YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The HELMS Foundation, which is dedicated to making art therapy accessible and affordable, reached a major milestone last year.
“Our initial goal came to fruition in October when the state of Ohio passed legislation to license the profession of art therapy,” says Terri DiGennaro, founder and CEO.
Since then, the HELMS Foundation has formed an affiliate relationship with Cadence Care Network, a nonprofit agency focusing on the behavioral and emotional well-being of children and teenagers, to provide art therapy services.
The foundation’s goal for 2025 is to spread the word to more agencies, providers and organizations. It also intends to establish clay therapy studios and hire two art therapists.
The foundation recently relocated into the Easterseals of Northeast Ohio building in Youngstown, and also maintains a studio in Warren.
DiGennaro started the HELMS Foundation in 2015, after her son, Ryan Giambattista, died in an accident. Giambattista was a mural artist who used the tagline HELMS.