The Friendship Foundation

The Comprehensive Therapeutic Nursery 

The Early Childhood Mental Health Program (ECMHP) has served young children and families in Contra Costa County since 1974. Founded by local citizens, ECMHP is an independent, non-profit community based organization located in Richmond.

Many programs and services are available for families with young children including the Comprehensive Therapeutic Nursery (CTN), a preschool for children 2 ½ to 5 ½  years old who are having difficulties such as delays in social and emotional development, challenges when interacting with other children, parents or other adults, poor impulse control, aggressiveness, withdrawal, fearfulness, or poor communication skills.

Comprehensive Therapeutic Nursery operates year round offering children an intensive day treatment program in an enriched environment with a structured schedule, a developmentally based curriculum focused on learning through play and helping children form healthy relationships with adults and children, experience with variety of materials, activities, and ideas, individualized attention in a classroom of 9 children with a staff to student ratio of 1:3, and follow-up and case management, supplemented by weekly individual counseling or group meetings with the child’s primary caregiver.

It is very rewarding to spend time with these youngsters in such a pleasant and supportive environment. This is a visit for easy going, calm dogs able to remain settled around excited young children who may have little or no experience with friendly dogs.