We are one of the few fortunate families that was given financial aid assistance by the CHC for Sandhill School and for that we are very thankful and grateful. Kyle started going to Sandhill school when he was 6 years old (SY 2016-2017) without knowing all the alphabet, now he is already 10 yrs old and not just knows how to read but loves it. He used to cry every single day when we brought him to his old school but now he is excited every single day, even with distant learning. Kyle’s academic disadvantage was just superficial to more underlying learning disability challenges, such as emotional, psychosocial and behavioral aspects, that could not have been managed without Sandhill and CHC help. Kyle was very lucky to be given an opportunity to once again attend Sandhill school by being one of CHC scholarship recipients. The scholarship has helped Kyle improve so much academically despite his learning disability. Sandhill has embraced and accepted Kyle for what he is and has made him believe himself. Kyle started dancing ballet in his 1st year at Sandhill, and had represented his Dance School regionally and Nationally, in all of those events, Kyle has demonstrated the values and teaching that he had received from Sandhill, to have fun, stay focused, and learn from your mistakes. It is our greatest hope that Kyle will rise to the level of his potential and we are convinced that he will do so with the help of CHC and Sandhill. We are truly grateful for CHC and Sandhill's gift of education to our son Kyle. Your generosity and commitment is exactly the kind of community involvement we need to keep our children motivated. - Sandhill Parent
This organization runs a school - Esther B. Clark School - which has flat out been amazing for my family. There is a child in our family who has struggled since they were tiny - biting, hitting, all kinds of behaviors that escalated during school and got worse and worse. The child was finally not even allowed back at regular public school. In a few short weeks, the incredible team at CHC has literally turned this around for the child. It's truly remarkable and my family will always be grateful - in the process, WE learned so much about what to do differently which was tailored to our child in particular.
CHC fell way short of expectations. it was very obvious that the psychologist I was assigned for the parent intake was more concerned about her billable time with me than really trying to help. This was evident as she continued to look at her watch, tell me unrelated stories about other patients and spent more time talking to me about billing and costs than listening or talking about the concerns I have about my son. After an hour and 15 minutes with her, I was escorted to the person to help coordinate the schedule for a treatment plan. She, too, began by telling me all of the charges I would be incurring. Before even setting an appointment she asked for my deposit. I walked away with the feeling that CHC may be non profit, but they are very concerned about the "bottom line" and ensuring they charge the maximum. I have canceled the treatment options for my son and will look elsewhere for assistance.
The staff at CHC is knowledgeable, helpful and kind. They have truly helped us by answering many questions and providing very useful resources.
After our son diagnosed with Autism and got overwhelming information regarding treatments, we were so confused and helpless until we got introduced to Early Support Program (ESPA). We were so delighted with the staff professionalism and helpfulness specially Gina Baldi who guide us to right sources. She is the only one who always supports and sends us very useful information.
I've been a volunteer at CHC for almost three years and have attended some of their free parent education classes. CHC does an incredible job helping children, teens, and parents when they need it most. I continue to be inspired by the great work of CHC!
Its an excellent organization with wonderful staff. I have a 5 year old son who is on the autism spectrum and I was new to the country knowing very less about the services and help available. The CHC staff helped me from beginning for identifying a good set of services for my son, they also conducted free parent trainings and the staff is very approachable. CHC will try their best to address your concerns and I personally got benefited a lot. I would strongly recommend this organization to all the parents of the special need child.
As a parent of a child who struggled with ADHD, I am impressed by and deeply appreciate the expertise, knowledge and care exhibited by CHC professionals at every level. It is clear that everyone who works at CHC is passionate about helping children, teens and young adults to reach their full potential.
Before I got involved with CHC, I was not aware that their services cover such a broad range of needs—spanning behavioral, mental health, social-emotional and educational challenges. CHC is truly a wonderful resource for bay area families.
We feel so fortunate to learn about CHC through ESPA. The program offers 1:1 sessions to discuss techniques to support the child in becoming a confident learner in all aspects of development. We had several sessions with Gina Baldi and have learned a lot. She's knowledgeable, caring and resourceful. We still attend CHC workshops and always find them helpful and informative.
We are so grateful for the support of Christina and Gina with the ESPA program at the CHC. They have been a tremendous source of information and knowledge for us regarding our 18 month old son who is developmentally delayed and may have autism. We could not be more pleased with how helpful they have been to us.
Sandhill and the CHC have changed our lives. Finding a supportive school with an amazing staff has made all the difference in our lives. Thank you CHC & Sandhill!
After spending too many years, dollars and tears on trying to make the public school work for my son, we feel so fortunate to have found the wealth of resources available to him as a student at Sand Hill School. The teachers, specialists, administrators and staff are all individually committed to the growth of each child. My son has grown academically, but also in executive functioning, social skills, emotional development and in addressing his specific learning differences. There are no words that can fully detail the depth and magnitude of what CHC and Sand Hill School do. Yet, when I see my son feeling confident, at ease in school, trusting the good intentions of his teachers, willing to try, and most of all happy, I can only say that I wish we had sought the support of CHC & Sand Hill sooner!
It is a great institution. We have been going to it for our son. We got extremely useful information. It has helped us deal with the medical problem that we are facing with our son. The trainer is very friendly and accommodating. I can't thank her enough for helping us navigate through the journey of our kid's development.
The thoughtful optimized courses, continued advice via emails/calls and information sessions have been very much appreciated. I had very professional, personable and genuine interaction with their 2 advisors. This guidance helped us make informed decisions and choices. We were lucky to find them, through a recommendation by an unaffiliated unpaid OT provider. I would highly recommend their program to any parent.
We have been thrilled with our experience at Sand Hill School. Our son, diagnosed with ADHD and learning differences, has always struggled in school. He attended a public middle school last year and came home sullen and dejected each day and had a low self-esteem. Our evenings were spent trying to force him to do the homework and classwork he hadn't completed. It was a constant struggle and strain on our family life. Since he has attended Sand Hill, he is excited to go to school each day and is feeling confident and enthused. He even does his homework without us fighting about it. This change would be enough for us but on top of this he is learning so much more. Not only is he improving his content knowledge but he is developing executive function and social/emotional skills. It has been an amazing change and we are so grateful to the staff and teachers. Everyone is so friendly, helpful and knowledgable. For the first time in his life, my son feels like he belongs and is respected and valued at school. We love Sand Hill and can't recommend it enough!
