Campbell, Calif., May 11, 2010 – Kathryn K. Meier, Esq. has been named Chief Legal Counsel of EMQ FamiliesFirst. Kathryn joins the agency following 25 years in private practice, 14 of those as outside counsel to EMQ FamiliesFirst. EMQ FamiliesFirst is California’s largest children’s services agency.

As Chief Legal Counsel, Kathryn will oversee all legal and regulatory compliance issues for the agency. “I’m very excited to shift my focus to nonprofit work for children and families. I’ll be working with people who are dedicated to helping children in crisis, by keeping them safe at home, in school and out of trouble.”

“Kathryn has worked with us through some complex legal issues as we’ve grown from serving children just in Santa Clara County to helping kids in more than 30 counties around the state,” said Darrell Evora, president and CEO of EMQ FamiliesFirst. “She’s already proven what an asset she is for the agency and I’m very grateful that she’s decided to join our team.”

Kathryn comes to EMQ FamiliesFirst from Hoge, Fenton Jones & Appel, Inc.of San Jose. She is a member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association where she previously served in numerous leadership roles, including as its president. She is a Senior Fellow with American Leadership Forum, Silicon Valley, and Vice Chair of its Board of Directors, is a trustee for The Health Trust Board, a board member of Building Peaceful Families, and a board  member of the Santa Clara School of Law Board of Visitors. She was awarded the Woman of Influence Award by the San Jose Silicon Valley Business Journal and is recognized as a Top Lawyer in Labor and Employment Law by Corporate Counsel Magazine and the Best Lawyers in America publication.

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 and addiction, and rebuild their lives. EMQ FamiliesFirst 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.

Editorial Contact:
Kristine Austin, EMQ FamiliesFirst
(408) 364-4029 kaustin@emqff.org