Implement the Community-Based Artist Collective program, a culturally competent and accessible arts-based peer-to-peer mental health advocacy program designed to provide access to arts programming that promotes community building, supports mental health and community integration, and expands artistic skills and talents. Program will support social change by expanding the opportunities for dialogue, reflection, and art exploration that supports historically underrepresented populations with the opportunity to depict mental health and other social issues through a peer perspective to counteract stereotypes, dispel prejudice, discrimination, and negative attitudes contributing to the stigma and inequities. Culminating events will feature art developed and curated by the artists, strengthing their social network throughout their self-exploration and community healing journey.
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.

