Mission Statement:

Providing quality fine arts education to youth in the Kansas juvenile justice and foster care communities.

Vision Statement:

That every child has the opportunity to create a way forward with the support, education, and mentorship needed to thrive.

It goes beyond the classroom.

Fine arts education goes far beyond learning how to play a guitar or finishing a watercolor painting. The fine arts provide students with a unique opportunity to connect with peers, learn from mentors, and discover new talents and healthy coping mechanisms.

Take a look below to learn about the unique ways we empower youth in foster care and juvenile detention.

100% of students enrolled in Spring 2024 programming have little to no access to fine arts education without Juniper programs.

Quality Education

Juniper Arts Academy utilizes qualified and experienced educators, musicians, and artists to teach the various classes, workshops, and camps. Students navigate through specially selected and developed curriculum, tailored to their needs and educational success.

Click the following links to learn more about our different programs: Juniper Music and Juniper Visual Arts

Trauma-Informed Programs - TBRI®

Juniper Arts Academy has adopted Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) and integrated it into all programs and youth services. TBRI® is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children.

All Juniper volunteers and staff are trained in TBRI®, and classrooms are designed around the practices of TBRI® to ensure a safe and supportive classroom for students.

To learn more about TBRI®, click here.

Adult Mentors

At Juniper Arts Academy, each student receives a Student Advocate — an adult volunteer whose main responsibilities are to connect with students, model appropriate classroom behavior, and advocate for student needs. Participating in class alongside the students, Student Advocates are a pivotal part of our students experiencing a safe classroom environment and growing in their social-emotional skills.

Interested in being a Student Advocate? Click here to learn more.

Student Leadership

Juniper Arts Academy empowers students within programs to develop peer-leadership skills. Students who have participated in our program for at least one session and who have displayed leadership qualities can advance to a Student Leader position where they can gain experience in:

  • Leading peers

  • Teaching classroom content

  • Modeling appropriate behavior

  • Assisting teacher with classroom tasks

Student leaders receive leadership mentoring and opportunities to gain references and experience for college and/or job applications.