With support from the California Arts Council, Painted Brain will implement the Reentry Through the Arts program that is designed to provide access to arts programming that promotes community building, supports mental health and community integration to returned residents of Los Angeles County.
Core to Painted Brain’s (PB) programming are peer focused workforce development, technical training, industrial and therapeutic expressive arts, biopsychosocial rehabilitation groups, and Medi-Cal provider benefit programs. All PB programming is developed primarily by and for people with lived experience. PB technical training includes digital health literacy and cultural competency training that aim to improve the technical skills of individuals of diverse backgrounds to promote workforce development and inclusivity in the workplace. The industrial arts activities support the designs and illustrations of all PB printed materials e.g., flyers, t-shirts, brochures, presentations, and strategic posters. We are a certified training vendor with CalMHSA for the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Training program and specialized training in Justice-Involved and Law and Ethics as well as Continuing Education courses. PB’s Community Mental Health Center has been a space for creative collaborations and the development and implementation of our arts programming. In addition, PB meets the client where they are at by offering art-based psychosocial rehabilitation groups at external partner agencies to allow for more access to comprehensive support. We primarily serve transitional age youth and adults experiencing mental health challenges, justice involvement, housing insecurity, disabilities, and social marginalization.