A team of University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service students recently worked with the Centers for Youth and Families in Little Rock to create a garden therapy and evaluation plan.
Clinton School students Claire Hodgson of Russellville, Ark., Kristen Alexander of Little Rock, Ark., and Daniel Caruth of Morrilton, Ark., partnered with the Centers for Youth and Families to research therapy tools and evaluate measures for the organization’s new garden therapy program. The garden program will break ground in 2017 and compliment the Centers’ existing prevention, intervention and treatment programs, which serve more than 600 families throughout Arkansas.
The team of students researched the effects of garden therapy on wellbeing, mental, and behavioral health, and suggested ways to measure those for the Centers’ clients. The students also conducted interviews and focus groups with the Centers’ staff and clients, and eight national and international organizations.
“While many people are familiar with school gardens for educational purposes, our garden is unique in that it also provides an emotionally healing experience for our clients,” said JoBeth McElhanon, director of Prevention Services at the Centers for Youth and Families. “The benefits of the integrated therapy garden are far reaching and we are excited to plant these seeds of innovation and watch them grow.”
This is one of 10 projects completed by Clinton School students throughout the state of Arkansas as part of the field service component for their Master of Public Service degree program.
About the Centers for Youth and Families
The Centers for Youth and Families is a non-profit organization based in Little Rock, Ark. It has provided a continuum of care for children, ages 3 to 20, and families across the state of Arkansas for 130 years. They offer day-treatment, outpatient counseling, classroom-based therapy, an emergency shelter, independent living programs, therapeutic foster care and residential services for at-risk youth as well as resources for parents. The Centers is dedicated to building healthy children, families and communities. More information is available at: http://www.centersforyouthandfamilies.org/
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