Ennis Center for Children received a project support grant from The Hagerman Foundation to fund their Fostering Creativity program.

Fostering Creativity is a therapeutic arts program designed to encourage socio-emotional growth and resolve trauma in children affected by foster care, by providing them tools to positively process experienced abuse and neglect. It also aims to increase self-esteem and stability in foster/adoptive home placements and improve academic performance. Each class is taught by a skilled, local artist/art therapist, and the program is overseen by a master’s – level art therapist, who also provides individual art therapy sessions, as needed.

“As a licensed therapist, I’m very familiar with the immense impact that art and music therapy can have on a child’s development, particularly when their past includes trauma,” said Bob Ennis, founder and president of the Ennis Center. “Working with Michigan families and children in crisis is what the Ennis Center does best.”

Fostering Creativity supports the child, and helps them feel they have a voice. So many of these children are victims of their environments and they have no control over their situations. The arts give them that opportunity to express themselves in a safe place with other children from similar situations.

“Our passion is to improve and brighten the lives of future generations,” said Jocelyn Hagerman, CEO of The Hagerman Foundation. “It is my hope, that children in the foster care system realize they can have a bright future and their current circumstances is just a bump in the road.”

Fostering Creativity is a program that supports the child; it helps them feel they have a voice.  So many of these children are victims of their environments and they have no control over their situations. The arts give them that opportunity to express themselves in a safe place with other children from similar situations.

“Our passion is to improve and brighten the lives of future generations,” said Jocelyn Hagerman, CEO, The Hagerman Foundation. “It is my hope, that children in the foster care system realize they can have a bright future and their current circumstances is just a bump in the road.”