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!
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.
Public Health Field Nursing
Public Health Field Nursing pairs nurses with parents who are pregnant or have children under the age of five. The County of Santa Cruz’s Public Health Field Nursing program supports you and your family during pregnancy and early childhood up to 5 years old, with access to Public Health Nurses. Nurses connect with you and your family through in-person, virtual or telephone visits. Nurses can provide nursing assessments and advice, help you communicate your needs to health care providers, share hands-on childcare methods and can connect you to resources such as WIC, housing, school, work, childcare and more. This program is recommended for families needing support throughout pregnancy, families with children who have developmental, growth or feeding concerns, pregnant and parenting teens, families experiencing perinatal mental health, families experiencing housing instability or families grieving the loss of a baby.
Santa Cruz County Public Health
(831) 454-4339
Nurse-Family Partnership
Nurse-Family Partnership pairs nurses with parents expecting their first baby. The County of Santa Cruz’s Nurse-Family Partnership supports first-time parents by pairing expecting parents with their own personal nurse. At your home or preferred location, nurses can answer questions about your pregnancy and new baby, help connect you to resources, and help you learn how to give your baby the healthiest start in life possible. Nurses are available for visits every 1-2 weeks (or at a schedule of your choosing) during and after your pregnancy until your child turns 2 years old. Eligible participants may include first-time expecting parents who are less than 28 weeks pregnant, live in Santa Cruz County, qualify for Medi-Cal or meet income requirements.
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 child’s development, increase your child’s safety and improve family relationships. Families are referred by Santa Cruz County Family & Children’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.
(831) 662-1303 x 3747
Encompass Community Services
Friendly home visitors support parents in their role as their child’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 — by phone or in-person — and connect you with licensed childcare centers and licensed family childcare homes to meet your family’s needs.
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
(831)466-5820 or toll free (833)774-4596
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!
