EPU was founded in 1976 in Fresno, CA as a small support group for parents of children with Down syndrome. It has since grown to serve families with children ages 0-5 who have a wide range of special needs through various programs and services. EPU's mission is to strengthen and empower children and families facing extraordinary challenges, and their vision is for these children to grow up in supportive families where their individual needs are met.

1. EXCEPTIONAL PARENTS
UNLIMITED (EPU)
4440 N First St.
Fresno, CA 93726
(559) 229-2000

2. THE BEGINNING
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.

3. MISSION AND VISION
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.

4. GOALS
• 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.

5. SPECIFIC POPULATION-AT-RISK
• 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.

6. WHO DOES EPU SERVE?
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.

7. DEMOGRAPHICS
Ethnicity
o
Hispanic- 54%
o
Caucasian- 20%
African American- 8%
o
Multiracial- 8%
o
o
o
Asian- 1%
American Indian- 1%
Area by Zip Code Grouping
oFresno Proper- 50%
oClovis- 7%
oEast Fresno County- 14%
oWest Fresno County- 8%

8. AGENCY INTERACTS WITH WHO?
CVRC (Central Valley Regional Center)
Fresno County behavioral, public health, and social services.
School Districts
Medical Facilities/ Primary Physicians

9. SERVICES
Family Resources Center (1976)
Infant Family Program (1979)
Learning about Parenting (1992)
Play and Grow (2001)
Assessment Center for Children
(2005)
Gentle Start (2009)

10. EPU ORGANIZATION CHART
EPU is a nonprofit organization

11. SOCIAL WORK VALUES
• 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.

12. ABROAD
Located: Randwick, Australia/ Annie’s CentreChild 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

13. ANNIE’S VALUE STATEMENT
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.

14. CITATIONS
http://www.anniescentre.com/about.html
http://www.exceptionalparents.org