Child Guidance Center Receives Grant for Emergency Mobile Psychiatric Services

The Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut (CGC) has received a $30,000 grant from Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, primarily to support Emergency Mobile Psychiatric Services (EMPS) for local youth.

The EMPS program provides immediate crisis stabilization and mental health assessment for youth experiencing serious psychiatric symptoms or reactions to a traumatic event, such as abuse or the death of a close family member or friend. As the State’s designated EMPS provider for Stamford, Greenwich, Darien and New Canaan, CGC’s mobile team of crisis clinicians trained in youth suicide and violence prevention stabilize emergencies at home, school and in the community seven days a week, all at no out-of-pocket cost to the family.

• To sign up for breaking Stamford news alerts and more, click here.

“Evidenced by the 38% increase in clients treated over the past two years, EMPS has become a critical resource that community members rely on for help,” Sherry Perlstein, President and CEO, said in a statement. “540 at-risk youth were served just last year. Support from the Community Foundation makes it possible for us to be on the scene in times of emergency to keep children safe, both mentally and physically.”

Of the grant’s total, $5,000 will be allocated towards executive transition management, as Perlstein announced her planned retirement at the end of 2015. CGC has partnered with the nonprofit executive search firm Third Sector New England to canvas the country for its next President and CEO.