Published January 16, 2025
The Nurturing Families team at L+M Hospital is always reaching out with education and guidance for expectant and new parents facing economic, cultural, social and mental health challenges. The job is not easy, but one thing that helps is art.
Certified in a program called PeaceLove, the L+M team uses expressive art to empower individuals to think differently, opening doors of opportunity. The program has been so successful, team members have presented at conferences in Connecticut, Louisiana and California.
“A lot of people don’t know that this is part of our work,” said Laura Cotto, clinical supervisor for Nurturing Families, which is funded through the state of Connecticut. “We’re not providing therapy, but PeaceLove is very therapeutic. It enables us to connect with people in new ways, then we can help them find the services they need.”
Based in Pawtucket, RI, PeaceLove was established by two artists who sought to change how people approach mental health. In 2015, PeaceLove launched its CREATORS program, training frontline professionals to use art to develop inroads with vulnerable patient populations. Certified facilitators conduct workshops using unique methods of painting and storytelling that foster opportunities for wellness and life improvements. L+M’s four certified team members have held 78 workshops impacting approximately 540 individuals to date. Workshops can be held for large groups or for individuals and families.
One workshop is called Story Shoes, where participants paint old shoes to represent what it’s like to walk in their shoes. People at another session at the Groton Public Library began sharing food and stories and spending time with one another outside the group.
“That’s what it is about—bringing people together and helping them have empathy, creating connections across age, gender, race,” Cotto said.
Ilia Chavez, a Nurturing Families family support provider, said art has helped non-English speaking families overcome apprehensions about going to a hospital.
“With PeaceLove, we help people develop healthy relationships with health care. As art breaks stigmas, word of mouth follows,” she said. “Once we explain things, they’ll tell their friends that it’s OK, you can get help at places like L+M and Yale New Haven Health.”
