ORANGE COUNTY CHILDRENS THERAPEUTIC ARTS CENTER

THE ORANGE COUNTY CHILDREN'S THERAPEUTIC ARTS CENTER (OCCTAC) IS A 501C (3) NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN THE CITY OF SANTA ANA. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE, ARTISTIC, EDUCATIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS THAT TRANSFORM AND INSPIRE CHILDREN, AT-RISK YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO FULFILL THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL IN LIFE. MORE THAN 90% OF ALL THE FAMILIES SERVED ARE FROM VERY LOW INCOME, AND FROM CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. THE MAJORITY OF THE FAMILIES SERVED ARE FROM THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AND NEARBY COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS ANAHEIM, TUSTIN, ORANGE, FULLERTON, GARDEN GROVE, AND OTHER COMMUNITIES.DURING THE 2023-2024 YEAR, OCCTAC CONTINUED PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS:1) ENGAGE 360/ AFTER-SCHOOL ARTS ENRICHMENT PROGRAM AT THE SANTA ANA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTICT. OCCTAC TAUGHT MUSIC AND ART AT ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS STUDENTS IN THE SANTA ANA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (OVER 6,000 STUDENTS PER YEAR). 2) EARLY START AND PRE-KINDER ARTS PROGRAM WHICH SERVES YOUNG CHILDREN AGES 1-4 YEARS AND THEIR PARENTS. THIS EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM AIMS AT EDUCATING VERY YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS TOGETHER, EDUCATE PARENTS, PREVENTS CHILD ABUSE AND SCREEN YOUNG CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND SPECIAL NEEDS. 3) PREP-ARTS ACADEMY PROGRAM AT OCCTAC OFERED MUSIC, VISUAL ARTS, DANCE, MEDIA ARTS CLASSES TO STUDENTS 6 18 YRS. OF AGE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. ALL STUDENTS LEARNED NEW OR HIGHER LEVELS OF ARTISTIC SKILLS. THE PREP ARTS ACADEMY EMPOWERED YOUTH THROUGH THE ARTS, ENHANCING SOCIO-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING SELF-ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE, AND PROVIDED A SAFE HAVEN IN THE COMMUNITY TO DIVERT YOUTH FROM NEGATIVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS. 4) THERAPEUTIC ARTS PROGRAM SERVED CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES AND SPECIAL NEEDS, INCLUDING AUTISM, CEREBRAL PALSY, DOWN SYNDROME, HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS, LEARNING DISABILITIES AND OTHERS. A VARIETY OF THERAPEUTIC ARTS CLASSES PROVIDED AIMED AT PROVIDING ARTISTIC ACCESS AND THERAPEUTIC OUTCOMES TO HELP IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. SOME OF OUR KEY PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY INCLUDED THE KENNEDY COMMISION, ARTS AND DISABILITY, THE REGIONAL CENTER OF ORANGE COUNTY AND OTHERS. 5) WRAPAROUND TUTORING PROGRAM OFFERED TUTORING SERVICES TO YOUTH WITH ACADEMIC DELAYS. THIS IS A PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE COUNTY OF ORANGE, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND PROVIDE ACADEMIC TUTORING SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH REFERRED BY THE COUNTY. ALL STUDENT REFERALS ARE FAMILIES IDENTIFIED BY THE COUNTY AS WRAPAROUND FAMILIES, AND NEED OF ACADEMIC AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, INCLUDING FOSTER KIDS, STUDENTS WITH EMOTIONAL AND/OR BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES AND IN NEED OF COUNSELING, MENTORING, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES. 6) YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SERVED TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUTH (16 24 YRS OF AGE). IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, OCCTAC PROVIDED YOUTH WITH NECESSARY TOOLS TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION INTO THE WORKFORCE, FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION, AND REACH THEIR TRUE WORK POTENTIAL BY PROVIDING THEM WITH ACADEMIC COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT, TUTORING AND PAID WORK TRAINING. STUDENTS ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELDS OF ARTS, EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY. THIS AMAZING PROGRAM FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON HELPING TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUTH WHO HAD DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL, HAD NO CAREER GOALS OR EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATIONS. ALL STUDENTS ARE GUIDED TO HIGHER EDUCATION, CAREER PATHS AND JOBS IN THEIR AREAS OF INTEREST. OUR PROGRAM ALLOWS STUDENTS TO EARN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, RECEIVED STATE CERTIFICATES, AND ENTER INTO COLLEGE WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR TEAM. 7) FAMILY MENTORING PROGRAM PROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT AND MENTORING TO FAMILIES OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE REGIONAL CENTER OF ORANGE COUNTY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT TO FAMILIES THAT HAVE CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES REFERRED BY THE REGIONAL CENTER OF ORANGE COUNTY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS CAREGIVERS TO BECOME ACTIVE, KNOWLEDGEABLE ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN PROVIDING HEALTH NAVIGATION SUPPORT AND INCREASE THE FAMILIES ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN/YOUTH SO THEY CAN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. 8) EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS - OCCTACS EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS PROGRAM (EISOA) IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY OF ORANGE, HEALTH CARE AGENCY AND MECCA (MULTIETHNIC COLLABORATIVE OF COMMUNITY AGENCIES). THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY THE COUNTY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION DIVISION, MENAL HEALTH SERVICES. THIS PROGRAM AIMS AT PROVIDING EARLY INTERVENTION, EDUCATION AND SOCIALIZATION TO OLDER ADULTS AT-RISK OF ISOLATION AND MENTAL ILLNESS. 9) OCCTAC COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY - OCCTACS MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY WELLNESS PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH MECCA (MULTIETHNIC COLLABORATIVE OF COMMUNITY AGENCIES) AND PEPPERDINE UNIVIERSITY, SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY. WE PROVIDE A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS INCLUDING, YOUTH AND FAMILY COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, EMOTIONAL WELLNESS EDUCATION, AND MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOPS FOR YOUTH, PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY. AT OCCTAC, WE CARE ABOUT THE GENERAL WELFARE AND WELL-BEING OF OUR FAMILIES. WE BELIEVE THAT SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING ARE FUNDAMENTAL FOR THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL, OUR FAMILIES AND OVERALL COMMUNITY WELLNESS. OUR MENTAL HELATH AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING PROGRAMS PROVIDE A VARIETY OF FREE SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.10) DAY SCHOOL PROGRAM - OCCTAC STARTED THIS NEW PROGRAM AS A REQUEST FROM FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM FULFILLS A GAP IN THE COMMUNITY FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. THE DAY SCHOOL PROGRAM IS AN INNOVATIVE ARTS-BASED AND LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS AGES 18-26 WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. OUR MISSION IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR ENTRY INTO APPROPRIATE ADULT PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTED WORK PLACEMENTS UPON GRADUATION. THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES STUDENT INDEPENDENCE, CHOICE MAKING, INDIVIDUALIZED WORK EXPERIENCE, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, MONEY SKILLS, INTEGRATION WITH COLLEGE PREPARATION, AND TRANSITION TO INTEGRATED WORK IN CONNECTION WITH OUR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.