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Happy Family

Resources for You and Your Family

Becoming a parent is special — and also hard. No one has to do it alone. Free support is available for parents and caregivers to help your child be happy, healthy and thrive as a family. Welcome to your village!

New Resources for Immigrant Families
with Young Children 

Home Visiting Programs

Are you expecting a baby or raising a young child? Home visitors can offer free, personalized support. Home visitors are friendly, knowledgeable, respectful professionals who provide guidance and resources on child development, parenting, and family well-being. Contact a home visiting program to find one that’s the right fit for your family.

Trauma Informed Approach to
Public Health Field Nursing (TIA)

The County of Santa Cruz offers a home visiting program called Trauma informed Approach, (TIA) Field Nursing. Public Health Nurses are trained to work with parents and caregivers who have experienced trauma, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Trauma can include physical challenges, mental health challenges, substance use, CPS involvement, justice system involvement, or experiences of physical or emotional abuse. TIA PHN nurses support clients to: ā€¢Connect with medical, dental and insurance resources ā€¢Connect with behavioral health resources ā€¢Learn about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and baby and child health needs. ā€¢Learn about the ways babies communicate and learn TIA PHNs support clients to meet their health goals by providing information about healthy living. Families that may benefit from a TIA PHN include families needing support during pregnancy (accessing prenatal care, preparing for childbirth, and high-risk medical concerns), families with infants/children who have developmental growth or feeding concerns, pregnant or parenting teens, families experiencing perinatal mental health or substance use concerns, families experiencing housing instability, and families grieving the loss of a baby This program partners families with a public health nurse for home visits at a location the family chooses (home, location in the community, video, or phone appointment).

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Santa Cruz County Public Health

(831) 454-4339

Nurse-Family Partnership

The County of Santa Cruz offers the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) Public Health Field Nursing program. Better Worlds Start with Great Families. Nurse-Family Partnership succeeds by having specially educated nurses regularly visit first-time moms, starting during pregnancy and continuing until the childā€™s 2nd birthday. Research consistently proves that the partnership between a nurse and the mom/birthing parent is a winning combination that makes a measurable, long-term difference for the whole family. Moms/birthing parent enrolled in Nurse-Family Partnership benefit by getting the care and support they need in order to have a healthy pregnancy. At the same time, families develop a close relationship with the nurse who becomes a trusted resource they can rely on for advice on everything from safely caring for their child to taking steps to provide a stable, secure future for their new family. Families that may benefit from a NFP public health nurse include mothers/ birthing parent needing support during pregnancy (accessing prenatal care, preparing for childbirth, and high-risk medical concerns), pregnant teens, pregnant mothers/ birthing parents experiencing perinatal mental health or substance use concerns, or experiencing housing instability.

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Santa Cruz County Public Health

(831) 454-4339

Families Together

Encompass Community Services

Families Together provides counseling, parenting support, and case management to families. Families Together provides counseling, parenting support and access to beneficial services for families throughout Santa Cruz County. Using a home and family-centered approach, Families Together works with you to advance your childā€™s development, increase your childā€™s safety and improve family relationships. Families are referred by Santa Cruz County Family & Childrenā€™s Services or CalWORKS and assigned a therapist who helps design customized services, including sessions in English or Spanish, in your home or preferred location. Families learn about parenting, child development, parent-child attachment and general wellness. In addition to counseling, Families Togethers connects families with other community resources such as substance use counseling, interpersonal violence services and early education support.

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(831) 662-1303 x 3747

Encompass Community Services

Friendly home visitors support parents in their role as their childā€™s primary teacher by providing resources on child development, parenting, and family well-being. By providing resources for education, health and social services, Head Start supports you and your child during the very first stages of life to build a strong foundation for growth and learning, school readiness and healthy families. Head Start programs include: Early Head Start: a home-centered program for pregnant women and children up to 3 years old as well as a center-based option for children 12-36 months. Head Start: a part-day and extended-day preschool program for children ages 3 to 5. Services are offered at 16 centers throughout Santa Cruz County, including Watsonville, Freedom and the San Lorenzo Valley. Families are eligible for Head Start if you are receiving benefits or services through CalWORKs or SSI, you are experiencing homelessness or have a child in foster care.

Early Head Start Home Based Early Education

(831) 724-3885

Additional Resources

Child Development Resource Center

Finding the right childcare is one of the most important decisions your family can make. The Child Development Resource Center is your one-stop source for Santa Cruz County families seeking childcare options. Child Care Referral Specialists can answer your questions ā€” by phone or in-person ā€” and connect you with licensed childcare centers and licensed family childcare homes to meet your familyā€™s needs.

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Santa Cruz County Office of Education

(831) 466-5820 or toll free (833) 774-4596

cdrc@santacruzcoe.org

Triple P - Positive Parenting Program

Get practical, proven tips and tools to build strong family relationships and make parenting easier. Triple P is available for Santa Cruz County families with kids of all ages and abilities. Small changes make a big difference!

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First 5 Santa Cruz County

(831) 465-2217

TripleP@first5scc.org

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Looking for other community resources and support for your family? 2-1-1 is here for you! Call, text, or search online any time of day.

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United Way of Santa Cruz County

(831) 713-411 or dial 2-1-1 in Santa Cruz County
Or text your zip code to 898-211

Investing in Santa Cruz County's Youngest Children
and Their Families

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