The C.A.R.E.S. Collective — Creative Arts, Relationships, Education, Sound: programs and services for schools

Programs + Services for Schools

The C.A.R.E.S.
Collective

Creative Arts • Relationships • Education • Sound

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Culture opens the door.
Connection makes the work possible.

The C.A.R.E.S. Collective brings creative arts, relationships, education and sound together to create culturally responsive learning, wellness and youth development experiences for young people.

The C.A.R.E.S. Collective official logo: Creative Arts, Relationships, Education, Sound
C

Creative Arts

Expression + Creativity

R

Relationships

Connection + Belonging

E

Education

Life Skills + Leadership

S

Sound

Music + Creative Craft

What We Offer

What we bring into schools.

Each program can stand on its own or work together as one connected experience inside a school or cohort.

A CARES facilitator leading a session while young people listen around the table

Therapy in HD™

Culturally responsive mental wellness experiences that create space for real conversations around identity, relationships, stress, conflict, emotional wellness and asking for support.

What students experience

  • Facilitated group conversations
  • Culture, music and creativity as entry points
  • Trusted adults who show up consistently

What they practice

  • Self awareness
  • Communication
  • Healthy relationships
  • Coping
  • Connection
A L.I.F.E. cohort of young people and facilitators standing together after a session

L.I.F.E.

Living Intentionally for Excellence

A structured 8 week youth development curriculum that uses creative expression, music, guided reflection and group conversation to strengthen emotional awareness, self expression, confidence, relationships, goal setting and sense of purpose.

ConnectionAwarenessPractical ToolsIntentional ChoicesPurposeLeadership

What students experience

  • Session based curriculum with reflection and discussion
  • Choice mapping and goal setting
  • Practice, application and demonstrated learning

What they practice

  • Self awareness
  • Decision making
  • Accountability
  • Leadership and agency
A student learning beat making on a music controller with a facilitator beside her

Frequency Project

A Soulful Sound

Hands on music education where students learn DJing, beat making, music production and the craft of creating music while practicing communication, collaboration, confidence and other social emotional skills.

They aren't just listening to music. They're learning how to create it.

What students experience

  • DJing
  • Beat making
  • Music production
  • Music lessons
  • Sound + equipment
  • Performance

What they practice

  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Confidence
  • Creative problem solving

Therapy in HD™ is a culturally responsive mental wellness and engagement experience. It is not a replacement for therapy, counseling or school based mental health services. The L.I.F.E. framework was developed with research and development support connected to the University of Colorado Boulder.

From Learning to Making

Learn → Practice → Create → Share

Young people can demonstrate what they are learning through youth selected creative projects.

PoetryOriginal BeatsCohort Anthems
A young student sharing on the microphone while a facilitator encourages her
Student building a beat on a music controller while a facilitator supportsFacilitator on the microphone beside a DJ working the mixer

Colorado Academic Standards Connection

Built to complement what schools are already teaching.

CARES does not replace required classroom instruction. Our experiences create additional opportunities for students to practice and apply competencies reflected in the Colorado Academic Standards through culturally responsive, experiential learning.

Therapy in HD™

Creates opportunities to practice

Comprehensive Health

  • Social + Emotional Wellness
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Emotional Awareness
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Responsible Decision Making
  • Self Management

L.I.F.E.

Creates opportunities to practice

Comprehensive Health + Colorado Essential Skills

  • Self Awareness
  • Goal Setting
  • Decision Making
  • Self Management
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Personal Responsibility
  • Critical Thinking
  • Leadership

Frequency Project

Creates opportunities to practice

Colorado Music Standards + Colorado Essential Skills

  • Creating Music
  • Performing
  • Responding
  • Musical Knowledge
  • Technical Development
  • Creative Expression
  • Collaboration
  • Problem Solving

Poetry + Anthem Capstones

Connects with Reading, Writing + Communicating

  • Oral Expression
  • Listening
  • Communicating Ideas
  • Reflection
  • Presentation
  • Creative Expression

How We Know

We listen. We measure. We learn.

CARES uses multiple forms of data to understand what young people experience, what they learn and what they are taking with them.

01

Pre + Post

Pre and end of program measures allow CARES to examine learning, participant experience and change across a cohort. Depending on the program, data may include pre program responses, end of program responses, participation, attendance, engagement, completion and program specific measures.

02

Youth Voice

Young people need more than one way to tell us what they experienced. Exit tickets are short session reflections that capture what stood out, what was learned, what participants are carrying forward and what they want us to know.

03

Demonstrated Learning

Creative projects, final reflections and capstones give young people opportunities to demonstrate learning beyond a traditional survey — poetry, original beats, a cohort anthem, performance and reflection.

Signature Experience

After the Tone

After the Tone is a creative voice based reflection experience that allows young people to pick up the red phone and respond to prompts in their own words — another way to capture immediate reflection, authentic youth voice and qualitative insight.

How we listen should reflect how young people communicate.

Data doesn't always look like a survey.

Impact

0+

Participants reached

A large group of young people and program staff gathered together

0%

Therapy in HD participants reported the experience was helpful

0%

Would recommend the experience

0%

Valued culturally aligned support

Creative Wellness Network wellness professional portrait 1
Creative Wellness Network wellness professional portrait 2
Creative Wellness Network wellness professional portrait 3
Creative Wellness Network wellness professional portrait 4
Creative Wellness Network wellness professional portrait 5

Real practitioners across the Network

The Creative Wellness Network

Support that can extend beyond the experience.

The Creative Wellness Network connects the CARES ecosystem with culturally responsive wellness professionals, practitioners, mentors and community resources when additional connection or support is appropriate.

  • Mental Health + Wellness
  • Counselors + Practitioners
  • Mentors + Trusted Adults
  • Community Resources

Let's Connect

What are your students telling you they need?

Let's talk about the CARES experience that could fit your school community.

Connect with CAREScsio@ktonecaresfoundation.org