I serve on the Board of CHC, in part to help pay back this incredible agency for the role they played in helping my son (now a young man) when he was still in elementary school. My son suffers from depression and anxiety and at eight years old was at risk for suicide. When no one else knew what to do, the staff at CHC, and especially at Esther B. Clark school, helped my son develop coping strategies, executive function skills, and just a new lease on life. Our family will be forever grateful for the great work CHC does.
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Our family is so grateful for Children's Health Council! Our young son was struggling with depression and other mental health issues and no one seemed to know how to help him. He literally could not make it through a school day at our local elementary school. Every day, I waited to get "the call" from the principal that I needed to come get my son because he was unable to cope at school. The staff at CHC, and especially at EBC School, were there to support our son and our whole family, as we worked to get help for our son's very painful suffering. They never said "we don't know what to do". Instead, they said "we'll help you find answers". Today our son is a thriving senior at a local high school, looking forward to college! Thank you, CHC, for giving our son a new lease on life!
We the parents of an Autism son, went to Gina's parent education sessions. We learned absolutely useful strategies to help our son. Gina is extremely easy to work with. She is very flexible when coming to scheduling the sessions. We had to change or reschedule the sessions a few times due to our situations. We went to her office for first 3 sessions. I remembered we drove through heavy rain to her office to make the 3rd session. Our last 4th session was through Skype which was very convenient. Especially, we felt very grateful that those valuable education was provided to us free of cost when most needed.
My child has autism. My wife and I did not know how to raise him further. Thanks to CHC and ESPA, we have learned a lot on living with him. Gina and Christina are patient and helpful. We are very grateful for people who financially support them. You are the best! Thank you!!
I read everything I could get my hands on concerning autism when I was told my 1 and 1/2year old grandson was diagnosed with autism. In my searches f or information I found Gina Baldi. What a blessing. After talking to her on my first visit I knew I found a professional who could answer my questions and know the resourses to help me to provide my grandson with the best therapy and support. Everyone who has a child with autism should know about this program and Gina. By talking with Gina I have replaced my fears with positive steps forward.
I feel very fortunate to have known CHC through ESPA. I am thankful for the parent training sessions with Ms. Gina Baldi. I was completely lost and clueless, and she was the first to guide me, and continues to do so. A child's ASD diagnosis has a huge impact on a parent in initial days, and that's when ESPA held my hand. Thank you.
My wife and I were referred to CHC, (Gina Baldi, in particular) by our sons behavioral psychologist after he was diagnosed on the spectrum. We went to four parent sessions that she offered (for free!!!!) and they were a blessing. Great information. Great insights.
Truly, we felt more competent in dealing with the challenges that raising a special needs child brings. We also felt like we were not just making one mistake after the other. Furthermore, we received insights into different options we had with services, which aided us in moving our son out of the program he was in, into one that was more in line with our choice of approach (i.e., a more nurturing approach then straight ABA behavior extinction).
We feel so fortunate to have learned about CHC through ESPA when our son was diagnosed with ASD two years ago. We had a couple of sessions with Ms. Gina Baldi and they helped us a lot. She is so knowledgeable, and at the same time so kind and caring. We revived invaluable information as well as emotional support which was what we needed. We still keep going to CHC workshops and always find them helpful and informative.
Gina Baldi was instrumental in helping me find resources for my son at the beginning of his diagnosis. She was so empathetic and understanding during this emotional time. Words can't express my gratitude for all of her guidance and kind ways. If your ever in need of local resources for your child- Gina is your girl-Thank You!
My son was diagnosed with speech delay and autism at an very early age! We were able to get help by going to the parent training from Gina Baldi. The information, materials provided and support from her at Children's Health Council was excellent. We learned a great deal from going to those individual as well as group classes/workshops. We are very pleased to have had this amazing opportunity which in return helped our son and family. Speaking with other parents at the workshops was very informative and gave us suggestions on what we can do to help out son! We just want to express out gratitude by saying thank you for having this program at CHC.
Sand Hill School has truly transformed our family. Our 13 year old LD daughter is happily becoming an 'independent expert learner' at Sand Hill School where she is being taught the academic, social/emotional, and assistive technology tools that will help her confidently transition to high school. Their awesome teachers care and are given the latest resources to instruct students in an interactive and supportive environment. Student evaluations are meaningful and measured (you know how your child is performing and then specific goals are set for the next quarter). The administration is VERY responsive and has assisted our daughter at every turn to reach her potential (access to Tech, Science & Literature programs; Transition support to evaluate High Schools). We feel very fortunate to have found Sand Hill School and recommend it highly!
CHC is a unique and powerful organization that empowers and encourages so many kids and teens with learning differences. Each and every educator and professional at CHC holds a deep passion for helping these kids and teens reach their full potential. It's been an amazing story to watch unfold over the years. I look forward to witnessing many more chapters to come.
This is the first year since kindergarten that my daughter is happy when she comes home from school. She is keeping herself organized, learning at grade level, and looks forward to school!
Sand Hill School and CHC are wonderful resources. My child attends Sand Hill School and it has changed not only his life, but ours as well. They believed in him, when no one else did, and this has given him the belief and courage in himself to do things we were told he never would do. Sand Hill School is an exceptional place.
My son is diagnosed with ASD two years ago, he is 5.5 years now. We were so stress out about financial as well as emotional. He has been in special school since, he received some services from school district. He has been improved his skills.
Then as parents we don't know much about ASD, we are so glad that Espa program offers us Free parents therapy for four sessions. THANK TO CHRISTINA and GINA for listening to our concerns, giving great support, tools and other resources to help our son. She walked me through step by step, guide me with her great advice.
They work very hard to help us , Gina always made time for us even though when she was on vacation, she said if we need any thing , it is OKAY to email her too. Wow, We are so impressed that how much she cares for us and our son. Thank YOU Gina, You are the Best.
We feel much better, less stress because we have tools to work with our son at home beside the professional services at school and our insurance.
