EBD Blog

According to its Web site, EMQ Children & Family Services provides a range of important services in a half dozen California (US). From what I surmise, it represents a new direction for what were once orphanages. It uses many of the right terms— “family-centered,” “strengths-based,” “wrap-around”—and appears to be inclusive, addressing the needs of children and youths across the age span and regardless of disability, ethnicity, and such.

Headquartered in Campbell, California, EMQ Children & Family Services offers an integrated network of services including Wraparound (community-based) and 24/7 treatment, support and educational services. Our Foster Family Agency provides temporary foster homes in 20 California counties.

Our Mission
At EMQ Children & Family Services our mission is to work with children and their families to transform their lives, build emotional, social and familial well-being, and to transform the systems that serve them.

Our Philosophy
EMQ believes the most effective form of care for children, youth and their families is based in the community, using strengths and needs to define and individualize service. We believe children and families should have the greatest possible access to services, as well as maximum voice and choice in planning, carrying out and evaluating those services.

Link to the Web site for EMQ. From a glance at the Web site for Hathaway-Sycamores (35 years ago with Bo Wilkes I taught an on-grounds classroom for the Sycamores), it appears that the emphases on such services and on mergers of private providers is increasing, at least as much as two data points can indicate a trend. If readers know of other similar agencies, please post links to them in the comments or send me a note via back channels: John L at Virginia dot edu (covert “at” and “dot” to symbols and remove the spaces).