"I didn't want to open up to anybody about my problems. I just wanted to run away."
- Eric*, Student
Joseph practices his baseball swing - and relieves stress - thanks to
special lessons from volunteer David Prout, owner and creator of a baseball training device called SlugR.
Creative Coping Skills
Thanks to a grant from the W.B. and Candace Thoman Foundation, all of our students can experience the benefits of the arts!
Most of Highfields' students have suffered from trauma and don't know how to cope in a positive way.
"Art is a safe way to process trauma, relax, and decompress, especially for young men with anger issues," said Chris Robinson, Residential Director at Highfields.
The W.B. and Candace Thoman Foundation have supported Highfields since 2003, realizing the importance of arts education to at-risk youth.
Eric found a support system to help him cope with his past.
Eric* was raised by his grandma since he was two-years-old. When he became a teenager, he started acting out. He frequently ran away from home and school and was charged for truancy, stealing, and violating probation.
"I didn't want to open up to anybody about my problems," said Eric. " I just wanted to run away."