Things get easier and we know we can count on ESPA PROGRAM. THANK YOU.
Thank you to CHC and Gina for providing great insight, tools, resources and education about kids on the spectrum. Your program is needed and is valuable in helping parents make sense of a complex and very frustrating special education system.
ESPA was a fantastic resource. Our family can't recommend it enough. As a parent, you are often swamped with trying to learn about what your child needs, how to raise them with respect for who they are and what they need, and how to get the right services to help them. For us, this was daunting, as we knew very little about Autism when our daughter was diagnosed. ESPA was fantastic in getting us face time with someone who could answer our questions and give us some real world help in addressing our daughter's needs. We found the people really went above and beyond, taking great care to listen and give thoughtful suggestions; corresponding with us via email and digging up information that was specific to our needs, etc. This was so much more than just some parent training. It was really personal, practical, and empowering. We are so thankful for that help. It set us on a great course.
ESPA really helps my son, my wife and me a lot, especially when we first learned the diagnosis of autism. My family is very grateful to people who pay Christina and Gina for their outstanding experiences. At the first meeting, Christina took the notes for our meeting, including steps to take. She also helped us to do a pro/con table when we were debating which step to take. Gina is surely a veteran in the field. Her four lessons and later consultation are still our best education. Her parent support group focuses on a different topic at a time. She even invited an insurance expert to share. Many thanks!
CHC and Sand Hill School are a phenomenal resource for the community and meet a significant oft unmet need of providing experienced, skilled teachers and other support staff to help students with special learning needs (not just Dyslexia, but many other types of issues and needs as well).
We have been impressed with the professionalism, experience and knowledge of all the CHC and Sand Hill School staff.
Most importantly, we have noticed the change through the progress and experience of our child, who LOVES Sand Hill School and is blossoming under their care and support.
My toddler is on the autism spectrum. I was fortunate to have met the Espa team. Gina helped me jumpstart working appropriately with my child to help him improve. My child today has made Tremendous progress and I owe it largely to this team! Can't thank you enough! Great program!!!!!
After receiving a diagnosis of ASD for our 4 year old son, we had a million questions. I spent months researching and trying to figure out where to start, who to see, and how to navigate our health insurance, etc. It was extremely stressful and overwhelming.
By far, the ESPA program at the CHC was one of the best of all the resources we came across. It truly was a godsend for our family. I finally had someone I could talk to in depth about all of my questions and concerns. I am very picky about providers. The staff at ESPA was beyond exceptional. I felt I was in the most competent of hands and receiving the most up to date and valuable information.
I really can't thank the ESPA team enough for providing this game changing service to new families who have received an ASD diagnosis. Thanks to the support from the team at ESPA (Gina and Christina), my stress level is way down and I have a road map for supporting my son. Our family is forever grateful.
My son was early diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder - and we were greatly helped and supported by the Early Support Program for Autism (ESPA) at the CHC. The (free!) parent trainings were wonderful. We've been able to implement the lessons learned at home.
I've a great experience with CHC. They have provided us with resources and advice and I'm looking forward to the 1:1 parent training.
I was referred to ESPA through the Stanford Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics department when my son was diagnosed with Autism in 2013. It was a blessing to meet Gina and attend her training sessions to understand more about Autism and how we can help our son. I still refer the training materials provided quite often for tips and tricks when we are faced with day today challenges of helping my son. The ESPA coordinator Christina has also been very prompt to offer me references about ABA providers, Speech therapists and other resources in the Easy Bay any time I contacted her over the phone. I wish the team good luck and plan to continue being in touch with the team as our family travels through the world of Autism.
We can to CHC because we were not sure our son, who was diagnosed as high functioning spectrum, was involved in the right therapies. Everyone was fantastic! My husband and I did the free parent counseling and had the opportunity to talk with therapists about my son. We even had him tested by one of the OT's there. She was great and even gave us a referral for an OT closer to our home. All of it made a world of difference and even made us more confident in not only dealing with our son directly, but in getting him the help he needs.
Your techniques are so helpful. Both my son and I are improved a lot. Thank you very much for your help, Gina.
When our 3 year-old son first got diagnosed with Autism spectrum, our whole family is at loss. Most of our struggle begins with inability in communication and understanding with my son, which created often stressful situations. Once we got introduced into CHC, things changed. Firstly, they provided helpful post-diagnosis checklists for the family to navigate into necessary steps and nearby resources, and secondly, one-on-one parental training sessions. Their advice on insurance company led us to our current financially sustainable situation with our ABA provider, and their trainer is so experienced and patient to parents and our son. The word "magical" has to be used to describe the first encounter of our son with the trainer, who used a way of communication that drew instantaneous attention and interest of our son. Most of tricks we learned during the parental training are still benefiting our family life day-in and day-out.
In addition, CHC took a very proactive stance when approaching family with needs in all our interactions. Moreover, all the consulting and support they provide are free to all the family in need, which is truly remarkable. I personally can not express enough appreciation to this organization and its wonderful people working for CHC.
I am very much impressed with the way Gina has help me !! She is so patient and understands our concerns and addresse s it promptly. Her techniqiues are so easy and simple to follow.
Thank you Gina & ESPA for all your help !!
After doing research concerning early signs of Autism spectrum issues, I reached out to ESPA (Early Support Program for Autism), which is jointly sponsored by Stanford and CHC and Gina Baldi. I began noticing that my infant daughter actively avoided making eye contact with others starting around 2-3 months old, and had concerns that this might be a very early sign of some sort of autism spectrum disorder. When we saw little improvement over several months, Gina graciously accepted us for a meeting with our daughter. She agreed that it was something to pay attention to, and armed us with numerous early intervention techniques for helping our daughter in the critical first year of brain development. We no longer have any concerns about spectrum issues for our daughter. Although I can't say definitively that the early intervention is the reason, I can say unequivocally that the early intervention tools and resources we received from CHC and ESPA were a huge help for us and our daughter. Where most places refuse to even discuss early signs of spectrum issues, this clinic gave us information and tools during what I think is the most critical time in a child's early development. We are so thankful for the attention and care that we received, and have recommended this group to others with concerns about learning disabilities.
