Talbert House Passages & Collective Book Nook Project

For for almost 7 years, Kennedy Heights Arts Center has been partnering with Talbert House Passages for Young Women, providing weekly art workshops in a variety of mediums. Passages for Young Women is a residential treatment facility focused on helping female youth ages 12-17 who have emotional and/or behavioral issues cope with addiction, mental health and/or involvement in the legal system to support positive growth and change. Led by KHAC Art Instructor Lynne Gibb, these once-a-week art workshops give the young women an opportunity to use art as therapy as they express themselves, experience new things, and develop new skills. 

The young women have continuously expressed their interest in practicing art outside of our designated workshop times, but have not had consistent access to resources or supplies. After discussions with Lynne Gibb and Kandi Staples, Associate Director of Passages, the facility has decided to dedicate a space to establish a “Book Nook” for the young women to access at their break times. This will contain art history books, how-to books, and different art reference books that the young women can request. The young women can also check out a tackle box of safe art supplies so they can self-direct their own art projects. 

I would like to align this initiative with the Kennedy Collective, and have Collective members support the ongoing creation and curation of the Talbert House Passages Book Nook Project! 

Collective members can donate money to purchase furniture, books, and art supplies. For every $10 you donate to the Talbert House Passages Book Nook Project, that counts as 1 volunteer hour. Collective members who are particularly interested in this project can volunteer their time to help manage it: procure and drop off materials, make wish lists, etc. 

To make a monetary donation, go to our SHOP page.

To volunteer your time for this project, go to our VOLUNTEER page.

This is a BIG PROJECT and we’re going to need a lot to get it started. But this is also an ONGOING project, where books and supplies will constantly need replenished throughout the year. The young women at Passages stay at the locked residential facility for a range of times (sometimes 2 months, sometimes 8 months – it depends on their treatment), but new young women come in as others leave. We would like each new young woman to have an opportunity to request books and materials that they would like to have in the Book Nook. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Pictures of where the Book Nook will be going (exercise equipment will be moved):

More about Talbert House Passages for Young Women:

Services include assessment, individual, group and family counseling, case management, medication management, primary care, life skills development, self-help recovery groups, parenting education and relapse prevention to address mental/behavioral health, substance use, criminality, family functioning, victimization, grief, and abuse. Treatment is provided in a trauma-informed environment with a graduated step down from residential into an outpatient level of care including home based services to keep youth engaged in their treatment and successful in the community. Psychiatrists and Nurse Practitioners are on staff to reduce and manage symptoms and treat physical health needs.

“This program is the only free ‘recovery help’ program for youths in Cincinnati Ohio, that would not only save your child/loved one, but will help get your family ready to send the child back into a more supportive and stronger environment. I am thankful for all the support and high levels professionalism that I had received from Passages. Although my child didn’t take full advantage of the program and resources, I still am thankful for all the love and support we had extended to our family through Mrs. Kandi Staples and her well trained staff. I highly recommend this youth program to families that truly need a new lease on life and want to see their child turned around! ” – Anonymous Review 8/25/2019