Children's Healing Art Project (CHAP)
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Mission Statement
Children's Healing Art Project (CHAP) brings the healing power of art to children and families facing medical challenges.
About This Cause
Children facing any medical challenge can experience the healing power of art with Children's Healing Art Project (CHAP). CHAP teaching artists visit local hospitals, clinics, and community spaces every week to make each hospital experience a little (or a whole lot) brighter. At CHAP, children are known for their creativity and ingenuity - not by their disease, diagnosis, or disability. When CHAP rolls the colorful carts full of art supplies through the halls of hospitals, that space instantly becomes more joyful, more positive, and far less stressful for everyone. Playrooms, waiting rooms, and hospital rooms are instantly transformed into places of up-lifting creativity. Parents often even schedule appointments around the days CHAP will be available for their child. "CHAP has been my best friend in Doernbecher. CHAP also made me forget all worries that I had, and made me smile the whole way through." - Pediatric patient going through cancer treatment. Research even shows importance of art in the healing process: It helps patients and family members cope, encourages compliance with treatment plans, increases self-confidence, encourages self-expression, reduces stress, pain, isolation and anxiety and promotes quality of life. Every interaction with CHAP's teaching artists makes a difference to a child waiting for a procedure, a sibling feeling neglected, and/or a parent anxious about the results of their child's latest test. CHAP brings color, creativity, and an outlet for the whole family. Each week, CHAP bring the healing power of art to the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Pediatric Surgery Waiting Room, Doernbecher Children's Hospital Playroom, Shriner's Halo Unit, and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, to name just a few of the 15 different locations in and around the Portland-Metro area. In addition, CHAP hosts Art Clubs online or at our art studio for children no longer in the hospital as well as Spring & Winter school break Open Studios and Summer Art Workshops. CHAP also sends free boxes of art supplies to hundreds of children's homes annually for them to enjoy together as a family. During the COVID-19 pandemic, CHAP quickly and creatively switched to Zoom art sessions with children, sending thousands of free art supply packs to hospitalized children, expanding the CHAP in a Box reach to any child facing any medical issue, broadcasting art sessions directly to the rooms of children receiving treatment at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital each week, and so much more. Voted 2021 'PDX Parent' Picks Readers Choice WINNER for Best Arts & Crafts Classes/Camps, CHAP has been a leader in modifying in-person Summer Art Workshops to work effectively in a virtual environment. Since we began in 2006, children have enjoyed over 80,000 healing art experiences through CHAP. Each experience is as unique as each child. Donations of any amount help provide free art supplies and free services for thousands of children and families dealing with medical issues. It's a wonderful way to make a direct difference in the life of a child. Please join CHAP in supporting medically-challenged children when and where they need it most.