We have received great support and very useful information from CHC, they are the best when you really need the advise to deal the situation.
We have received much support and useful information from CHC -- they are a terrific resource for our community!
ESPA (Early Support Program for Autism), which is jointly sponsored by Stanford and CHC and Gina Baldi have been amazing resources for parents of special needs kids like us. Its wonderful to have a resource like this to navigate the different therapies, services, providers for our son who's on the Autism spectrum
It is wonderful that CHC is right in our backyard! They have been a great partner for our school to work with. We have consulted with their compassionate and highly-professional psychologists and educational specialists on many occasions. They are great listeners and always treat our students and families with respect and great care. They take the time and effort necessary to craft individualized evaluations with practical recommendations for our teachers. CHC is a true asset to our community.
I am the proud mother of 2 successful products of the Children’s Health Council.
Having moved here in 1978 from the best elementary school system in the country, Massachusetts, I was shocked to discover the poor state the California elementary school system was in which is when, at the ages of 5 & 8 respectively, I brought my 2 daughters to CHC for testing so that I would know what was needed in order to supply that which was lacking in the California system, guide their education and meet their individual emotional needs. They are now 46 & 43 respectively, with 5 children between them.
After attending FIDM, my older daughter chose advertising and became the advertising executive on the Pepsi account for Chiat Day, “The Ad Agency of the Decade” in the 80’s & creator of the famous Apple Super Bowl commercial. My younger daughter earned her Communications Degree with a minor in Gender Linguistics from San Francisco State and in her senior year, was hired by NBC TV News where she worked her way up to Bureau Chief in the 5th largest market in the country; San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland. At 31, she was the youngest Bureau Chief in the country!
CHC was instrumental in guiding the education of both my daughters from elementary school until the day they each graduated high school. CHC stepped in every time the school wanted to veer from the education plan laid out by CHC. Due to the well qualified staff at CHC, the schools had no choice but to provide exactly what CHC apprised them was needed by each of my daughters in order for each to succeed. For my older daughter, the visual and step by step learner, and my younger daughter, the auditory and out of the box thinking learner, classes and teachers who taught the way each of my daughters learned were assigned to them. In my mind, and as is evidenced by their success, this is the most important part of a successful elementary education foundation. Without CHC, battles with the school system would have been insurmountable.
I am so grateful to CHC for their expertise and, more importantly, their willingness to actively advocate for their patients/clients. Without CHC doing so, I know that my daughters would have been thwarted and unable to attain their goals.
As a member of the Children's Health Council Auxiliary, I have been a supporter of the organization for many years. Led by a dynamic Executive Director Rosalie Whitlock, it has successfully expanded school programs, clinical diagnosis and parental guidance to children and their families throughout the area.
My son has attended Sand Hill School at CHC for a year and a half, and it has made a huge difference in his life. The personalized teaching has helped him grow academically in leaps and bounds! More importantly, it has helped him rebuild his confidence after a difficult school experience. The resources and fantastic people at CHC are amazing for providing help for families and kids.
Ever since we toured Sandhill 4 years ago we knew this was going to be the best option for our daughter who was diagnosed with just about every LD possible in kindergarten. After years of trying to work through the public school system and years of her struggling to fit into their special needs programs, we finally bit the bullet and enrolled her into Sandhill for 5th grade. We have not looked back once and during these past few months we have seen a whole new child who loves learning, loves the school and loves her teachers. Our daughter has gone from an overly anxious child that we felt may never catch up to her grade level to a happy kid that has made more progress in a few months than she ever made in a year. If you're thinking about Sandhill don't wait another day!
CHC has done a great job of providing support for our whole family. Both of our children have benefitted from seeing therapists about anxiety. As parents, CHC has provided us with the tools to help us support our kids. When our daughter was diagnosed with learning differences, Sand Hill School quickly accommodated us and she is now in a supportive and nurturing learning environment. We are grateful to CHC and Sand Hill School for supporting our family's educational and emotional needs.
Although our family have not been clients of CHC in the usual sense, we have received exceptional kindness and support from both the leadership and various members of staff. A year or so ago, Rosalie Whitlock generously took more than an hour of her time to go over the results of psychological testing we had done elsewhere, helping me to understand the implications more fully and plan our next steps. Rosalie's understanding of LD and ADhD is profound and she is exceptionally skilled at translating her technical understanding into terms that a lay person can grasp. When I sought help at a later time, attempting to understand if I should continue seeking ADD medication for my teenaged daughter, who doesn't fit the classic hyperactive model of attentional difficulties and wasn't passing the standard "checklist" approach to diagnosing ADD, she got me in touch with Dr. Glenn Elliott. Although Dr. Elliott focuses his practice on younger children, he spent several hours with me answering questions about the various forms of ADD and the medications available for treatment. As a result, I continued my search for a psychiatrist with a different approach and in the end got her the help that she needed. We also had occasion to speak with Dr. Kovar, who was a font of knowledge about the subtleties of psychological testing and whom I would have loved to have worked with had the timing been different.
Their impressive staff and their flexible willingness to help is only one of the ways in which I think CHC is an important resource to the community beyond their specific clients. Their role both in training upcoming professionals in the field of LD and ADhD and in providing parent education is well known. In addition, they provide meeting places for various outside organizations working to support families and schools who work with kids with learning and attentional differences. As just one example, I went to my first meeting of Parents Education Network of Silicon Valley (PEN-SV) at CHC and it has been a continuing resource for me.
All in all, I can't say enough positive things about CHC. My husband and I donate to the organization and will continue to do so because of the unique combination of services and expertise that they provide. We're lucky to have them right here in Palo Alto.
I have been going to CHC for the last 12 years starting when my son was diagnosed with ASD. As new parents we were very worried and scared. CHC helped us and presently is helping us with their amazing group of professionals going through our journey in a more supportive way. Our son has made great progress after all he has gone through. We as a family could have never made this journey without CHC in our lives.
