San Diego / California / United States
Walden Family Services, a private, non-profit California corporation, was founded in 1976 to provide quality care for abused and neglected children in residential group homes. In 1983, Walden transitioned into foster care and pioneered one of Californias first "Treatment Foster Care" programs to offer children and teenagers an alternative to group home placements. Walden expanded its foster care program in 1994 to include services for children with developmental disabilities. In 2001, Walden developed the Independent Futures program, which provides services and support for pre and post emancipated foster youth. Along with this program, came the Pregnant and Parenting Teen program, which supports pregnant and parenting teens both pre and post emancipation. Also in 2001 Walden developed a program to educate the community, advocate for and safely place foster youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning ( LGBTQ ). Walden also actively recruits professional foster parents from the LGBTQ community. In 2002, Waldens Riverside district office opened a program to serve dependent children with special health care needs. This program expanded to our Los Angeles office in 2006 and to our San Diego office in 2007. In late 2008, Walden secured an adoption license expanding our services to become a full service adoption agency providing support from the family assessment through post adoptive support. Walden is a licensed adoption agency in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Kern and Ventura Counties. In late 2009, Walden expanded by contracting with San Bernardino County to provide Independent Living After Care services to emancipated youth in San Bernardino County. With a staff of over 60 highly trained social service professionals, licensed therapists, and support personnel, Walden provides services to more than 255 children daily in over 180 certified foster homes in Southern California. Walden Family Services corporate headquarters is located in San Diego county, with district offices located in San Diego, Riverside and Northridge. Additionally, the Independent Living After Care office is located in Apple Valley. Through these offices, Walden serves Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Kern, Imperial and Ventura counties. Walden Family Services is an accredited member of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services. The Alliance is a membership organization providing support, resources and advocacy to child welfare agencies in California. Additionally, Walden is also a member of the Foster Family-Based Treatment Association and serves on the Associations Cultural Competency Committee.
