A growing body of research demonstrates how the arts – including literary, performing and visual arts as well as architecture and design – can greatly enhance the experience of healthcare, contributing to improved health outcomes, a better patient experience and lower healthcare costs. This unique book provides an overview of what the arts in healthcare can achieve and how to implement the arts in the most effective manner. Exploring possibilities for innovative program design and implementation – from healing gardens through public performances to bedside activities

"Preliminary evidence from self-report measures indicates positive effects on mood, self-esteem, socialization and community participation among the veteran participants and recognition among staff that the course aids the veterans’ recovery process. Appreciating art thus appears to promote both subjective and objective improvement in recovery and community re-integration for veterans who are experiencing chronic and disabling emotional distress."

"Student veterans represent a unique population on college campuses. Not only are they transitioning back to civilian life but also into a new role as college student. This paper describes the attempts of one university to aid in that transition through the means of expressive arts. A detailed description of the Paper Peace and glass pouring workshops and accompanying pictures is provided in this paper. In addition, reflections on the workshops and plans for future workshops are described."

"Findings indicate that the program addressed children’s needs at a number of points in time with six themes that have emerged from the data. These include, visits with the injured parent, self-expression, distraction and respite, parental engagement, normalization and empowerment. The findings lend support on ways an artists-in-residence program uses creative arts engagement to promote coping for children of hospitalized wounded service members and to encourage ongoing participation in the arts upon discharge.

Excerpted from Arts & America: Arts, Culture, and the Future of America’s Communities. This essay looks at the role of arts in the healthcare system over the next 10 to 15 years. The

"Why Am I Writing This Book? There are many aspects of Hip Hop culture that exceeds beyond just the beat, a dance, or a catchy hook. The Hip Hop Lectures (Volume 1) & The Hip Hop Lectures (Volume 2) are books that were created to make a connection between the past and the present, as it relates to Hip Hop culture. Hip Hop culture has been able to accomplish so much in such a very short period of time, most of which includes the bridging of generational and racial gaps locally and internationally. The hope; however, is that the culture continues to grow and evolve to a point where

There is a concurrent shift in healthcare today, toward a more human-focused system in which the patient has a face and a story as well as a chart and a white blood cell count. This approach has long been practiced by artists, performers, poets, and writers.

"This paper details a pilot study that used a six-week visual journaling art therapy group with military veterans in recovery in order to reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Two participants completed the journaling group, pre- and posttest Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation—Outcome Measure (CORE-OM), and an individual interview. The data from the CORE-OM were analyzed to determine change in overall score as well as the domains of life functioning, risk/harm, problems/symptoms, and subjective well-being. The individual interviews were analyzed to

This essay by Naj Wikoff from the book Managing Arts Program in Healthcare focuses the need for programs to assist military personnel and their families in healing and how the arts offer effective solutions to help in the process of healing military experiences.

Approximately a quarter of service members deployed to war have PTSD. The psychological injuries of war, PTSD, moral injury, and related conditions, lead to other issues with employment and intimate relationships. There are conventional, evidence-based therapies that are effective—if the service member or veteran is able to tolerate the treatments. However, the clinicians in the military and veteran’s health-care systems are innovative. They have experimented with alternative ways to engage veterans. These include mindfulness, art therapy, stellate ganglion block, training