Gabriela Rojas
When i was seven years old, I was in a serious car crash. i still remember vividly the weeks after, when i would wake up int he middle of the night screaming and crying. I couldn't get into cars and i was slowly getting more paranoid about ever type of vehicles or anything related to the crash. When i went to Childrens Health counsel for the first time, I will never forget the warm atmosphere that greeted me and the experienced staff that knew exactly how young children's minds work. After months of feeling petrified without knowing why, the psychologists at CHC helped me open up and come to terms with everything that happened in a way that i could process. From the well trained psychologists, to the warm atmosphere, I will forever be indebted to the people of CHC.
My child was struggling in school and after a diagnosis and treatment from Dr. Elliott, it literally changed his life. He was immediately able to perform above grade level and is now succeeding in the top 10% of one of the top academic high schools in San Francisco. CHC changed our lives!
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Our son has been a long time client of CHC. We first met with Dr. Caryn Kovar who diagnosed our son as being dyslexic and helped us seek immediate remediation at the Charles Armstrong School. She has been wonderful to work with and has a terrific way with children.
While at Armstrong, we realized there were attention issues which kept our son from progressing. That's when Dr. Kovar brought Dr. Glen Elliott into the picture and diagnosed him as having"inattentive" ADHD. Dr. Elliott prescribed the perfect medication which unleashed our son's ability to fully apply his natural intelligence to school work.
Within a year, he transitioned out of Armstrong and is now a top performer at one of the top academic high schools in San Francisco.
Thanks to Dr. Kovar and Dr. Elliott our son is one of the lucky ones. They saved him continue to provide extraordinary service. I would recommend them without hesitation to any family who is struggling with a child who has learning difficulties
CHC has helped our family in so many ways! When no one else could diagnose our child's issues properly, CHC came through. They were then able to follow-up with excellent family therapy. Today my son is thriving in the IT industry. We are now into our second family generation of treatment, as they are helping my grandson work through some learning issues. What an amazing place!
We've had a very positive experience with the Center with two of our children. The staff are marvelous. They are great with kids, great with parents and their reports are very complete and accessible. The reports are so fascinating, we're going to be happy to know more about our kids and their individual learning styles as well. We really appreciate how the team at CHC have been a tremendous help to us at a hard time.
Children's Health Council~ My son has been attending Sand Hill School . He also has had a full mental, emotional and social evaluation upstairs in The Center. We have learned valuable information which would have been tough to acquire elsewhere. We are very happy to be more aware of him and his needs. We work hard to help him, but we needed and still need the help of much of what CHC offers in order to have gotten to this point; a stepping off point to addressing the issues he faces. Fortunately, we know what to try to address now. They have the right combination of people and resources to help us progress and perhaps transition to public school one day. My wife and I love the services and protection CHC provides our son. The classroom size, the smaller reading and math groups, the incredible staff and approaches they use at SHS set it apart. The issues CHC can identify and address help us to do the best for our child. I am biased, but I have proof of the quality provided and that is all I need to endorse this great organization. -PeterO
—Submitted by a parent
My 9 year old son has mild autism. He struggled tremendously in the public school system. After 2 years struggling in the mainstream, he had low self esteem and hated going to school. He was lost in the crowd of his 30 kid / 1 teacher public school classroom. Not to mention completely lost socially on the school yard amongst hundreds of kids. In the classroom he was preoccupied with his various distraction techniques to manage his anxiety or filter out the noise and chaos overwhelming his sensory system. As a result, very little learning was able to take place. And though he had teachers who cared about him, they and I were unsupported by administration in ways to help him. To have to put your sweet and intelligent child into an environment where he is misunderstood and flailing to survive academically, socially, and emotionally on a daily basis, it is one of the worst feelings as a parent. And to now have him at Sand Hill School, in an environment of love and support with people who are lifting him up and helping him to learn, grow, and thrive, it brings tears to my eyes! I cannot express enough how grateful I am to have the privilege of sending my son to this school.
Our daughter has attended Sand Hill School/CHC for the past year. She entered the school a depressed and stressed child but her self esteem has been transformed. No longer does she immediately respond to each school problem by crumbling; she now says, "I may not get it yet, but I will get it soon." She is now an advocate for her needs and no longer a victim of learned helplessness. We have also received amazing OT services at CHC. Thank you Sand Hill/CHC for giving our daughter a second chance at a happy school experience.
After two years at Sand Hill School, my 11 yr old son is transitioning to a private, independent middle school next year. This would never have been close to possible without the tools (academic, social, emotional), constant and consistent support, guidance and love that the entire faculty and administration at Sand Hill has given my son. The experience at Sand Hill has been transformative, for both my son and our family. I could not recommend Sand Hill School any higher for families with children who are struggling from ADHD, low self esteem, depression, anxiety, and other LD's. My son hated school before coming to Sand Hill and now his biggest worry is saying goodbye to all of the incredible teachers. I will be forever grateful to the people at Sand Hill and CHC and to the wonderful benefactors who have made this possible for our family and many others like us.
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My son is in his second year at Sand Hill School, and it has been a savior for both my son and our entire family. My son hated school with a passion before coming to Sand Hill, and now he never complains about going to school. He loves his teachers and says that Sand Hill has the "nicest principal ever." As a parent, I can say that the entire faculty and administration has been nothing but supportive and I feel that deeply care about my son's success. I also really appreciate the access to the therapists at CHC and the collaboration between CHC and Sand Hill. Just today, I recommended the School and the Center to a friend who is having challenges with her son. She saw the website and it gave her such hope - and I could not agree more. Sand Hill and CHC do just that - they give hope to families when they think there is no where left to turn. It has changed our lives. Last year, my son would tear his papers up when he perceived he couldn't do things. This year, he advocates for himself and asks for help from the teacher. This is just one small example of growth. I could go on and on, but Sand Hill and CHC have changed our lives!
I am a former board member who served nine years with this wonderful organization and watched it grow into an exceptionally well-run not-for-profit that is uniquely focused on serving the needs of the community around it. The culture starts with the agency's Executive Director, Rosalie Whitlock, who is as smart about the nuances and complexities of young children's issues as she is caring about the children and the families that she serves. Rosalie is the gold standard as it relates to children's emotional health and she takes very seriously the agency's mission to provide families with answers to problems that can, at times, seem insurmountable. She enables an environment with her direct reports whereby entrepreneurship is valued and rewarded -- and so that the people on her team feel empowered and appreciated for doing what is necessary to provide much needed value to the families who walk through the agency's front doors. As a former member of the Board's Finance Committee, I can attest to the financial stability of the organization and the fact that never before has the agency's finances been in such good shape. It's so comforting to know that the executive leadership of CHC has created a dynamic whereby the goals of the agency can be supported by a thriving balance sheet and very impressive fiscal responsibility -- both of which should endure for many years to come. My heartfelt congratulations to everyone who has contributed to making CHC such an important part of our community and to leading so many children and families to a better place.
