EMQ Children & Family Services recognizes that the emotional, physical and intellectual environment children experience prior to age five has a profound impact on all aspects of their development. By helping very young children and their families who are at risk, it is possible to prevent later problems such as abuse, neglect and serious emotional disorders.
To better coordinate services for caregivers and their young children, EMQ has joined a larger collaborative of community partners: the San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD) FIRST 5 Collaborative.

The SJUSD FIRST 5 Collaborative works with families to help them raise children who will be healthy, emotionally well-adjusted, and ready to learn by the time they enter kindergarten. The Collaborative serves children ages 0 through 5 as well as pregnant women who live in the attendance areas of the following San Jose elementary schools: Family Early Learning Center (Empire Gardens), Olinder, Anne Darling, and Grant elementary schools.

Services include:

• Home visits
• Parenting workshops
• Health care
• Mental health services
• Dental care

Each family in the program is assigned a Family Partner, a FIRST 5 funded staff member who works with the family to link them with the various programs for which they are eligible, and make sure they receive all the services they need.

Collaborative members in addition to EMQ include Gardner Family Health Services, Choices for Children, Franklin McKinley Education Foundation, Friends Outside, Public Health Nursing, Sacred Heart Community Service, and the Santa Clara County Mental Health Department.

• How does a child receive services from this program?
  To apply, call EMQ Client Services at (408) 379-3796. Currently, services are available to families and children living in the attendance areas of the Family Early Learning Center (Empire Gardens), Olinder, Anne Darling, and Grant elementary schools in the San Jose Unified School District (zip codes 95112 and 95127). Families can also apply by contacting any member of the SJUSD FIRST 5 Collaborative.
  
  
• How do I get more information?
  Call EMQ Client Services at (408) 379-3796.