San Jose, Calif., June 13, 2006 –

EMQ Children & Family Services, a nonprofit agency dedicated to transforming the lives of children with serious behavioral challenges, today announced that Armando Ontiveros is EMQ Division Director for EMQ's San Bernardino County Services. He leads the agency division as a collaborator with county partners to develop innovative strategies to transform traditional systems of care to a strength-based, family centered model. EMQ's Wraparound service takes a family-centered approach, utilizing the strengths of the family to help develop improvement plans for children with serious emotional and/or behavioral disturbances.

"Armando's deep understanding of bi-cultural and community partnership, coupled with his extensive experience in both mental health and child welfare, make him the ideal leader for EMQ's services in San Bernardino County," said Darrell Evora, President of EMQ. "We're fortunate to have found someone who has a track record of success in planning and implementing programs to help children and families with special needs".

Ontiveros brings over 25 years experience in social welfare to his role at EMQ. Most recently Ontiveros was executive director at There is Hope, Inc, a nonprofit organization. There he was responsible for overseeing a $3 million state-funded foster placement and treatment agency designed for abused and neglected children with special needs in San Bernardino County. Ontiveros offers over two decades of experience and knowledge to EMQ of working with organizations that help children and families who are underprivileged, have been abused, or have special needs. He has been a director with several Southern California-based organizations including Institute for Multicultural Counseling and Education Services (IMCES), Pacific Clinics, California Hospital Medical Center and Para Los Ninos, a Los Angeles social service agency serving disadvantaged children and their families. He began his career in social services as a caseworker for Rube, Inc., a private non-profit transition housing organization focusing on juvenile and adult substance abuse offenders in transition from prison to community life.

"I plan to continue the development of innovative strategies and programs that embrace the strengths of the family and their community to deliver services to children and families with severe and multiple problems," said Ontiveros. "Leveraging the cultural diversity in the San Bernardino region is key in building successful programs here."

About EMQ
EMQ Children & Family Services brings hope to children who have been or are at risk of being removed from their family because of serious behavioral challenges and helps them to remain safely in their homes, schools and communities. The private nonprofit serves more than 5,600 children and family members annually, and has been nationally recognized for its innovation in family-centered, community-based programs like Wraparound, support and educational services and is headquartered in Campbell, California. More information on EMQ can be found at http://www.emq.org

NOTE to editors: For photos, please contact SoHanna Minami at (916) 933-5296.

Editorial Contact:
SoHanna Park Minami
EMQ Children & Family Services
(916) 933-5296   sohanna@sbcglobal.net