LOS ANGELES : Program Utilizes Art as a Tool in Healing : Health: Volunteers’ curriculum for abused children includes painting, cooking, karate--even cuddling.

The philosophy is simple, says Barbara Lashenick. Art heals.

Lashenick is executive director of Free Arts for Abused Children, a nonprofit group in West Los Angeles that works with abused children and their families at 80 residential care centers throughout Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego and Riverside counties.

The program was begun in 1977 by Carolyn Sargent, who used to bring children into her animal-filled Malibu home and gather her friends to teach art and dance classes.

In 1987, when Lashenick (a former junior high teacher and current docent at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art) became director, the Free Arts Clinic was essentially a grass-roots organization that worked with just two or three residential care facilities. Televised public service announcements by Rita Moreno and Michael Landon changed that: Overnight, the demand quadrupled, and the volunteer ranks swelled to 800.

“I wish we were out of business, but there is this need,” Lashenick said. “And art is a great tool. It sounds like a simple concept, but everyone benefits from art.”

Free Arts’ children range in age from newborns to 18. “We have cuddling programs for babies who’ve been abandoned, sold for drugs, or sexually or physically abused,” explained Lashenick. Another weekly program, Special Friends, utilizes volunteers who provide their own curriculum--which has included painting, sculpting, cooking, writing, meditation and karate.

“It’s a 20-week commitment,” said Lashenick, “and the emphasis is placed on not disappointing a child: For one or two hours a week, you’ll show up.”

Another program involves the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court in Monterey Park, where county child abuse cases are heard. “We see 500 children each week there,” Lashenick said. “It can be a very stressful, emotional day for them.”

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The County of Los Angeles provides space for Free Arts in its Monterey Park courthouse. The group also has a grant to cover a salaried bilingual coordinator, and $1,000 worth of art supplies is donated each month.

Grooming workshops are also offered for teen-age girls. “We get a salon to donate space, get volunteer makeup artists, a manicurist and masseuse,” Lashenick said. “The girls--often young mothers, victims of sexual abuse--get their hair and nails done, then we send them to events to show off their new look. Sometimes people donate gifts, and we’re able to give them a nice goody bag.” On an ongoing basis, Free Arts solicits tickets to cultural and sporting events, and distributes the tickets to the facilities they serve.

Marjorie Rubin is a four-year volunteer in the special events program, which is underwritten by private companies and brings more costly activities--like mask-making and pot-painting--to the residential care facilities.

“I work full time, so I go on Saturdays,” said Rubin, a film producer who paints personalized T-shirts with the children. “The kids know you’re there because you want to be. We have a lot of fun. And it means so much, because you know it makes a difference.”

“Some of the guys act like, ‘I’m too cool for that,’ ” Rubin added. “But then they get into it, and you see they’re just children. Or you say, ‘You used red--how beautiful,’ and it’s maybe the first time they’ve ever been complimented. So it’s really win-win. At first I think I was scared, because it is so hands-on: ‘They’ve had it so tough; how can I relate to them?’ But Barbara guided us, made it easy for the volunteers. She’s a great leader and (an) inspiration.”

Lashenick says volunteers are supported by a trained staff of psychologists and therapists. But, she added, “with art, you have no control over what comes out.” And some of the children’s stories can by heartbreaking.

“There’s so much hope for these children if you can help the parents,” Lashenick said.

“We’re helping children experience art through talented, loving role models.”

“You feel so sad for them,” Lashenick said. “But at the end of the day, they’re all smiles.”

* For more information about Free Arts for Abused Children, call (310) 479-1212.