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4440 N First St.Fresno, CA 93726

(559) 229-2000

EXCEPTIONAL PARENTS UNLIMITED (EPU)

EPU was started in 1976, founded by Marion M. Karian. EPU started as a small support group for parents of

children with Down’s syndrome. The name Exceptional Parents Unlimited was chosen because EPU wanted to

provide services for the parents of children with all kinds of special needs.

35 years later EPU has grown to a staff of more than 100 therapists and early childhood specialists to meet the

critical needs of children and families in our community.

It’s a non-profit organization.

THE BEGINNING

The mission of Exceptional Parents Unlimited is to strengthen and empower children and families facing extraordinary medical developmental and parenting

challenges.

Their vision is that children grow up in families in which their individual needs are met; their parents have

confidence in themselves and their ability to meet the needs of all family members and have a sense of comfort

with their personal situations that brings forth an internal sense of empowerment.

MISSION AND VISION

• Promoting the development of infants and children with special medical, developmental, or emotional needs.

• Supporting and assisting parents as they grow in the understanding, knowledge and skills needed themselves and their children experience success at home and in the

community.• Supporting the development of secure parent-child

relationships as the basis for optimal social and emotional development.

GOALS

• The Assessment Center for Children at Exceptional Parents Unlimited (EPU) assesses children whose

parents/caregivers have multiple concerns about their child's learning, development, and/or behavior.

• The center is staffed by medical and mental health professionals. Additionally, staff from several other child

serving agencies are co-located at the Center. • By coming together, these agencies offer Fresno County

children — birth through 5 years of age — and their families, more comprehensive assessment services in one location. Other participating agencies with staff located at the Center include Fresno Unified School District (FUSD)

and Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health.

SPECIFIC POPULATION-AT-RISK

Families served have a wide range of special needs including

children with disabilities, emotional and behavioral

challenges, or who are at risk for abuse and/or neglect.

EPU primarily serves children 0-5 and their families.

• The Family Resource Center provides support, training and advocacy assistance to

families whose children have disabilities of ALL ages, birth

to adulthood.

• Fresno County area• Low-income families

• Hispanic’s most served.• Transported by car or

bus. Rarely need to be picked up.

• Agency is actively involved in the

community.

WHO DOES EPU SERVE?

Ethnicity

o Hispanic- 54%

o Caucasian- 20%

o African American- 8%

o Multiracial- 8%

o Asian- 1%

o American Indian- 1%

Area by Zip Code Grouping

o Fresno Proper- 50%

o Clovis- 7%

o East Fresno County- 14%

o West Fresno County- 8%

DEMOGRAPHICS

CVRC (Central Valley Regional Center)

Fresno County behavioral, public health, and social services.

School Districts

Medical Facilities/ Primary Physicians

AGENCY INTERACTS WITH WHO?

Family Resources Center (1976)

Infant Family Program (1979)

Learning about Parenting (1992)

Play and Grow (2001)

Assessment Center for Children (2005)

Gentle Start (2009)

SERVICES

EPU is a nonprofit organization

EPU ORGANIZATION CHART

• Empowers children and families facing extraordinary medical, developmental, and parenting challenges.

Services to clients• The programs at EPU are inclusive of the entire family:

the child with special needs, their parents, and the child's siblings.

Diversity and competence• EPU acknowledges every families tradition and respects

their culture. They are well train and capable to work with different ethnicities.

SOCIAL WORK VALUES

Located: Randwick, Australia/ Annie’s Centre- Child health and

development clinic

They provide assessment, treatment and support for conditions such as:

ADHD

Behavior Difficulties

Anxiety Disorders

Depression

Language Disorders

Stuttering

Handwriting Difficulties

Autism, Asperger’s, or related developmental difficulties

Services:

Clinical Psychology

Speech Pathology

Occupational Therapy

Applied Behavior Analysis

Multiply Reading Tutor Program

School based learning support

Anxiety treatment program for children with Autism

Annie’s Centre Children’s books

Sensory processing: Guide for parents and professionals

Dr. Annie’s Free Resources for Parents

ABROAD

Annie's Centre was launched in December 2004 by Founder and Director, Dr Anne Chalfant, Clinical Psychologist. Anne

and her team of health professionals have extensive experience in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a

range of childhood difficulties such as challenging behaviour and ADHD, learning difficulties, language

disorders, fine and gross motor difficulties, anxiety and depression, Autism, Asperger's and related developmental

difficulties.

ANNIE’S VALUE STATEMENT

http://www.anniescentre.com/about.html

http://www.exceptionalparents.org

CITATIONS