TRENTON, NJ - The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is proud to announce the creation of a best practice guide for serving systems- and justice-impacted youth through high-quality arts learning programs: The Transformative Power of Art: A Guide to Arts Learning for Systems-Impacted Youth in New Jersey.

In acknowledgment of the unique power of the arts to engage young people, the New Jersey legislature passed Bill A4500, authorizing the New Jersey State Council on the Arts to research and develop a guide for using community-based arts learning strategies to support systems- and justice- impacted youth statewide. The Council, with support from the New Jersey Youth Justice Commission and the Department of Child Protection and Permanency, engaged The Learning Agenda - a national consulting firm dedicated to building the capacity of youth-serving organizations - to bring this guide to life.

"This guide will help prioritize putting our kids first," said Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell, who oversees the State Arts Council as Secretary of State. "The practical guidance and creative insight shared will help shape quality arts experiences for young people across New Jersey. This initiative embodies the Arts Council's mission to promote freedom of expression in the arts, as the guide will help young people find new outlets and opportunities to use their voices."

"We want this guide to serve as a valuable, turnkey resource for the many organizations already providing youth programming. The research shows that including the arts can and will make a positive difference," said Arts Council Executive Director Allison Tratner. "We are grateful to organizations and teaching artists already doing this vital work. Many of their voices are included in this guide, and we look forward to continuing to learn from and with them."

In support of the guide's release, the Arts Council will be hosting a one-time webinar dedicated to advancing the quality of arts engagement for justice- and systems-impacted youth. More information is available here.

About the New Jersey State Council on the Arts
The New Jersey State Council on Arts, created in 1966, is a division of the NJ Department of State and a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Council was established to encourage and foster public interest in the arts; enlarge public and private resources devoted to the arts; promote freedom of expression in the arts; and facilitate the inclusion of art in every public building in New Jersey. The Council believes the arts are central to every element we value most in a modern society, including: human understanding; cultural and civic pride; strong communities; excellent schools; lifelong learning; creative expression; and economic opportunity. To learn more about the Council, please visit artscouncil.nj.gov