Dates: 2010-2012

States: Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont

Client(s): Jane's Trust

Service: Technical Assistance and Coaching

Expertise: Health and Literacy, Learner Persistence

Website: http://nelrc.org/managingstress/

Adult learners are often burdened with a variety of chronic stresses in their lives, especially if they are low-income. These stressors affect their ability to learn. The Managing Stress project trained adult educators how to mitigate the effects of stress and trauma on learning by using strategies from expressive art therapy, without crossing the boundary into therapy. This project directly benefited several adult learning programs and their students in Boston and northern New England, and it continues to present opportunities for dialogue in the adult literacy field about the importance of attending to adult learners' well-being and readiness to learn.