Edgewood Center For Children And Families

AT EDGEWOOD, WE BELIEVE EVERY CHILD SHOULD THRIVE IN A LOVING AND SUPPORTIVE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. WE WORK TO MAKE THIS VISION A REALITY IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA BY HELPING VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OVERCOME SOME OF LIFE'S TOUGHEST CHALLENGES - ABUSE, NEGLECT, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND FAMILY CRISIS. OUR MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN CHILDREN, YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH SERVICE, TRAINING, ADVOCACY, AND RESEARCH. EDGEWOOD IS PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY, OFFERING INNOVATIVE MENTAL HEALTH, FAMILY SUPPORT, AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THAT PROVIDE A SAFETY NET TO ABOUT 11,000 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN MATEO COUNTIES.

COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING: EDGEWOOD OFFERS PREVENTATIVE AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES TO YOUTH AND FAMILIES WE SERVE. IN BOTH SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN MATEO COUNTIES, WE PROVIDE VARIOUS COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING MANDATED AND VOLUNTARY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND REFERRALS, AIMED AT LIMITING THE EFFECT OF TRAUMA, REINFORCING FAMILY STABILITY, AND DEVELOPING PROSOCIAL SKILLS. A CRITICAL COMPONENT TO ENSURING THAT ALL OF THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILIES ARE MET ARE OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAMS THAT HELP OUR KINSHIP FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND PROVIDE NON-JUDGMENTAL AND RESPECTFUL HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES INCLUDING NURSING CASE MANAGEMENT, HEALTH WORKSHOPS, AND ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS AND RESOURCES, INCLUDING FOOD BANK. AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, EDGEWOOD WRAPAROUND SERVICES OFFERS A FAMILY-FOCUSED APPROACH AND COORDINATES VARIOUS SERVICES (E.G. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, HOUSING STABILITY, ETC.) THAT "WRAP" THE CHILD, YOUTH, AND YOUND ADULT (AGES 6-25) AND ENSURE A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM-WITH THEIR OWN FAMILY, IN THEIR OWN HOME. YOUTH AND FAMILIES RECEIVING SERVICES IN OUR WRAPAROUND (OR "FULL SERVICE PARTNERSHIP") PROGRAM ARE RECOGNIZED AS HAVING SOME OF THE MOST COMPLEX BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SYSTEM NEEDS, WHICH REQUIRES THE SUPPORT OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT OPERATES 24/7. TO IMPROVE THE CLIMATE AND ACHIEVEMENT OF SCHOOLS IN SAN FRANCISCO, EDGEWOOD-SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS WORK WITH HIGH-NEEDS SCHOOLS TO BUILD CAPACITY- THE CAPACITY OF TEACHERS TO HANDLE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES WHEN THEY ARISE, THE CAPACITY OF FAMILIES TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN NEED TO SUCCEED, AND THE CAPACITY OF CHILDREN TO DEAL WITH ISSUES THAT MAY BE IMPEDING THEIR ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL PROGRESS.

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES:OUR RESIDENTIAL SERVICES INCLUDE THREE PROGRAMS: 1) A CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT- THE CSU OFFERS YOUTH-FOCUSED EVALUATION AND INTERVENTION IN A FAMILY-FRIENDLY SETTING FOR YOUTH 5-17. THE CSU IS A PROGRESSIVE ALTERNATIVE TO EMERGENCY ROOMS AND ADULT PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY SERVICES (PES), THE CSU MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM PROVIDES NURSING AND CLINICAL CARE 24/7. THE UNIT OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES INCLUDING; A) COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT B) MEDICAL SCREENING C) COLLABORATIVE TREATMENT PLANNING WITH AN INDIVIDUALIZED, STRENGTH-BASED FOCUS D) CRISIS STABILIZATION AND PREVENTION E) DISCHARGE PLANNING INCLUDING LINKAGE WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AND SERVICES F) COPING SKILLS BUILDING AND SAFETY PLANNING G) PARENT AND GUARDIAN SUPPORT AND EDUCATION. 2) A STATE-LICENSED LEVEL 14 SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM (STRTP) PROVIDING INTENSIVE THERAPY AND REHABILITATION FOR SEVERELY EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED CHILDREN AGES 6-18. CHILDREN LIVE IN COTTAGES ON OUR SAN FRANCISCO CAMPUS AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND REFERRING COUNTIES TO STABILIZE THEM AND RETURN THEM TO THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. OUR STRT PROGRAM IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL TREATMENT FOR A CHILD OUTSIDE OF PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION AND IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW FACILITIES THAT MAINTAINS A FULL-TIME STAFF OF PSYCHIATRISTS, PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENTS, NURSES AND PEDIATRICIANS TO RESPOND TO THEIR MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC NEEDS. WHILE MANY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS FOR THESE AT-RISK CHILDREN ARE CLOSING THEIR DOORS, CHILDREN ARRIVE TO OUR VICENTE CAMPUS, AS YOUNG AS JUST 6 YEARS OLD, HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED SEVERE FORMS OF TRAUMA IN THEIR LIVES THAT , IF GONE UNTREATED, CAN HAVE LASTING DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS. MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED BY LONG TERM ABUSE AND NEGLECT TO DISREGARD THEIR DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS. AS A RESULT OF VERY LOW SELF-ESTEEM, MANY OF THE CHILDREN FEEL SHAME, ANGER AND APATHY. THESE FEELINGS CAN MANIFEST INTO SEVERE MOOD CHANGES, RECLUSIVENESS, AND/OR AGGRESSION, WHICH CAN SOMETIMES RESULT IN SELF HARM OR VIOLENCE TOWARDS OTHERS. 3) A HOSPITAL DIVERSION PROGRAMS THAT ALLOWS YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO RECEIVE INTENSIVE SHORT-TERM, INTERVENTIONS WITHOUT EXPERIENCES AN INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC CARE SETTING. YOUTH PLACED IN OUR RESIDENTIAL AND HOSPITAL DIVERSION PROGRAMS ARE ABLE TO BE DISCHARGED HOME OR TO LOWER LEVELS OF CARE, REDUCING THE NEED FOR CONTINUED INTENSIVE SERVICES AND IMPROVING PERMANENCY OUTCOMES OVERALL.

EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND KINSHIP PROGRAMS:ON OUR QUIET, TREE-LINED CAMPUS, CHILDREN, AGES 6-18 LIVE, LEARN AND PLAY IN A SAFE, STRUCTURED, THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT AND RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED CARE TREATMENT. DURING THE DAY, THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AT OUR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL'S COUNSELING ENRICHED EDUCATION PROGRAM (CEEP) CREATE AND IMPLEMENT INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING PLANS BASED ON THE STUDENTS' SPECIFIC NEEDS. THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS ATTENDING THE SCHOOL HERE AT EDGEWOOD ACHIEVE GRADE LEVEL ADVANCEMENT WHILE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM. THE CLASSROOM WORKS TOWARDS REINTEGRATING YOUTH BACK TO THEIR REGULAR, LEAST RESTRICTIVE SCHOOL SETTING. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, FAMILY THERAPY AND SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING ALL DESIGNED TO HELP YOUTH IMPROVE THEIR FUNCTIONING AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS. KINSHIP- THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS KIN CAREGIVERS WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF FAMILY MEMBERS. THIS PROGRAM KEEPS FAMILIES TOGETHER AND CHILDREN OUT OF THE FORMAL FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WITH A SUCCESS RATE OF 99%. OUTCOME DATA ALSO SHOWS THAT KINSHIP CARE PROVIDERS IN THE PROGRAM IMPROVED LEVELS OF PERCEIVED SUPPORT AND GREATER ACCESS TO CRITICAL SERVICES. COMPARED TO NEARLY 1 IN 12 CHILDREN NATIONWIDE, 1 IN 6 CHILDREN IN SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN MATEO COUNTY ARE BEING RAISED BY A GRANDPARENT OR OTHER RELATIVE. WHILE THE SAFE HOME OF A CARING RELATIVE OFFERS KINSHIP CHILDREN A SECOND CHANCE AT A HEALTHY LIFE, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES CAN GREATLY AFFECT YOUTH SELF-ESTEEM AND MOTIVATION TO SUCCEED. THE BEHAVIORS, EMOTIONS, AND HEALTH OF KINSHIP YOUTH REMAIN SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW NATIONAL NORMS (AND SIMILAR TO THAT OF FOSTER CHILDREN). WE BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN DO BEST IN THEIR OWN HOME ENVIRONMENT, SUPPORTED BY THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES, OUR KINSHIP SUPPORT NETWORK PROMOTES FAMILY STABILITY BY KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER ENCOURAGING SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND ENHANCING FAMILY INTEGRITY, INDIVIDUAL VALUES, AND CULTURAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY. OUR INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH HAS DOCUMENTED OUTSTANDING OUTCOMES FOR FAMILY STABILITY. CHILDREN IN EDGEWOOD'S KINSHIP YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM ARE 10 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO REMAIN IN THEIR KINSHIP HOME (A SIGN OF FAMILY STABILITY AND SAFETY) THAN SIMILAR CHILDREN SERVED ONLY BY THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. AN AVERAGE OF NINETY-SIX PERCENT (96%) OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH ENROLLED IN OUR SUPPORT NETWORK ARE ABLE TO AVOID ENTERING THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. SINCE 1993, EDGEWOOD'S KINSHIP PROGRAM WAS THE COUNTRY'S FIRST COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO SERVE KIN FAMILIES, AND HAS GROWN INTO THE NATIONAL MODEL FOR KINSHIP SERVICES. EDGEWOOD HAS ALSO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND PASSING OF AB1193, WHICH CREATED THE KINSHIP SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM IN CALIFORNIA IN 1997. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE SERVED AS A LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEADER IN DEVELOPING REPLICABLE KINSHIP PROGRAMS, AND WERE PREVIOUSLY THE SOLE PROVIDER OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING OF ALL CALIFORNIA'S KINSHIP SUPPORT SERVICES SITES. EDGEWOOD HAS THE DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE NECESSARY TO RAISE VULNERABILITY NECESSARY TO RAISE VISIBILITY OF THE NEED TO SUPPORT KINSHIP CAREGIVERS.