Published on September 17, 2026
Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) invites the community to join us for an evening of reflection and celebration on Friday, October 2nd, from 5:00pm-8:00pm, at our Mental Health Services Building at 201 E. Green St. (downtown Ithaca). The TCWH Art Show will showcase mixed media artwork by individuals engaged in personal growth with the PROS program, along with staff and clients engaged in other services at TCWH. This event is free and open to the public; refreshments will be served.
The PROS Program (Personal Recovery Oriented Services) is a comprehensive recovery-oriented program for adults with severe mental illness. The main goal of the program is to help people work on all aspects of their life — social, employment, education, housing, finding purpose — when mental health or substance use creates barriers.
Often the outcome of participating in PROS includes an improvement in overall quality of life, a decrease in hospitalization and movement towards personal goals. Most services provided occur in groups or classes. Some examples of classes include Boundaries in Balance, Peer Support, Coping with Panic, Strengthening Social Skills, Financial Wellness and Healthy Relationships.
PROS Director Heather Sanford stated, “At PROS, participants are in the driver's seat and work with staff to write their own recovery plan. Class topics are selected based on needs and requests of the participants, so offerings may vary. Anytime is the right time to start down your recovery path! We accept new clients on a rolling basis – call the office to schedule an intake: 607-274-6200.”
Sanford continued, “We had such an amazing, uplifting turn-out to our first show last year, “PROS Journeys: Stories in Art” and are absolutely thrilled by the enthusiasm and engagement we’ve seen as we prepare to host our second show this year. Together, we will celebrate courage, creativity, and the power of the human spirit!”
Senior Psychiatric Social Worker Aaron Volk stated, “Creating art can be a powerful part of recovery because it gives people a way to express feelings, experiences, and hopes that can sometimes be difficult to put into words. Being creative supports health by encouraging mindfulness, reducing stress, building confidence, and giving people a sense of purpose and accomplishment. We are so proud of our hard-working participants, and this art show is once-again a visual culmination of their efforts.”
For additional information about related services and programs, visit our website pages for PROS and Mental Health Services.
Tompkins County Whole Health: envisioning a future where every person in Tompkins County can achieve wellness. Find us online at: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health and follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X. Sign up to receive Whole Health updates or other county announcements via email or text.
-end-