Promoting Coping for Children of Hospitalized Service Members With Combat Injuries Through Creative Arts Engagement

Over 50,000 US service members have been physically wounded in combat – even more with invisible injuries – since current conflicts began in 2002, creating a crisis of substantial magnitude for their families. A great proportion of injured service members are mothers or fathers as well. A parent’s combat injury can have a profound effect on his or her children. Methods: Appreciative inquiry, a qualitative methodology, was used alongside participant observation and document review. Results: Findings indicate that the program addressed children’s needs at a number of points in time with six themes that have emerged from the data. These include, visits with the injured parent, self-expression, distraction and respite, parental engagement, normalization and empowerment. Conclusions: The findings lend support on ways an artists-in-residence program uses creative arts engagement to promote coping for children of hospitalized wounded service members and to encourage ongoing participation in the arts upon discharge.