I have had the wonderful opportunity over many years to sit at a dynamic intersection and observe CHC from many view points (as a board member, working with impassioned donors, attending external events / internal classroom discussions/graduation ceremonies, as well as watching new initiatives grow and families find solutions).
My involvement on the board is probably best captured between the book-ends of two defining events for me that really captured the spirit and power of their mission. Before I joined the board, I had the opportunity to attend the ‘graduation’ ceremony for the Ester B. Clark School. The sense of accomplishment and the pride these kids felt was awe-inspiring. Listening to the class speakers, just middle-school aged children, express what their experience had meant to them and how they had grown because of it, I couldn’t help but observe their amazing self-awareness and understanding – which was beyond their years (and perhaps beyond my own awareness!). If you ever need to recharge, and remember what life is all about, attend this ceremony! As for my final book-end, I witnessed a young child approach the founding donor of the Sand Hill School, with the most heart-felt thank you I have ever heard. Through her tears, she talked about how much the school has meant to her and how she didn’t know what she would do without it. There is nothing quite like the honesty and purity of a child – and there wasn’t a dry-eye to be found. The work that is being done here is so important and so meaningful to so many souls. These experiences, and many in between, allow me to rate this organization as the best of the best.
Any review would be incomplete without also touching for a moment on the operational integrity and strength of CHC. This is hands down the best run non-profit organization I have ever had the opportunity to work with – the dedication of its people, the thoughtfulness of its leadership, and the execution of its mission. They will work to solve your issues in a ‘client always comes first’ mentality. I hope you will join me in supporting and participating in the mission of this wonderful organization.
As a former board member (I served 3 terms of 3 years) I can personally attest to the amazing dedication and commitment CHC has for its students at the Sand Hill School and through the agency that serves so many families in the greater south bay community. I will always recommend CHC to families who need another opinion, a different approach, a better environment for their child to address behavior and emotional concerns. CHC provides answers, and offers support and solutions to families in need.
Our relationship with the CHC began in 1990 with the birth of our first child. We attended classes which not only provided us with invaluable insights into the development of our child but also became the foundation of lifelong friendships. As the years went on we turned to the CHC for help with issues involving anxiety and ADHD in our child, and once again the CHC provided answers, reassurance and guidance. We decided that we wanted to be a part of this wonderful organization in order that it might help others and so we became donors, volunteers and ultimately, one of us, a board member. Our relationship with the CHC has now spanned 23 years and we have watched it change and grow. The addition of Dr. Rosalie Whitlock as the executive director has brought a new era to the CHC as Rosalie has honed the goals of the CHC, assembled an expert staff with quick attention to family needs and exceptional follow up. We could not recommend the CHC more highly and even though our children are now adults, and the board term has expired, we continue to be involved, refer families without reservation and support the CHC with our donations. The CHC will be a lifelong commitment for our family's charitable donations.
I thought I would send a note to say how impressed I have been with the CHC Parent Education 2013-2014 series. I have twin boys who are quite a handful with ADHD, social emotional issues, and cognitive issues. So I signed up for two sessions in the "Success Factors" area and two sessions in the "Behavior" area. In all cases, I was very pleased with the content provided and the quality of the presenters. Everything was so professional, from the online registration site and high quality marketing materials to the actual registration, facility, hands-on workshops, handouts, and presenters. I have already put some of the techniques into practice with good results. What a great reflection on the quality of your program and staff at CHC.
We came to the CHC when my son was in 4th grade and struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, ODD, medication side effects, and had him re tested. He attended therapies at CHC which is staffed fully with all needed therapists. We attend classes there as well. Very happy with all services.
Sand Hill School and CHC have been life a changing experience for my daughter and our family. She has been enrolled for over 2 years now and is still so happy there. She looks forward to going every day. It has everything she needs under one roof, a gifted and highly specialized teaching staff, small student/teacher ratios, and a vast array of specialists to observe and help if needed. Sand Hill School has given her the freedom to grow, learn and thrive in a way she was never able to at other schools. It is a safe, small, and accepting environment for kids who just do not fit in anywhere else.
Two of my sons have a substantial set of learning, neurological, and social difficulties. Childrens Health Council (CHC) has been an anchor for support and services for us for 10 years. Both my sons have shown tremendous progress and CHC has been the foundation for that progress. The therapists and educators are world class and incredibly committed to the kids they serve.
Not only am a proud board member at the Children Health Council "CHC", but I am also a proud parent of a child who has materially benefited from the great services offered at CHC, thus making me a client as well. The organization is truly transformative, and its vision of helping and improving the lives of these wonderful children is lead by Ms. Rosalie Whitlock, PhD, its Executive Director.
Under the leadership of Dr. Whitlock, the organization has untaken an amazing transformation over the past few years by completely realigning of the centers programs to ensure the maximum donor dollars are directed towards the care and benefit of the children. This above all is one of the reasons why I continue to dedicate my time to this wonderful organization. As a dyslexic myself, I understand the challenges these children face with their learning differences, and I recall those painful days of sitting in classroom staring at a chalkboard and not quite getting it. Seeing the impact of CHC on these amazing children is simply one of the most rewarding benefits as a board member to CHC. The transformative benefits these children and parents realize after receiving the care and guidance from the staff and CHC is priceless. These children are able to reintegrate into life, find peace as well as enjoy the pleasures and joy’s of playing with and interacting with their peers, thanks in no small part to the staff at CHC.
I am both proud and honored to be part of this exceptionally run organization and a board member. We have a strong governance and fiscal management philosophy, which help drive new innovative programs for the benefits of both child and parents.
