Peace River Center Receives $6,000 Art Therapy Grant

BARTOW, Fla., July 24 – Peace River Center (PRC), a licensed and nationally accredited, non-profit regional provider of behavioral health care and victim services has received a $6,000 grant funded through the Leland Bryan Fund within GiveWell Community Foundation to enrich the lives of clients and promote healing through art therapy. Art therapy is used to complement traditional mental health treatment, to help clients express themselves in ways words or language cannot. The program will serve at least 300 clients across Peace River Center programs including Children’s Services, Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services, Family Intensive Treatment (FIT), Florida Assertive Community Treatment (FACT), and OnTrack.

The art therapy activities aim to strengthen clients’ coping mechanisms, improve emotional well-being, and regulate behavior at a low cost per participant. Clients will participate in both individual and group art therapy sessions.

“Community support helps to ensure our clients have an expanded mental health toolbox. By using pencils, paints, clay, or various other media, art therapy helps individuals express emotions without having to put these feelings into words, which can be helpful in therapy settings. We are beyond grateful for the Leland Bryan Fund within GiveWell Community Foundation,” said Larry G. Williams, Jr. CEO of Peace River Center.

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About Peace River Center

Peace River Center (PRC) was established in 1948 and is a non-profit community mental health and victim services organization with more than 30 programs in Polk, Hardee, and Highlands Counties. PRC’s 400+ compassionate members use more than 30 evidence-based practices throughout the organization’s programs. PRC offers a wide range of services including inpatient and outpatient, residential, mental illness recovery, domestic violence, rape recovery, substance use disorder, and more. In FY2023, PRC had contact with and provided services to more than 27,900 individuals. PRC provides 24/7 emergency crisis response services to the community through the Mobile Crisis Response Team, 863.519.3744. For more information visit www.PeaceRiverCenter.org.

About GiveWell Community Foundation

The mission of GiveWell Community Foundation (GWCF) is to champion charitable giving to improve the quality of life in the areas we serve, both now and for future generations. We accomplish this by working with individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits to build stronger communities in Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties through charitable funds and competitive grant cycles. Since its founding in 1997, the community foundation has awarded more than $330 million in grants. Today, GWCF is home to more than 380 charitable funds and the Impact Polk and Empower Polk grant cycles. To learn more about GWCF, visit givecf.org or call 863-683-3131.