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History

Concerned about the number of emotionally disturbed children entering kindergarten, in 1974 a group of local parents, teachers, social workers, and community activists founded the Therapeutic Nursery School, dedicated to serving children in West Contra Costa County. 

Following the lead of pioneering researchers in the field of infant-parent therapy, the agency’s work with children became so widely recognized that it eventually won government support to formalize its Infant-Parent Home Visiting services. To expand the agency’s reach Preschool Mental Health Consultation Teams were later added.

Today we provide a broad range of mental health services to children ages birth to six years and their families/caregivers, as well as consultation services to day care providers and preschools both public and private.

The Early Childhood Mental Health Program is a private not-for-profit public benefit corporation.  Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.  The agency is governed by a volunteer, community-based Board of Directors.

 

Board of Directors
Louise Wianecki Hinkamp, M.A., N.C.S.P., President
Hunter Harris, M.D., Vice President
Nick Despota, Secretary
Jeff Devine, Treasurer
Douglas T. Corbin
Carla Della Zoppa
Karen Leong Fenton
Elwanda Gammill, R.N., Ed.D., M.S.N.
Elaina Spitaels Genser
Jean Lipton
George R. Martin
Alison Cartwright Mitchell
Judith Morgan
Jeannine Shalaby
Justin Sweder, M.D.
Camille Zulpo

Senior Staff
Lynn Martin, M.H.S., Executive Director
Marjorie Schwartz, L.C.S.W., Clinical Director
Carol Frank, Associate Director
Audra Johnson, Office Manager
Minnette Murphy, M.D., Consulting Psychiatrist

Emeritus Board
Dr. Pina J. Barbieri*
Virginia Blacklidge, M.D.
Gudrun Dybdal, R.N.
Margot Mann Hass, M.F.T.
Judge Patricia Herron, Ret.
Chizu Iiyama
Jean Knox
Don Lau
Ann Lenway*
Belle Lipsett*
Doris B. Mack*
Carol Maloney
Phyllis Maslan*
Margaret E. Schaus
Chuck Stephenson
Robert Strauss

* Deceased

 

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Design for this web site was made possible through a grant from the Taproot Foundation.

Web site programming donated by Nick Despota,
Lumina Media Productions
.