In addition, the ability of CHC to give back to community through its many free parent education programs are another example of the wonderful impact CHC can have within a community on advocating and helping us all better understand the challenges families and children are facing and how best to address those concerns in a very collaborative and useful way.
I am a strong advocate and supporter of The Children's Health Council, its staff and executive team. The positive impact of helping children and parent makes CHC, an outstanding charity that i hope many more will come to realize, appreciate and continue to donate to help this wonderful non-profits thrive and deliver the care to these wonderful children.
I have been a CHC Auxiliary Member for 8 years. I am now serving my second term as Auxiliary President. In addition to my roll with the Auxiliary, I volunteer as a part of the Pet Assisted Therapy Program with my Golden Retriever, Molly Rose. I have been privileged to interact with not only the CHC Agency Staff but also with the teachers, clinicians, therapists and the wonderful children assisted by CHC. It is amazing to view the care, love and dedication offered to all CHC clients. It is so rewarding to have a first hand opportunity to understand the value of care that CHC offers. Every smile and laugh coming from our CHC kids is worth every volunteer hour. This year, CHC has provided support to over 1500 families from all over the Peninsula. I salute all of these caring professionals. Children's Health Council is celebrating its 60th year! The original vision of Dr. Esther B. Clark lives on and continues to grow.
I have been on the BOD since 2010 and I feel privileged to work with such an incredible organization. I have been on over 15 boards, some for profit and some not for profit, and this is one of the best. The Children's Health Council is an invaluable resource in our community providing children with emotional challenges and learning differences, and their families, with the help and answers they desperately need. I am constantly amazed by the level of commitment and passion of the team to the mission of CHC and to the families they serve.
Sand Hill School along with the Children’s Health Council has helped our family tremendously. Their highly trained teachers and specialists truly care and want to make a difference. This organization is uniquely positioned to help families turn challenges into opportunities and brings a wealth of expertise, experience, compassion and a strong vision - all under one roof. We are grateful for the amazing work they do.
I and my wife are extremely confident in the future of CHC. We've been associated with CHC over 25 years, as a client as well as current board member, volunteer, and major donor now and via our legacy giving. CHC has a 50+ year history serving local multiple ethnic and income level needs. Our confidence in the future is driven by a clear structure and focus that was put in place beginning in the 2H09 when a new ED re-analyzed the agency with the help of the board. Now there are 4 distinct divisions, each accountable for its own financial results and its growth through rolling 5-year plans for each. There is a meaningful endowment which aids financial stability through financial aid and infrastructure changes of the existing site. Revenue sources have been diversified to include both public and private funding in a much better balance to enhance stability. We have decided to partner with the agency in its future 50-year path: each child in need represents a life which deserves our support for his/her growth.
I am a board member with the CHC and also a happy client. First of all, I am so proud to be part of this well-run board who practices strong governance and fiscal management, as well as partners with the CHC leadership to drive innovative programs. Rosalie Whitlock, the Executive Director, along with her leadership team are top-notch professionals who care deeply about the children who come for our services. I also have had the opportunity to attend many of the free parent education programs, due to my own personal challenges with my teen son, and always walk away learning something helpful that I can do to help improve the situation. The Children's Health Council is a jewel among non-profits.
Our son enrolled in Sand Hill School at the Childrens' Health Council over 2-1/2 years ago, and it has been a fantastic experience for him and us. He has challenges with learning and social skills and had gone through two schools in the prior 18 months that weren't able to meet his needs. Sand Hill's specialized curriculum, small class sizes and excellent teachers have enabled him to make huge progress and to enjoy school again. Sand Hill School does a fantastic job of meeting the unique needs of K-5 children that struggle with a challenging combination of academic and social issues that aren't addressed by either mainstream schools or specialized schools that are designed to address specific issues such as dyslexia.
I have been involved and I have sat on many non-prophet boards. One of the organizations that truly stands out in my experience is Children's Health Council in Palo Alto. From a Board member perspective donor dollars are wisely used, expenses are controlled so finances are used directly to maintain the expertise and for serving the children.
The Staff Collaborates with one another and is highly motivated to make a difference in the life of families and children. CHC is a well run organization, the philosophies, vision and missions are felt in every decision made.
The leadership and staff are truly genuine and passionate about what they do. Children's Health Council is a very special place and organization.
Childrens Health Council provided us with expert diagnosis and counseling services. Its highly credentialed staff makes itself available, demonstrates compasion, and is not directive. By the same token, it provides clear advice upon which decisions can be made. We are grateful to CHC and recommend it highly.
CHC served first as a place with resources and specialists during a confusing and desperate time for our family when our daughter was struggling in school. Though we live in a town with a highly regarded school district, the public school faculty and administration offered inadequate information and services. Finding CHC opened doors of possibility for our daughter and literally brought light and hope back to our family. Nearly two years ago, we moved our daughter to Sand Hill School. Her shadowing experience in the school was welcoming, safe and so positive that she wanted to return. So, we enrolled her when the time was right and are grateful daily for the significant improvement in our daughters learning experience. Her teachers are highly qualified and caring, the classrooms are extremely well equipped and the organizational infrastructure flows in a way that is commendable. It has been a challenge in many ways for our family to make the shift, but in countless ways it has been worth it. Our family has a deeper sense of peace and our daughter loves learning again and believes in herself. We highly recommend both CHC and SHS to other families.
Sand Hill School and their wonderful teachers have completely improved my son's level of self-confidence, his happiness and his academic skills. He has never liked school in the past until he started at Sand Hill and now each day when I pick him up, he says his day was "Great!" with a smile and huge enthusiasm. When he started the school he was tested at barely 1st grade level math and by the end of the first month here, he tested at 3rd grade level math… he actually improved 2 grades in one month of the individualized teaching that Sand Hill provides. We were all amazed and he was so proud. The teachers are kind, sensitive, firm and fun loving. For the first time in our lives, we feel like we have teachers that see our son for who he is, and are able to draw out all his fantastic qualities. They are able to adapt their program to fit him, and as a result, he is making tremendous progress.
EBC has the most wonderful, kind, and skilled staff. I am so grateful for the work they have done with my son, who was unable to function at school until EBC. Their help has changed life for our entire family. We were finally able to take a family vacation together because my son is now doing so well.
