"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."  

                                                                                - Stacia Tauscher

 

Your support of Ann Martin Center has helped so many children heal from the pain of grief, loss and trauma, and overcome emotional and learning challenges. Now, because of thoughtful people like you, we've been able to reach over 1,000 at-risk children annually in Alameda County - treating one child at a time.

  

In a fortuitous coincidence with our 50th anniversary, Ann Martin Center has a new home in Emeryville.  After 42 years at three locations in Piedmont and Oakland, the Center has consolidated operations under one roof in a phenomenal new 15,000 square foot facility. Our new Center will enable us to diversify and expand the range of services for children and families, as well as increase training opportunities for professionals in education and mental health. The Emeryville building has wonderful character. 

 

It is a completely renovated pickle factory from the 1920s and features 41 treatment and administrative offices plus a large auditorium for our lecture series and internship training seminars. The new facility will enable us to expand our services to include parent education workshops, navigating special education services, support groups and much more.

 

Thus begins a whole new chapter for Ann Martin Center as we enter our next 50 years. 

  

Our new home at 1375 55th Street in Emeryville

Here's one way you have made a difference:

"Our therapist has been instrumental in helping our son adjust to adolescence and begin to take control of his ADHD. She has guided him toward more appropriate social interactions without adding anxiety in social situations. Our son feels better about himself and is a more positive child as a result of therapy. She has made a huge difference for our entire family." - Parent  
 

With your gift, you can ensure that Ann Martin Center's programs are available to more underserved children in our greater community. By renewing your commitment, you can help us care for vulnerable youth.

Please, give as generously as you can...and do so, today. With your help, we will continue to nurture the minds and hearts of children - today and always!

Getting to know our AMC Board of Directors!

Introducing Board Vice President, Linda Saag Baker

While I joined the Ann Martin Center board just two years ago, I have been involved with and influenced by the Center for much of my professional career. In 1980, with three small boys at home, I worked at the Center as a Learning Specialist on a part-time basis. Over the next ten years, I increased my hours and my responsibilities, serving as Director of the Learning Program for the last seven of those years. I learned much during this period, attending both clinical and educational seminars, sharing cases with clinicians, gaining increased understanding of the complex relationships between learning and emotions. The collegial atmosphere at the Center also provided informal opportunities to enhance understanding of a client, seeking out colleagues during breaks for advice and sharing of information.

In those days before formal graduate programs in educational therapy, the Center afforded me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of the role emotions play in learning and to integrate this knowledge with my understanding of learning development and learning disability. In addition to providing me a post-graduate education, the Center has also been a source for many of my professional contacts as well as personal friendships. The Center continues to provide a unique combination of educational and psychological services to a diverse population of children and families. I value this work and hope that as a board member, I can provide the leadership and support not only to ensure the continuity of the organization, but also to provide opportunity for increased service to the underserved population in our community.
 

Prior to my employment at the Center, I received a Masters degree in educational psychology and a teaching credential, with a focus on learning disability. I worked in the public schools as a resource specialist and also as a learning specialist at a community agency in Sacramento. For the past 23 years, I have maintained a private educational therapy practice in Oakland. In addition, I have provided consultation/assessment services at Oakland Children's Hospital, Prospect-Sierra School and Redwood Day School. I have served on the boards of the Magnes Museum and I Have A Dream, Oakland and have recently joined the Council of the Friends of the Bancroft Library. Other interests include photography and travel. My husband and I live in Berkeley.