First 5 Program in San Jose Helps a Preschooler and His Entire Family

Funding for Vital Program to be Cut if Prop 1D Passes on May 19
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
First 5 and EMQ FamiliesFirst have dramatically improved the life of one Santa
Clara preschooler`s family.

Enrolled in a Power of Preschool classroom, four-year-old Antonio (not his real
name) was on the road to kindergarten when his teacher, Mrs. Hudson, became
concerned that he was frequently absent. Worried that Antonio`s family may be
having problems, Mrs. Hudson asked the classroom`s Family Partner to check in on
them. Power of Preschool`s Family Partners visit the classes weekly to monitor
the students` development, so the Partner, Maria Acosta, an employee from EMQ
FamiliesFirst, was already familiar with Antonio. Acosta made an appointment to
visit Antonio`s family.

At the meeting with Antonio`s family, Acosta learned that he had three older
brothers, ranging in age from 6 to 15. She also learned that the family was in
crisis. The father was working two jobs to make ends meet, Antonio`s oldest
brother, Ernesto was battling leukemia, and the family had severe financial
problems. Without a car at her disposal, the mom would load the children onto a
bus for the two- to three-hour bus rides to Stanford to get medical treatment
for Ernesto, meaning Antonio missed a lot of preschool. Acosta asked the family
if she could work with the family to get them some much-needed help. They
agreed.

As a Family Partner, Acosta began researching services for which the family
qualified, and she continued to meet with them weekly throughout the process.

Acosta learned that the family could apply for state Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) benefits that would provide much-needed additional medical help for
Ernesto and some financial support for the family. In a matter of a few months,
the family learned that they had been approved, and immediately began seeing an
improvement in their lives. Antonio and two of his brothers were able to keep up
with their classes and stay on track for success.

The First 5 Family Partner continued to meet with the family on a weekly basis,
and over a nine-month period, noticed that the mother went from being completely
stressed by her family`s situation to a "smiling mom." At one subsequent visit
Acosta learned that with the financial support they were receiving from the SSI
program, the family had been able to purchase a used van that they could use for
Ernesto`s many medical appointments.

Acosta`s support of the family continues and she reports that the family
continues to do well, and Antonio now attends kindergarten regularly. The First
5 program helped Antonio and his family through a difficult period of crisis.

About EMQ FamiliesFirst

EMQ FamiliesFirst does whatever it takes to help children and families in
crisis. The agency is recognized for innovative mental health treatment, foster
care and social services that help families recover from trauma, abuse,
addiction and poverty to rebuild their lives. The agency fights for sustainable
change and advocates for improvements in the local, state and federal systems
that serve children in need. For more information, please visit www.emqff.org.

for EMQ FamiliesFirst
Sandy Smith, 310-560-8372
sandy@aldrichpr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009