Collier Children’s Advocacy Center receives $20,000 grant from Jingled Elves to fund the Healing Through Art therapy program

The Collier Children’s Advocacy Center (Collier CAC) has received a $20,000 grant from Jingled Elves to support its Healing Through Art therapy program, which provides children and families affected by abuse in Collier County with a safe, supportive space to process trauma through creative expression.

The grant will help cover the cost of art materials, therapist time and transportation for children who are referred to Collier CAC due to suspected abuse. The clinically informed art therapy program serves approximately 131 children at an average cost of roughly $1,700 per child.

“We are deeply grateful to Jingled Elves for their investment in the children we serve,” said Jackie Stephens, CEO of Collier CAC. “For many children, art becomes a bridge when words are hard to find. This support allows us to meet them where they are and help them begin to heal in a way that feels safe and empowering.”

Collier CAC measures progress in its Healing Through Art program by tracking reductions in trauma symptoms and evaluating therapeutic goals through emotional expression reflected in the child’s artwork. For some children, drawing and creative expression provide a more accessible and relieving way to communicate their experiences than traditional conversation.

To learn more about how to support Collier CAC, visit caccollier.org/ways-to-give.