HISTORY

Hollygrove was founded in 1880 as the Los Angeles Orphans Home Society. Since its inception, Hollygrove has cared for more than 20,000 children. The early years were dedicated to serving orphaned children.

From the late 1950's, Hollygrove provided residential services for abused or neglected children who had been removed from the custody of their families by the court. Many of these children were born addicted to drugs, experienced sexual and physical abuse, and had witnessed violence. Often, they suffered from a combination of disorders including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and cognitive disabilities. It was not unusual for these troubled children to arrive at Hollygrove with feelings of hurt, distrust, anger, fear and hopelessness. They had been robbed of their childhoods and given the message that they have no value. Hollygrove provided a warm, family-type environment where children could learn and grow while receiving intensive therapeutic services. At any one time up to 68 children were housed at Hollygrove's 3.5-acre campus in Hollywood.

In 2005, Hollygrove closed its residential program to concentrate on outpatient and in-home, community-based mental health services. Although children no longer live at Hollygrove, we provide a range of counseling services in their homes and crisis intervention services. Since the fall of 2005, we have launched several new programs in addition to our Mental Health Services and Foster Family Agency such as our Tutoring & Literacy program; After School Day Rehab Program; Family Finding Practice & Training; and we will soon begin Wraparound Services.

As we made the shift to a new model for providing services, we looked at other children's agencies that had experienced the same transformation. EMQ Children & Family Services is a sister agency based in the San Francisco Bay Area with a history and mission very similar to Hollygrove's. Our two boards agreed that a merger made sense. Our partnership will create a statewide organization that will continue to provide the best possible programs, as well as allow a greater voice for the needs of our communities' most vulnerable children.

ABOUT EMQ:

EMQ Children & Family Services (a.k.a. Eastfield Ming Quong) is the leading provider of children's mental health, Wraparound, and social services in California. EMQ annually helps more than 5,600 children and family members regain mental and social well-being. Our agency is nationally recognized for innovation in family-centered, strengths-based programs for children and adolescents suffering from issues such as sexual abuse, adolescent drug abuse, severe depression, attention deficit disorder, and thoughts of suicide.

Headquartered in Campbell, California, EMQ Children & Family Services offers an integrated network of services including Wraparound (community-based) and residential treatment, support and educational services. Our Foster Family Agency provides temporary or permanent foster homes in 11 Northern 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.