Background
The Children's Guild was founded in 1953 by Sadie Ginsburg, Dr. Leo Kanner and Dr. Matthew Debuskey. The organization operates three special education schools in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel and Prince George's County, Md., a treatment foster care program, group living program for boys and girls, and a mental health center for children and families. Learn more history of The Children's Guild.
Organizational Philosophy
The Children's Guild manages and operates its programs using an organizational philosophy and operating system called Transformation Education, or TranZed. Transformation Education guides the creation of a culture that assures the flexibility of the organization and its employees. This flexibility results in an organization that supports interventions and techniques that are identified as best practices for children; therefore, dramatically improving the chances of professionals making decisions based on the context of a situation rather than a standard approach.
Since implementing Transformation Education at The Children's Guild, the organization has seen remarkable results:
- In five out of the last eight years, 80 percent or higher of students returning from our group living program, following a stay of a year or more, return to a less restrictive environment.
- Fifty-seven percent of students commencing the school programs after two-and-a-half years or longer return to public school. This outcome is eight percent higher than the national average even though only 37 percent of the students from the national comparison group were eligible for free or reduced school lunch. More than 80 percent of The Children's Guild students are eligible for free or reduced school lunch. (These numbers are based on the most recent data available.)
- Group care staff turnover is 11 percent or less per year.
- Over a four-year period, property destruction dropped in our group living program from $6,000 per resident to $200 a resident and has remained at this level for the past six years.
See more success stories.
Special Education Programs
Children Served
The Children's Guild serves children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges, such as:
- Emotional disorders stemming from severe trauma, mental illness, learning disabilities, family dysfunction and poverty
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Speech and language impairments
- Learning disabilities, e.g., ADD, AD/HD, and poor academic achievement
- Difficulties with peer and/or adult relationships
- Delinquent behavior
Success Rates
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Day School Return Rates
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Group Home Return Rates |
Fiscal Year 2011 Financials
Total Revenue: $25,197,911
Organizational/Fund Development Revenue: $880,935
Special Events: $419,813
General Contributions: $52,422
Grants: $408,700
Total Agency Expenses: $24,422,393
Programs: 88%
Administrative: 12%
Accreditation
The Children's Guild's programs are either approved by the Maryland State Department of Education or licensed by the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The Guild Day Schools in Annapolis, Baltimore and Prince Georges' County, Md., are accredited by the National Commission Accrediting Special Education Services.