Facilitating Arts-Based Mindfulness Group Activities with Vulnerable Children: An Example of Nondeliberative Social Group Work Practice

ABSTRACT

This article discusses the process of facilitating arts-based mindfulness group work and activities with vulnerable children age 8 to 12 years who were involved with the child welfare or mental health systems. Specifically, it delineates connections between our group program and Norma Lang’s nondeliberative social group work practice. Importantly, in working with vulnerable children, the authors purposefully fostered the development of mutual aid, creativity, and strengths and recognized that each group had a life of its own.

KEYWORDS:

• Arts based
• mindfulness
• vulnerable children
• social group work
• nondeliberative

Acknowledgment

We would also like to acknowledge the two organizations that collaborated with our research: The Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin, and the Child and Family Centre.