Circle of Care

East Bay Agency for Children offers one of the nation’s few programs providing counseling and support services to children and their families where a parent, caregiver or family member has died or is living with a life threatening illness.

Called “Circle of Care”, the program offers simultaneous peer support groups for all family members, with parents/caregivers attending one group and toddlers, elementary school children and teenagers attending their own group. Themed art and play activities are integrated into groups for younger children, while the adults often share practical strategies as well as their feelings. Groups are led by EBAC-trained volunteer facilitators, who contribute more than 3,000 hours of compassionate service every year.

In addition to peer support groups, individual and family counseling is available to children and families impacted by illness or bereavement.  Counseling is provided by EBAC MFT graduate trainees and postmaster interns in our Practicum Internship Training Program.   

Circle of Care services are offered at modest cost, on a sliding scale based on financial means, although no one is turned away due to lack of funds.

Support Groups & Services
Volunteering for Circle of Care
News & Events

For more information contact:
Alinya Charron, Program Director
(510) 531-7551 x 109
Alinya@ebac.org

or

Melanie Wartenberg, MFT, Assistant Program Director

(510) 537-7551 x 107

melanie@ebac.org

Shoshana Phoenixx-Dawn, Support Group Coordinator
(510) 531-7551 x 195
Shoshana@ebac.org

Christy Vaile, LCSW, Clinical Coordinator

(510) 531-7551 x 130

Christy.Vaile@ebac.org

Location:
2540 Charleston Street
Oakland, CA 94602
(add Mapquest map)

Directions:
From Highway 580 - coming from the south (Hayward): Exit at Fruitvale/Coolidge Avenue. Go straight, paralleling the freeway (up and down some hills). At a stop sign, turn right onto Lincoln (this is before you get to Fruitvale). Go up hill, cross over MacArthur Blvd and continue up hill. Go thru two stop signs. After the second stop sign, turn right onto Alida. (If you pass the Mormon Temple, you have gone too far). Go down a hill and bear left at Laguna - going up a hill. Continue up hill and bear left again at Charleston Street at the top of the hill. Our offices are located at the end of Charleston Street.

From Highway 580 - coming from the north (Berkeley): Exit at Fruitvale and turn left at the light at the bottom of the exit ramp. Turn right onto MacArthur Blvd. and a quick left on Lincoln Avenue. Go thru two stop signs. After the second stop sign, turn right onto Alida. (If you pass the Mormon Temple, you have gone too far). Go down a hill and bear left at Laguna - going up a hill. Continue up hill and bear left again at Charleston Street at the top of the hill. Our offices are located at the end of Charleston Street.

From Highway 13: Take Lincoln Avenue exit off Hwy 13 and head west towards the Bay. You will pass the Mormon Temple and Greek Orthodox Church on your left and the Head-Royce school on your right. At Alida Street turn left. Go down a hill and bear left at Laguna - going up a hill. Continue up hill and bear left again at Charleston Street at the top of the hill. Our offices are located at the end of Charleston Street.