Pilot Program 

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Playing to Live! partners with local community organizations to implement a community based culturally adapted pilot program. Once a partnership has been established, we work with the partner to establish a foundation for implementation. We then work to culturally adapt our multi day training for non clinician facilitators, as well as one for the identified program supervisors (social workers or mental health clinicians). The facilitators will receive a customized activity guide built from our expressive arts therapy clinical team. The pilot program contains two follow up skills training during the program's duration. In addition Playing to Live! will provide structure and support for monitoring and evaluation of the program.

Past Programs 

Liberian Program 

In 2014, PTL launched the first pilot program in Liberia during the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, providing play and therapeutic arts to children placed in quarantine as a result of their families being infected by EVD. Later, PTL collaborated with the national non-government organization, Renewed Energy Serving Humanity (RESH) to implement a second pilot in two communities that were former hot-zones with a large number of EVD-affected households.

South African Program

​In 2015, an initial pilot program was launched in South Africa to help vulnerable children urban poverty. This pilot built upon the Liberian pilots. Playing to Live collaborated with a local, non-profit organization to revise training and programming to meet the cultural and psychosocial needs of this community.  Over 30 volunteers and employees of the community partner were involved with the training, and over 90 children received the pilot program. Pre and post tests of the facilitator training showed an increase of knowledge and skills for child friendly trauma informed care.