3 step problem solving approach and organizing framework

The data and information supplied in this paper have been acquired from a series of dependable sources. For instance, peer-reviewed academic journals, reliable web-pages, the news-paper article, The New York Times, and the news station, Denver 7 News. Information was also obtained from a treatment and rehabilitation center and two personal interviews with experts in the field. This paper will argue the importance of art therapy in the city of Pueblo, Colorado. Furthermore, the intention of this paper is to persuade Colorado Mental Health Institution into hiring more art therapists in order to present an additional form of therapy that has repeatedly produced outstanding results with children and issues like substance abuse. Which are two articles that are prevalent in Pueblo. Because there is a need for art therapists in Pueblo, a sales plan presentation needs to be presented before the mental health business, Colorado Mental Health Institution, in order to convince them of the benefits to the community. Comment by Williams, Scott: the purpose and specific audience. Comment by Williams, Scott: The thesis statement.

ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM Comment by Williams, Scott: Level 114 pt, Times New Roman font, Centered

STATUS OF THE PROBLEM Comment by Williams, Scott: Level 212 pt., Times New Roman font, all Upper Case, Right Justified

The city of Pueblo Colorado, has an abundance in civilians struggling with substance abuse and a lack of resources to assist them. Art therapy is a recognized method of therapeutic treatment for clients who battle with substance abuse and a great therapy approach for children. Notwithstanding, the article, “Top Cities in Colorado Where Addiction is a BIG Problem,” acknowledges that regardless of the urgency for treatment in the city of Pueblo, the lowest amount of treatment availability is in the southern portion of the state (Aspen Ridge Recovery). The lack of treatment obtainable can be recognized in the fact that in the mental health business, Colorado Mental Health Institution, there is currently not a single art therapist employed.

How is the Population of Children Affected? Comment by Williams, Scott: Level 3, 12 pt.. Times New Roman, Capitalized, Right Justified.

Johnson points out that Children are largely the group that benefit the most from the acquisition of more art therapists. Unlike adults, children lack wisdom and their vocabulary is limited (Personal interview). Moreover, as Gerteisen notes, “early trauma may lead to deficient hemispheric integration and traumatic memories may be stored in the right hemisphere” (93). Hence, trauma sometimes can be difficult to verbalize, since the traumatic experiences are “processed and stored in the right part of the brain” (Gerteison 92). Nevertheless, Laurie Mortenson, a therapist with a master’s in social work, explains that art therapy is a great resource for children with trauma, as it concentrates on the unconscious mind, symbolism, or suppressed memories or experiences (Personal interview).

On May 5th of 2017, Denver7 News released an article disclosing how children of Pueblo were directly affected by substance abuse, when a Pueblo hospital, St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center, was recruiting volunteers, to help cuddle heroin and opioid addicted babies experiencing withdraw symptoms. Mortenson, explains that infants that do not establish a bond with their mother or another significant figure, for at least the first six months of their lives, will most likely grow up to become sociopaths or develop other mental disorders. In addition, she elaborated, that they are also affected indirectly, by their parent, guardian, or family member being involved with substance abuse, therefore causing the child distress and increasing the likelihood of developing a psychological disorder (Personal interview).

How is the population of adults affected?

The web article, “Top Cities in Colorado Where Addiction is a BIG Problem,” states that six percent of the population of Colorado is in the south-east region of the state (Aspen Ridge Recovery). Although, in the year 2014, the south-eastern region was also responsible for eighteen percent of the heroin access of the state. Moreover, the city of Pueblo has a forty-four percent of auto-related fatalities in comparison to the state of Colorado, has a minimal rate of thirty-four percent (Aspen Ridge Recovery).

CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM

Julie Turkewitz, of the New York Times, declares that the city of Pueblo is one of the “territories” of “the gang Los Carnales East Side Dukes” (“Heroin Related Violence”). The law enforcement speculates that there are approximately 1,200 female and male gang members active in Pueblo (“Heroin Related Violence”). The article also claims that a lot of the drug traffic in Pueblo is handled by that Los Carnales East Side Dukes. As reference in the news-paper, the gang recruits’ children as young as twelve-years-old, in places like the City Library located in the East side of the city. However, others inherit their membership as adolescent boy