Program areas at KidLinks
Therapeutic music entertainment (tme) is defined as "a musical activity or performance which, by the virtue of its diversion, amusement and/or pleasing qualities, supports and encourages healing." Kidlinks provides tme to hospitals, special care centers, and community events throughout the dfw area. Our tme team works to create an environment where emotions can be expressed in positive ways, self-esteem is fostered, and individual differences are celebrated. We give children an opportunity to relax, be silly, have fun, and to heal. In 2022, we provided in-person direct services to 4,374 children.
On our website at kidlinks.org, we provide streaming access to over 250 songs, videos, animations, and music therapy resources 24-7, free of charge, and accessible from any computer, ipad, or phone. All of the musical content is vetted by a review team of early childhood professionals, ensuring that the lyrics and messaging are appropriate for children. These digital resources are developed to provide support for special medical, emotional, and mental health needs to children and their families, child life specialists, qualified mental health professionals, and music therapy professionals, students, and educators. In 2022, the online platform had a total of 4,502 visitors and 13,052 page visits.
Music therapy (mt) uses music to achieve non-musical goals, such as improving speech/language and motor skills, managing pain or anxiety, and/or supporting socialization and self-expression. Kidlinks mt includes an individual assessment and development of a treatment plan specifically designed to meet the needs and goals of the child/client. We offer up to 24 free (fully subsidized) sessions to each client family with a board-certified music therapist, and session fees thereafter are based on a sliding scale depending on the family's income level. We currently have 4 total mt clinic locations: 2 home practices in arlington and fort worth, 1 in midlothian at bridges training foundation, and the music therapy clinic on the campus of smu (through our j.w. Brown music therapist-in-residence program). In 2022, we served 32 children and provided 1,664 sessions of music therapy direct service.