San Jose, Calif., July 17, 2006 –

EMQ Children & Family Services announced today that it has received a $15,000 grant from the Cisco Systems Foundation's Community Grants Program for the agency's Child and Adolescent Mobile Crisis Program (CACP). As the only mobile crisis counseling program in Santa Clara County, EMQ's Child and Adolescent Mobile Crisis Program provides multilingual, crisis assessment and intervention to a thousand children and adolescents who are severely depressed, suicidal and/or in acute psychological crisis. Crisis services are available 24 hours, 7 days a week. In 70 percent of first-time cases, costly hospitalization is avoided.

"The Cisco Systems Foundation is focused on making a measurable impact by funding organizations that strengthen the local communities in which we operate and where our employees live" said Michael Yutrzenka, executive director of the Cisco Systems Foundation. "We are proud to support local nonprofits like EMQ Children & Family Services that share similar values and are dedicated to building stronger and more sustainable communities in the Bay Area."

EMQ's Crisis program was developed in collaboration with Santa Clara County Department of Mental Health. CACP uses the strengths of the child and family to build an ongoing safety and action plan. Because Santa Clara County does not have an emergency mental health facility for children, EMQ's counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week free of charge to anyone under the age of 18 in the county. Schools, hospitals and clinicians in the community frequently refer directly to CACP instead of calling 911. Police departments also call on CACP services in efforts to de-escalate a crisis situation, create a safety plan for the family, link them to other community resources, and avoid unnecessary hospitalization or institutionalization where the child may be further traumatized.

"We are proud of Cisco Systems Foundation's continuing support of EMQ in keeping children safe in Silicon Valley," said Scott Staub, Vice President of Fund Development for EMQ Children & Family Services. "This grant will ensure that hundreds of our community's most vulnerable children continue to receive these essential services even in the face of increased demand for services with continued cuts from insurance and government sources."

The Cisco Systems Foundation's award will help EMQ more effectively respond to the unmet needs of troubled children and adolescents in Santa Clara County. Almost 40,000 children and adolescents in Santa Clara County suffer from definable psychiatric disorders. Yet only one out of six children is able to receive the help they need. Emotional disorders continue to be one of the fastest growing problems children and families confront.

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