The Beginning – 1976 to 1986

Emerge, Inc., originally known as Maryland Homes for the Retarded, was established in 1976. Started by a Lutheran minister, the first goal of Maryland Homes was to help people move from large state institutions where people lived in deplorable conditions. Committing no crime other than being people with mental disabilities; they were treated as animals, being forced to eat from troughs and bathe in large groups while being hosed down with cold water. Maryland Homes took people from these places and found homes for them.

The organization first started in the rundown and abandoned former Mayor’s residence of Baltimore City on Maryland Avenue. Starting with just seven individuals, the program began to grow and a second building was purchased in Charles Village. The building was an old apartment complex with 50 available units for rent. Approximately half of the available apartments went to Maryland Homes customers while the other half were rented to the general public.

During this time, Maryland Homes began its own work and employment programs. The first program was a commercial bakery located on 25th street. It was a training facility, a retail bakery outlet and a commercial bakery that filled special orders such as wedding cakes. Soon afterward, a janitorial training program was established which provided services for area churches.

After this, the organization changed its name to Maryland Home for the handicapped and began pioneering community living, rather than large group homes. The first home was located close to Morgan State University in northeast Baltimore. The program was growing and by the end of 1986, Maryland Homes was serving 66 individuals in various living options and 50 people in day or work programs.

Individual Lives eMERGE – 1987 to 1999

Under new and forward thinking leadership, a new business model was created to provide structure for staff and choices for people with disabilities. A key team of professionals in nursing and psychiatry made the organization better equipped to deal with the special needs of the more complex people that began to move in with Maryland Homes.

Emerge was being created to put great emphasis on giving people the opportunity and training to do all the things which all people do, such as grocery shopping, going to the doctor, developing better job skills, getting jobs in the community, going on vacation and developing lasting and meaningful relationships with others. Maryland Homes began to demonstrate its prowess in working with individuals with very complex co-occurring mental health needs and began to focus on positive approaches rather than the more traditional punitive approaches which were widely used in the field at the time.

In 1991, after much dialogue with staff and people supported, a novel no-discharge policy was implemented. No matter what anyone did, they would never be asked to leave. In order help staff better support customers, a new policy was instituted requiring all new employees to complete a rigorous course of in-service training prior to beginning work with any individual. Even today, Emerge is the only agency in the state to institute the policy.

The culmination of additional services and advancements completely altered the agency. As a result, a new name was developed to reflect that change. An agency wide contest changed the former name, Maryland Homes for the Handicapped, to our present name, Emerge, Inc. Emerge has a thoughtful double meaning to its name. Both meanings represent what the agency means to the people it serves. “Emerge” signifies the change that occurred as people moving from institutions were able to break forth from their cocoons and become the people they are today. The name also represents the merging process as people “merge” and integrate into communities from institutions.

Looking Forward – 2000 to Today and Beyond

Emerge began to eliminate the use of restraints and physical handling as mounting evidence showed it was ineffective and bordered on abuse. Data showed that individuals restrained 30 times per week at other organizations could be successful at Emerge by using positive practice techniques. Emerge has demonstrated that there can be a virtual elimination of unacceptable behavior without the use of restraints.

All of the advances and superior services offered through Emerge have been a direct result of serving each unique person individually. This attention to each customer has only been possible by the total commitment to excellence by the entire organization, staff and customers. A cooperative effort has afforded endless opportunities to customers. Staff listen and develop plans that cater to the individual needs of each customer. Customers at Emerge are the main focus and they communicate their desires and needs while staff help them to achieve both.

The past 30 years have led to the Mission and Vision of Emerge for the next 30 years: Emerge creates supportive environments and individualized services for people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities will lead lives of optimum quality and independence.

Emerge will continue to put great emphasis on respect, values and putting people first and even more wonderful in the future because…

We never say never!