Advocacy & Policy

Learn about CA for the Arts' Arts & Health Policy Priorities, position statements, and legislative agenda.

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Arts & Health Month Toolkit 2026

Celebrate Arts & Health Month this November! Explore our Arts & Health Month Toolkit for practical ideas, resources, and ready-to-use materials to help you get involved. Learn the ins and outs of the toolkit during our upcoming "Arts & Health Toolkit Launch" webinar on Wednesday, September 30th from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm PT.

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The Case for Arts in CA Health Policy (2026)

The Arts + Health initiative advocates for integrating arts and culture into California’s public health strategy to address rising mental health needs and social isolation.

Guide to Successful Advocacy

This guide will provide tools for meeting preparation, effective relationship-building, and conducting meetings with legislators and/or their staff.

Healthy People 2030 (Dept. of Health and Human Services) (2024)

This summary outlines the public comment submitted by CA for the Arts to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the Healthy People 2030 initiative.

Legislative Updates

The following legislative efforts throughout the nation incorporate elements of the arts and social care in various ways.

ACR 204: Behavioral Health and Arts (August 2026)

In partnership with CA for the Arts and California Behavioral Health Association, and introduced by Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva, the California State Assembly passed ACR 204, a resolution recognizing the important role that arts integration plays in supporting behavioral health and brain health. Learn

House Resolution 1007 (March 2026)

Georgia is the first state in the nation to formally recognize the arts as a mental health resource with House Resolution. Learn More.

Traditional Health Care Practices Coverage (October 2024)

The announcement by the Biden-Harris administration of expanding healthcare access to cover traditional healthcare practices drawing upon the Medicaid 1115 amendment will hopefully provide aid through culturally relevant and creative means. Applicable for Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Oregon, such initiatives not only convey health education but also empower communities to take ownership of their health, making the arts and cultural traditions a powerful tool for health equity. Learn More.

Amendment to Social Services Law - Assembly Bill A9018 (2024)

Sponsored by New York State Representative Harry B. Bronson, this bill would authorize licensed creative arts therapists to bill Medicaid directly for their services which would improve health access to Medicaid beneficiaries. It was introduced in February 2024, passed by the state House and Senate in June, and vetoed by the Governor in December 2024. Learn More.

Social Care Networks (January 9, 2024)

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved a groundbreaking amendment to New York's Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration. This amendment allows the state to invest $7.5 billion for three years to advance health equity, reduce health disparities, and strengthen access to primary and behavioral health care across New York.
Michigan, New Mexico, and Oregon have innovative approaches for Medicaid community reinvestment requirements and how Medicare and Medicaid can move upstream to address SDoH with screenings for non-medical needs. Learn More.

Promoting the Arts, the Humanities, and Museum & Library Services Executive Order 14084 (September 30, 2022)

President Biden’s 2022 Executive Order promoted the arts as essential to the wellbeing, health, vitality, and democracy of our Nation. Learn More.

Awareness Campaigns & Observations

Here are some examples of campaigns and observances to help raise awareness of the field of arts and health:

Arts, Culture, & Creativity Month (April)

In 2019, CA for the Arts successfully campaigned for the state to recognize and celebrate the arts by declaring April as Arts, Culture, & Creativity Month (ACCM) through a concurrent resolution passed in the California Senate. In 2021, an additional resolution was declared to recognize artists as second responders. ACCM offers free events, resources, and advocacy opportunities across the state with the goal of engaging arts advocates and raising awareness of the impact of the arts within communities.

Arts and Health Week (June)

Supervisor Hilda L. Solis from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors historically introduced motions to declare Arts and Health Week in June. Each year since 2022, the community events are held during the week and culminates with the Arts and Health Week Summit that features presentations and discussions from policymakers, art practitioners, researchers, and medical experts and administrators.

Arts & Health Day (July)

The National League of Cities (NLC) encouraged communities to proclaim the fourth Saturday in July to be Arts & Health Day. Started in 2024, NLC partnered with One Nation One Project for the Arts for EveryBody campaign, in which 18 cities pledged to host events that celebrated the arts and its impact on community health on July 27, 2024.

National Arts and Humanities Month (October)

Americans for the Arts (AFTA) coordinates National Arts and Humanities Month that encourages organizations to host events that celebrate arts and culture in communities. This initiative originally began in 1985 as National Arts Week by AFTA and the National Endowment for the Arts then became a month-long celebration in 1993. Celebratory proclamations are often issued and recognized by government leaders such as the National Lieutenant Governors Association, United States Conference of Mayors, and the White House.