a recent survey conducted by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing revealed that 93% of behavioral health workers have experienced burnout, and 83% were concerned that workforce shortages will negatively impact society as a whole. Chicago's pilot program aims to alleviate this burden and provide support to the existing workforce by equipping artists with the skills to become effective mental health care liaisons.
A pilot program in Chicago looks to address mental health workforce shortages, while exploring the benefits of holistic treatment through mediums like art.https://t.co/Omz4GGbGtc
— Chicago DCASE (@ChicagoDCASE) September 24, 2023
Funding for this pilot program comes from a $700,000 allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds, as well as a grant from FGC, a Builders Initiative Foundation Entity. Once certified as community health workers, artists will not be qualified to provide mental health treatment such as therapy or medical prescriptions, but they will become valuable resources for community education, outreach, and mental health care delivery planning. Through the use of varied creative mediums, these artists can positively impact public mental health and help to transform the mental health care landscape within the city of Chicago.
The city joins a national initiative known as One Nation/One Project (ONOP), which aims to infuse arts into mental and behavioral health treatment in a cohort of cities, including Edinburg, Texas; Gainesville, Florida; Harlan County, Kentucky; Phillips County, Arkansas; Providence, Rhode Island; Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and Utica, Mississippi. Data collected on the effectiveness of these pilot programs will proudly assist- to inform potential adjustments to better suit the needs of residents in each city and expand the impact of this groundbreaking approach to mental health and healing.
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