Santa Cruz County and Central Coast Resource Links for Parents

• WIC: Voucher program offering health food for children ages 0-5. Foster children automatically qualify. Community Bridges WIC Program at http://communitybridges.org/wic/.

• Early Head Start: Weekly home visiting program to support developmental growth of children age 0-3. Foster children automatically qualify.

• Head Start: Preschool for children ages 3-5. Foster children automatically qualify.

• CASA: Adult volunteers serve as mentors and advocates for children in foster care. http://www.casaofsantacruz.org/.

• First Five: Program offering support in enhancing education, health and well-being for families of children 0-5. http://www.first5scc.org/.

• Covered California: Providing low-income Californians with access to affordable, high-quality health care, including medical, mental health, substance abuse treatment services and long-term care. http://www.coveredca.com/.

• San Andreas Regional Center: Serves children and adults with developmental disabilities. https://www.sanandreasregional.org/

TRAINING AND SUPPORT

• Triple P Positive Parenting Program: Schedule of parenting classes offered throughout Santa Cruz County. Triple P Schedule of Classes.

FUN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

• Top Ten Things to do with Kids in Santa Cruz: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_23556083/top-10-things-to-do-kids-santa-cruz.

• Watsonville Public Library

• Starfall.com: Teach your child to read! http://www.starfall.com/.

OTHER USEFUL LINKS

• Kids Data: Find data about the health and well-being of children in communities across California. http://www.kidsdata.org/

• Child and Family Web Guide - Tufts University: A directory that evaluates, describes, and provides links to hundreds of sites containing child developmental research and practical advice. http://ase.tufts.edu/cfw/

• Foster Parent Considering Adoption: A government publication covering issues useful for foster parents to consider when thinking about permanency. http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_fospar.pdf (PDF, 512 KB)

• Foster Youth Help: The website designed specifically for foster youth, provides an overview of relevant laws, rights and resources. http://www.fosteryouthhelp.ca.gov