Resource Links

• 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. http://www.encompasscs.org/child-and-family-development/early-head-start-0.
• Head Start: Preschool for children ages 3-5. Foster children automatically qualify. http://www.encompasscs.org/child-and-family-development/head-start
• 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. http://www.sarc.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.
• SantaCruzParent.com: An online guide to Santa Cruz County resources for parents of teens, tweens, kids, toddlers and babies.http://santacruzparent.com/.
• Story Time Calendar at Watsonville Public Library: A weekly schedule of story times for both branches of the Watsonville Library.http://cityofwatsonville.org/public-library/for-kids-and-parents/weekly-programs.
• Starfall.com: Teach your child to read!  http://www.starfall.com/.

Other Useful Links

• iFoster: Offers support, resources and information sharing for foster families, children and youth. This includes a program providing laptops to foster youth at greatly reduced cost. http://ifoster.org/
• 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/default.htm