Heartwork

Our newest program, Heartwork: Life Lessons about Resilience, is an engaging curriculum designed for young people and anybody who supports the social, emotional, and mental well-being of clients of all ages.

Heartwork emphasizes self-awareness, effective communication, building positive and healthy relationships, and the importance of empathy and compassion for others.

We wrote and illustrated its curriculum and supporting coloring pages with the deep belief that teaching young people about their resilience is the ultimate way to help them grow, develop, and sustain social and emotional health and wellness.

For educators, Heartwork aligns with Ohio Department of Education’s Social and Emotional Learning Standards and Competencies.

We offer Heartwork to our communities, our professions, our colleagues and especially to our children - with respect, with gratitude and with grace.

Resilience research emphasizes personal strengths as the innate human capacity to influence our own wellness. Chronic stress, traumatic experiences, and loss can have negative long term effects on physical, mental and emotional health and wellness. How we learn to deal with hardship, adversity and life’s inevitable setbacks makes the difference between living a healthy and successful life and one of chronic illness and mental/emotional crises.

Heartwork focuses on eight evidence-based characteristics that build and sustain mental health and emotional wellness: Insight, Initiative, Independence, Healthy Relationships, Creativity, Humor and Morality/Spirituality. It is structured to inform, but also encourages creativity, healthy conversation and interpersonal connection.

"It really doesn’t matter what you call this thing. The term RESILIENCE comes from engineering. You build a bridge so it bends and doesn’t break. In people, resilience offers hope that change is possible. Resilience is not simply a trait. It’s not something that you have now and forever. It’s a process, and over time you see that some people and families seem to overcome a variety of odds more easily and constructively than others. If you find a way to help those who don’t quite have that in their process, that’s wonderful.”

~Dr. Emmy Werner

Resilience

Heartwork Overview

Core Value

At its core, Heartwork supports social and emotional wellness. Learning to see ourselves and others through the lens of resilience illuminates us, regardless of where we are in this journey called life. Whatever
path we choose, we must never allow ourselves to lose hope and deep faith that we are making a difference.

Who can benefit?

Heartwork can inspire people of all ages, especially in times of crisis and self doubt.

Our resiliency training enhances the skill sets of childcare workers, educators, counselors, clergy, youth advocates, social workers and mental health practitioners. Parents and students also benefit on a personal and practical level.

What's inside?

Heartwork is organized into three sections: Facilitator's Guide, Life Lessons, and Acknowledgements and Resources.

Custom coloring pages and illustrations created by co-author Tamara S. Johnson reinforce key concepts and provide a vibrant and creative avenue for participants to express themselves.

Heartwork Gallery

There may be no better way to communicate what we do than through images. As you browse our site, take a few moments to let your eyes linger here, and see if you can get a feel for how our programs touch the lives of others.