GREENFIELD, NH —A crackling bonfire sets the stage for a gathering of adolescents and young adults, some of whom are in wheelchairs, all of them engaged in drumming and singing. That scene comes straight from The Healing Arts – New Pathways to Health an exciting new program at Crotched Mountain that employs various media as a treatment modality for people with disabilities, administered through an artist-in-residency program that will range from dance to drumming, sculpture to memoir writing, fiber arts to filmmaking.

First launched in 2004, the program has resulted in measurable improvements in health and well-being at two healthcare facilities in Vermont and Massachusetts.

Crotched Mountain was chosen to participate in 2006, and was awarded a $50,000 matching grant over two years for our populations of children, adolescents and young adults that will extend the program's impact. The Healing Arts – New Pathways to Health will expand on current arts programs within the Crotched Mountain School, Children's Specialty Hospital and Brain Injury Center, introducing intensive arts opportunities and documenting their effect on treatment and goals.

Recognizing the intensive nature of the relationship between our patients and caregivers, the program also incorporates an innovative Caring for the Caregiver component that engages family members and direct service staff in these arts experiences. We anticipate that these residencies will result in measurable gains in health, rehabilitation goals, wellness, socialization experiences and other positive outcomes for both our patients and staff.

Coordinated by Deborah DeCicco, a former director of education of the Sharon Arts Center School, Peterborough, NH, The Healing Arts – New Pathways to Health at Crotched Mountain will host a series of juried and distinguished artists who are experienced in working with people who have disabilities. Residencies will vary in length, frequency and structure but all will culminate in finished works showcased through performances, exhibitions and receptions.

The Healing Arts – New Pathways to Health is an initiative of the Vermont Arts Exchange and the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the NH State Council on the Arts, with generous support from Jane's Trust and The Kenneth B. Schwartz Center.

About Crotched Mountain

Crotched Mountain is a charitable organization employing more than 900 people. Its mission is to serve individuals with disabilities and their families, embracing personal choice and development, and building communities of mutual support. Crotched Mountain provides specialized education, rehabilitation, community, and residential support services for more than 2,000 consumers, including individuals with disabilities and the elderly, living in New England and New York. For more information about Crotched Mountain, visit their web site: www.crotchedmountain.org.

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