I have had the honor of being involved with CHC for the past 25 years- as a user of their wonderful services, a staff clinician, a volunteer, and now a Board member. The range and depth of services and the clinical expertise of the staff combine to create a magical place. Nowhere on the Peninsula are children and their families better understood and helped. When CHC sees a need- whether it be for a school for children who are struggling, a free parent education talk on managing technology or a kindergarten readiness group they create a way to help families. CHC is committed to finding the potential in every child and our community is a healthier, happier place because of their wonderful work.
I have been involved with CHC since my daughters (who are now 21 and 23) were very young. CHC helped us with parenting, school issues and much more. I then served as both a volunteer in various aspects of the agency, as well as a board member. I have watched the agency evolve over the years, and I can honestly say that it has never been in better shape than it is now. The services that they provide to the children in our community are critical and we are so fortunate to have them.
My son attends Sand Hill School, the CHC school founded in 2011 for kids k-4 (eventually k-5) who may have ADHD, learning differences, anxiety, or social issues. My son has sensory integration issues and started at Sand Hill 20 months ago in Kindergarten after a rough time in preschool. I cannot say enough about how amazing the school has been for him -- the intentional program; the low student-to-teacher ratio (5:1); and the totally dedicated, warm, loving, expert teachers. We are so thrilled with the school -- he is thriving academically and socially. And he has renewed self-confidence -- which was seriously at risk in preschool. If you have a child who just "doesn't quite fit" in a traditional educational environment, Sand Hill is an excellent alternative. They also have financial aid for families who qualify.
Sand HIll School at Children's Health Council is a fantastic school! They have thoroughly researched and considered every aspect of children's academic and social/emotional needs and it really shows. Students receive instruction in everything from math and writing to executive functions and social skills. The teachers are top-notch, and the entire staff is so amazingly well-informed about the best teaching and behavior management techniques and so incredibly consistent in how they apply them. Our son loves it and so do we!
We are so blessed to have found CHC and Sand Hill School - our lives would be unimaginably challenging right now but not for the fantastic care he has received there. He has gone from being the most disruptive student in the class - with numerous meltdowns and an extremely low frustration tolerance - to practically being the model student, all because of the expertise and perseverance of the administrators, teachers, and specialists at Sand Hill and CHC. We can finally breathe easy knowing he is amongst people who understand him, who can help him, and who genuinely care about him. On top of the top-notch care and education he is receiving at Sand Hill School, having the specialists at CHC to draw from has been so helpful and seamless - they have integrated his additional therapies right into his school program, making it so easy for us and him. They are 100% committed to helping kids like mine who don't fit into a mainstream program, and work determinedly and effectively with the parents to help your child. We are so grateful to be working with them.
The past 3 years have been a scary roller coaster ride as far as my children's schools went. We are finally in a place where my children's accommodations and modifications are being meet everyday. After the first week of school my son came to me and thanked me for sending him to SHS. He also said "I understand now why you wanted me to switch schools, I love Sand Hill". As a parent it took me a few more weeks to let my guard down and realize that the fight is over. Now my children will learn strategies to carry though out their lives.
We are ALL in the right place @ Sand Hill School.
CHC/EBC has transformed my son from an angry, scared boy to a more confident student. He has further to go on his journey, but I know his life and our family's is and will be better because of the work he is doing at CHC/EBC. The staff are exceptional professionals who work as a team, a real team. It doesn't get better.
My son has been attending Sand Hill School at Children's Health Council and receiving various therapy services at CHC for more than 3 years. It has changed his life! I've watched him blossom during his time there and hope to continue for years to come. The entire organization is caring and compassionate. They are providing critical education and services to the kids who need them most. I can't say enough wonderful things about this organization.
After challenging preschool and junior kindergarten years, we were not sure if our daughter would ever like school let alone thrive there. Our daughter was doing fine academically, but the school she'd been going to was just ill-equipped to help her with her particular set of social/behavioral issues, which were not "extreme" but outside their norm. They threw up their hands.
Sand Hill School created an environment and an individualized plan for our daughter, who is now doing GREAT, looks forward to school every day, and is nurturing real friendships there.
CHC is an outstanding organizaion, on whose board I have had the privelge to serve for over a decade. It has grown from approx. 50 students in EBC School 10 years ago to about 90 today. And a second school, Sand Hill School, opened in 2011 with 7 students in one class room;now has 5 class roooms, and we are adding three more clasess to take us up thru the 8th. grade. All of this growth is due to the ourtstanding leadership team, and highly dedicated staff, all of whom work tirelessly to improve the quality of life for our students. A need in our community was uncovered some years back, and CHC has stepped up to meet the needs of our children, and with a most sincere appreication by their parents. All credit goes to a quality staff and ihe many volunteers who supporrt this important effort.
Children's Health Council has been part of our life since we moved back to the Bay Area in 1990. I first experienced CHC taking their Parent Ed Classes, hoping to be the best mom I could be. At Oak Knoll Elementary School, CHC gave wonderfully informative advice on Child Development. When we reached Menlo School, psychologists from CHC facilitated our class parent discussions around the challenges of the teen years. Since then I have served on CHC's Board of Directors and passionately support their mission to help all kids find their promise and potential. CHC specialists and teachers are without compare. The collaborative nature of their evaluations, problem solving and helping kids discover their unique learning capabilities instills resilience which leads to happiness and success. Every referral I have sent CHC's way, whether issues were simple or complicated, has found answers and hope. Yes, I may have a bias, but it's an honest and informed bias.
I have volunteered for Children's Health Council for over 8 years and have fallen in love with the work they do. They are a great community resource for kids that think and learn differently and can give simple consultations or extensive evaluations for social emotional issues or learning issues, especially for kids with symptoms of ADHD, Learning Differences, Anxiety and Depression or Autism. They have even developed Sand Hill School for kids that are bright but struggling and need more personal attention, and have had the Esther B. Clark School for many, many years for kids with more severe behavioral issues. The Community Clinic works with underserved famlies in satellite offices throughout the bay area... What a great service to our community. I highly recommend taking your child there if worried or unsure about developmental progress. You will find wonderful, kind experts to take care of you.