CHILL & SPILL EVALUATION: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Through encouragement and the generous funding from the Kirlin Foundation, Art with Heart underwent a year-long evaluative study to help us identify the critical changes that come about as a direct result of Chill & Spill. We contracted with MEMconsultants to conduct an evaluation to better understand the benefits of use of Chill & Spill for youth and the professionals who serve them.

The evaluation assessed the impact of Chill & Spill use on 140 youth in 13 settings with the facilitation of 17 youth service providers.  Over the course of one year, youth and facilitators self-reported their experiences via surveys and focus groups, providing the backbone of the qualitative and quatitative data collection.

RESULTS

MEMconsultants concluded that the evaluation provides solid evidence that Chill & Spill can engage youth in high quality group or individual processes that result in social and emotional learning and personal healing. It aligns closely with best practices in youth development yet is innovative and fills a unique niche by encouraging the therapeutic use of art in a variety of settings

Chill & Spill Fosters Social and Emotional Learning

Chill & Spill is promising prevention and intervention tool that fosters social and emotional learning (SEL) in a variety of settings with a wide range of youth. The evaluation finds that Chill & Spill increases self-awareness and self-expression, helps youth manage emotions and stress, fosters peer support and community-building, and encourages healthy, positive choices.

Research has linked programs that foster SEL with improvements in youths’ personal, social and academic life.[1] Specifically, studies have revealed improved feelings of self-confidence and self-esteem, increased caring, empathy and social engagement, reductions in problem behavior such as drug use, violence and delinquency, and better academic performance among youth who develop self-awareness, self-management and social competencies.  This evaluation suggests that Chill & Spill use can start a young person down a path to similarly positive long term results.

Chill & Spill Encourages the Therapeutic Use of Art

Chill & Spill offers a user-friendly way to infuse the use of art into group or one-on-one therapeutic settings as it is based on key elements of cognitive behavioral, narrative and art therapies. Chill & Spill provides creative activities that encourage young clients to talk about their feelings, tell their individual stories and connect with both the therapist and others in the group (if used in this type of setting) in order to normalize their feelings, provide support and decrease isolation.

This evaluation found evidence that Chill & Spill encourages youth to use art and creative activities for self-exploration and self-expression. Youth participants report they are likely to continue to use art to manage stress and emotions in the future.

Chill & Spill Aligns with Best Practices in Youth Programming

Chill & Spill offers a user-friendly way to align youth programming with best practices in the field (see sidebar). Youth who participate in programs that demonstrate these qualities grow up healthy, connected and ready for college, work and life. Chill & Spill supports direct service providers to align their programming with these best practices.

The journal itself is a high quality keepsake that can be “gifted” to each youth.  This provides a way for youth to actively re-engage in the creative activities within it and reflect on their own personal growth by reviewing their past activities.

Chill & Spill Supports Direct Service Providers

A wide variety of youth-serving professionals used Chill & Spill during this study, including therapists, school-based prevention specialists, after school program coordinators, youth workers and community volunteers.

The effectiveness of Chill & Spill depends on the competency of the adult facilitator.  It is best used by a trained professional who is able to appropriately address youth issues that emerge during creative activities.

Chill & Spill is particularly effective in fostering meaningful connections with youth, even those youth who in the past were reluctant to engage using widely accepted curriculum or therapy techniques.

Chill & Spill is easy and efficient to use, because it brings together a variety of art-related activities and exercises in one convenient place.  The journal combined with the Therapist’s Companion guides the facilitator through each session by providing a structured opening, a meaningful activity, and completion activities, following the model of “talk-therapy.”

Therapists, counselors and prevention specialists using Chill & Spill report…

• There were high levels of youth engagement in the Chill & Spill activities. “All of the participants were excited to keep their books and look forward to working in the in the future.”
• C&S is a particularly effective way to engage a young person in a meaningful level of honest dialogue. “It helped bridge a gap and break barriers away between me and the participants. My sharing with them helped them be more comfortable with me.”
• Youth learn about themselves, share their ideas and feelings and think about their futures while using Chill & Spill. “Chill & Spill is a great tool for anyone working to help young people process their experiences and become more self aware. It’s especially helpful for kids who struggle expressing them self in words or kids who love art.”
• Chill & Spill is a powerful, healthy coping tool to address everyday teen challenges as well as extreme trauma and stress. “As a drug and alcohol prevention specialist, I am always looking for ways to help kids positively cope with the challenges in their life. Positive coping skills are a huge protective factor against drug and alcohol use. C&S was a positive coping tool to introduce to the participants.”
• they are significantly more likely to report using art for self-understanding after their work with Chill & Spill. “I have learned how to express my emotions in positive ways. Chill and Spill books help with that.”

Art with Heart continues to receive feedback from users of the book as well as caregivers.