Sharing in the healing journey expressive arts toolkit
The sharing in the healing journey expressive arts toolkit is a practical guide that helps facilitators support children and their mothers or gender-diverse parents who have experienced domestic violence. Developed by YWCA Toronto and grounded in over 24 years of the Here to Help program, it provides step-by-step guidance for using expressive arts to support […]
Arts and health evaluation toolkit
The arts and health evaluation toolkit (AHET) is a plain-language guide that helps artists, practitioners, and community organizations run structured, credible evaluations of arts and health programmes. It offers step-by-step guidance to measure and communicate health and well-being outcomes as expectations for evidence and impact reporting grow. Special feature: Includes a structured guide for goal […]
The THRivE toolkit
The THRivE toolkit is a practical guide that helps arts and heritage practitioners, researchers, and organizations evaluate health and well-being outcomes in community and clinical settings. It provides structured, accessible guidance to strengthen evaluation design, analysis, and reporting as demand for credible outcome measurement grows. Special feature: Offers step-by-step guidance on measuring emotional responses, mood […]
Creative care: A resource for artists working in humanitarian contexts toolkit
The Creative Care Toolkit is a plain-language guide that helps artists working in humanitarian settings design safe, meaningful arts-based initiatives during times of crisis. Created for artists without formal training in creative arts therapies or psychosocial support, it offers step-by-step guidance grounded in safety, cultural humility, and collaboration. Special feature: Includes six step-by-step modules, real-world […]
Art assistant volunteer training
Access Alliance uses the arts to enhance newcomer mental health and wellness through a range of expressive arts programs delivered across settlement and healthcare services using a coordinated, team-based approach. To strengthen this work, the Newcomer Artists Mental Health Training was developed in partnership with MABELLEarts. The training was designed to equip newcomer artists with […]
Nesting ground report 2024 – 25
The “Nesting Grounds” program are weekly community arts workshops that emerged in response to participants’ requests for more sustainable, long-term arts programming that supports well-being in a non-threatening and destigmatizing way. Participants shared that arts programs supported their mental health and sense of connection, while expressing a need for ongoing opportunities beyond short-term workshops. Learn […]
Project glossary
The HEAL glossary is a practical resource for service providers and researchers working with newcomer survivors of gender-based and domestic violence. It provides accessible and culturally responsive definitions of key terms including implementation research, expressive arts therapy, mental health, and trauma-informed care in contexts where expressive arts support healing. This glossary is designed to foster […]
Arts model of care
Drawing on Access Alliance’s two decades of experience in arts-based practices, our team has developed a model to enhance newcomer mental health through the arts. By implementing a client-centered approach, we found that many participants were hesitant to engage in one-on-one therapy. This model provides an alternative by allowing individuals to engage in mental health […]
Hiring arts-based facilitators
Expressive arts programs offer a powerful and effective way to support mental well-being among newcomer communities, with arts-based facilitators playing a vital role in shaping and delivering these programs. Hired as fee-for-service contract workers, facilitators bring valuable expertise, lived experience, and creative skills to Access Alliance teams. Establishing clear, thoughtful practices for hiring and onboarding […]
Mindful art implementation
This workshop invites participants to explore mindfulness and self-expression through art in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. Focusing on the creative process rather than the final product, participants engage with various art materials to reflect on their emotions, develop self-awareness, and practice stress management. Facilitators model playful, hands-on engagement, fostering trust and connection while ensuring […]