MERGER FAQ

Is this still the Hollygrove where Marilyn Monroe grew up?
Yes, Hollygrove is where Marilyn lived for 18 months as a little girl in the 1930s. Both Hollygrove and EMQ have been helping children in need for more than 135 years in California.

Why is Hollygrove merging with EMQ?
There are more than 900,000 children who struggle with serious mental illnesses in California. Hollygrove has provided a safe haven for more than 135 years. However, even though the residential program provided structure, there was no way to maintain that structure when the children left Hollygrove. EMQ made the transition from a primarily residential program to a primarily in-home program almost 13 years ago. Together, we can serve more children around L.A. and across California, and offer state of the art counseling services to families in need.

Why couldn't Hollygrove do this before?
There's a major shift happening in California away from group homes for troubled children because the evidence is mounting that institutions can't replace family. Counties are looking to provide therapeutic services in home and school settings where the children have natural supports like family, friends, teachers and Little League coaches. Hollygrove is now extending the safe haven it's known for out into the community to help more children and their family members. We're already serving four times more children than we were in September 2005.

Who is EMQ? What does that stand for?
EMQ Children & Family Services was the first children's agency to do Wraparound—that is, intensive child and family services in the family's home—in California 13 years ago. EMQ is now helping children and families in 18 counties statewide. The acronym stands for Eastfield and Ming Quong, two orphanages that opened in the 1860s.

What is Wraparound?
Wraparound is just what the name sounds like. Whatever intensive planning, mental health and related services the child needs are "wrapped" around them in home and school settings to keep the child safe. A team of professionals works with the family and others who are involved with the family to ensure that the child has a safe, supported environment in which to thrive.

What is the goal of Wraparound?
To keep children safe at home, successful in school and out of trouble.

How many children does EMQ help?
EMQ annually helps more than 5,600 children and their family members. As EMQ joins with Hollygrove and increases its investment in the children of California, that number is expected to increase to 6,600 in the first year.

What kinds of kids does EMQ work with?
EMQ works with children who have a wide range of needs. All of the children they work with have been diagnosed as having serious emotional disturbances (or mental illnesses) that interfere with their ability to develop and grow into healthy and successful adults.

Why, if these kids have been abused or severely neglected, do you send them home?
Wasn't that the problem in the first place?
No matter how much care our counselors provide to the children, children always want a family of their own to love. That's why our staff is dedicated to finding healthy relatives who can provide safe homes for these children if their own parents cannot. Once the children are home, the staff follow them to provide the support, structure and counseling that they need to thrive.

What is EMQ's percentage of success?
Over the past 5 years, EMQ has helped to keep approximately 70% of children safe at home at the time they were discharged from the program.

I understand EMQ is also in San Bernardino.
How long have they been there, and what have they done to date?
EMQ has been offering Wraparound in San Bernardino for more than 3 years. They've been so successful to date that the County has expanded the program, and they will be doubling the number of children they work with this fiscal year.

What impact will your merger have for children in group homes?
Long term—say, about 10 years from now—we hope to have reduced the number of children in group homes and foster care by 50 to 75%.

Does EMQ plan to go out of state?
Not currently. We're focusing our energy on the more than 900,000 children in California who need our help today.

» Residential Treatment vs Wraparound (PDF)