TAR 464 Wigs and Hairstyling

Students researched various organizations that serve Cincinnati and that serve their clients with wig or hair assistance. Students read three articles that covered topics about cancer wigs and hairpieces their maintenance and construction, students read articles on the struggles of foster care parents, the foster care system and the heighten need for foster care in the Greater Cincinnati area. 

Students practiced and participated in professional communication writing and proofreading emails and call scripts they would use to reach out to nonprofits.  Students were asked to prepare persuasive presentations or videos to pitch their nonprofits to the class for selection.

Students were stretched outside their comfort zones in contacting non-profits and their professional writing skills. Students learned persuasive writing techniques and applied them to the presentations. Overall, they were successful, several students chose the video option and learned new software for cutting and editing.

Chicks & Chucks provides money, wigs, clothing and other support to patients diagnosed with breast cancer, thus alleviating some of the financial burden so that patients can focus more on their health and surviving this horrific disease. 

Some of the $1,000 from NKU/ArtsWave will be allocated toward purchasing wigs for patients.  

“The majority of patients I have taken care of, don’t care as much as missing a breast as she is of not having hair.  Very traumatic for anyone to endure.  Since a majority of insurances do not pay for wigs, this money would come in very handy,” said Cathy Youtsey Halloran of Chicks & Chucks.

“Additionally, the other part of the money will be used to purchased newly designed post-surgical garments.  There are newer, more appealing garments that make the patient feel better about her experience.”

The students of TAR 464 also agreed to work with Chicks and Chucks to help their clients learn how to put their wigs on correctly, and teach them how to style their wigs, since they are different from natural hair. This component was disrupted by COVID-19 restrictions.

Fernside, established in 1986, provides grief support services and outreach and education to the community and families. Fernside services compliment Hospice of Cincinnati's comprehensive bereavement program by addressing the unique needs of children. Fernside provides all services free of charge with the help of generous donors who support our mission.

Fernside plans to use the funding for supplies for its expressive arts programming. Fernside uses expressive art activities to help the children explore the feelings they have after experiencing a death. Expressive arts can facilitate a healthy release of feelings such as anger, frustration, anxiety and sadness. The arts provide an alternative to verbal communication and can allow a grieving child to express feelings that might be too difficult to talk about.