When Words Aren’t Enough, Troubled Children Speak Through Art

While varying political climates and limited funding may have affected Tanager Place in Cedar Rapids during the past 128 years, the organization’s focus has never shifted away from children and families.

“Tanager Place is a very unique organization — it’s one of the oldest organizations in the state of Iowa,” said George Estle, chief executive officer, during a house party at the home of Kathy Bass Monday night. “We are one of the few remaining agencies that focuses on kids.”

While most other agencies during the past 20 years have diversified their human service offerings due largely to evaporating funding, Estle says Tanager Place has made a point of branching out while maintaining the same roots.

“I think what’s important about us is that while we have changed and while the environment around has has continued to change for kids and families, we’ve stayed true to trying to figure out what’s in the best interest of kids,” he said. “If you look at what we do today, we serve about 2,000 kids a year.”

The agency began in 1879 as an industrial or alternative school. From there it transformed into more of a settlement house and then into an orphanage and was known as the Children’s Home of Cedar Rapids. Today Tanager Place is home to a wide variety of services, utilized by families and children throughout the region. The services include a psychiatric treatment center for children, supervised apartment living, special needs adoption, a care facility for the mentally retarded, foster care program and Camp Tanager. The 50 people gathered at the house party, however, were there to learn more about the expressive arts program.

“The expressive arts program is a very unique program and probably our signature program at Tanager Place,” Estle said. “This is primarily because no one else does it because there is no funding for it. It’s one of those programs that works very, very well with the types of children we see. If you can imagine a 10-year-old that’s lived seven different places… [that child] has learned not to trust adults and hasn’t developed an ability to have a positive relationship with adults. Communication can be tough.”

Expressive Arts Therapy uses graphic art, drama, music and creative writing to allow victims of neglect and abuse a non-threatening outlet for their emotions and internal conflicts.

“Sometimes when the children put that feeling out there — that creative writing or piece of art — it becomes less threatening to them, too,” he said. “It’s a very important communications tool that we’ve used for over 20 years at Tanager Place. Just like our other programs, we do it and we continue to support it because it works.”

Because the program is not state or federally funded, Tanager relies on private donations for its continuance. Last year, the agency partnered with local artists to present a program called “Reflections” that showcases the drama, music, writings and art of the Tanager Place children.

“What we’ve done with the Reflections program is try to create a connection,” said Joan Hackbarth, director of community relations. “The stories of the children we serve are so unique and complex that it is difficult for someone from a ‘normal’ background to understand, but the community needs and deserves to hear from these children.”

On Oct. 18, the Urban Theater Project will once again take to the stage of Theatre Cedar Rapids and present an original production inspired by the words and art of Tanager Place children who have participated in the expressive arts program. Preceding the performance, local artists will auction original pieces inspired both by their own childhood experiences and children in the expressive arts program. All proceeds — whether from ticket sales to the program or from auction purchases — benefit the expressive arts program at Tanager Place.

For more information on Reflections or on Tanager Place, contact Hackbarth at (319) 365-9164.