Child Development, Special Needs, Financial Resources

For more family resources go to the Parenting and Child Care Resources Page. 

Behavioral Challenges

AbilityPath
Multiple locations in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties
(650) 259-8500
Resources and articles on behavior and discipline. The organization provides support services for children, adults, and seniors with developmental disabilities. 
Hand in Hand Parenting
(650) 322-5323
Resources, classes, and support groups for families of children birth to 6 years old. Areas of support include aggression, sleep, separation, and setting limits.  
JFCS Center for Children and Youth: Parents Place
200 Channing Ave., Palo Alto
(650) 688-3046
Offers resources, guides, parent consultations, coaching, support groups, workshops, and individual family meetings.
Parents Helping Parents (PHP)
 1400 Parkmoor Ave., #100, San Jose, CA 9512
(408) 727-5775
E-Learning library with resources on a variety of topics, including behavior.

Child Development Resources and Diagnostics

Children’s Health Council
650 Clark Way, Palo Alto
(650) 326-5530
Diagnostic testing for many types of cognitive, emotional/behavioral, speech/language and motor skill issues. Financial aid available to eligible families. 

Center for Children and Youth (A Division of Jewish Family and Children's Services)
200 Channing Avenue, Palo Alto
(650) 688-3046
Childhood assessment and diagnostic testing for developmental and mental health challenges. 
Hope Services: Homestart
(408) 284-2812
Evaluation and early intervention services for infants and toddlers (up to 5 years old) with developmental and mental health needs. 
Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Special Education Department
25 Churchill Avenue, Palo Alto
(650) 833-4260
Services, supports, and programs are provided for eligible students from ages 3 to 22.
Parents Helping Parents (PHP) 
1400 Parkmoor Ave., #100, San Jose, CA  95126
(408) 727-5775
The "Get an Early Start" program provides support and information to families with children 0-5 who have delays or disabilities. Staff helps to identify needs and provide peer support information and resources. 
Partners and Advocates for Remarkable Children and Adults (PARCA)
800 Airport Blvd., Burlingame, CA  94010
(650) 312-0730
Offers family support services for parents, caregivers and siblings of people with developmental disabilities. Services include information and referral, advocacy, community outreach and support groups. 
San Andreas Regional Center (SARC): Santa Clara County Office
6203 San Ignacio Avenue, Suite 200, San Jose
(408) 374-9960
Service-coordination and free diagnostic evaluations for those living with learning disabilities. Point of entry for many disability services and programs.
Santa Clara County Office of Education: Early Learning Services Department (ELS)
1290 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose
(408) 453-6500
The ELS Department operates the Head Start, Early Head Start, California State Preschool Program, and Childcare Transition Classroom Programs.
Santa Clara County Office of Education: Inclusion Collaborative
(408) 453-6651
inclusionwarlmline@sccoe.org
The Inclusion Support Warm Line offers free supports for parents, teachers, and community members working with children who have disabilities and other needs. 

Online Resources

All About Young Children
Online resource provided by the California Department of Education with information about the developmental stages of children birth to age 4 years.
CDC Important Milestones: Your Child by Five Years
Offers a free milestone tracker and parenting tips. 
Easterseals: Ages and Stages Questionnaire
A free comprehensive and confidential online screening tool to help keep track of your child's growth and development during the first five years. 

Gender Identity

HealthyChildren.Org by the American Academy of Pediatrics
Information on gender identity development in children. 
GenderSpectrum.Org
Resources to help families, organizations, and institutions increase their understanding of gender.
Mayo Clinic: Children and Gender Identity
Offers information about when and how to talk to children about gender identity and expression.

Nutrition and Mealtime Power Struggles

AbilityPath
(650) 259-8500
Offers a "Fun with Food" class that is designed to develop a healthy and happy attitude toward food for picky eaters. The class is open to children of all abilities ages 1 to 4 years old. 
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Nutrition and physical activity resources and articles for kids and families. 
First 5 Santa Clara County
Family Resources Centers are located throughout Santa Clara County and offer many resources including nutrition programs.
Healthier Kids Foundation Santa Clara County
 (855) 344-6347
 Offer the 10 Steps to a Healthier You Program, a free five-series workshop for parents and caregivers that provides strategies for implementing health habits. 
Healthy Children by the American Academy of Pediatrics
Nutrition information and resources for children and their families. 

JFCS Center for Children and Youth
200 Channing Ave., Palo Alto
(888) 927-0839
Provides parent workshops in a variety of areas including nutrition. 9 Strategies for Parents of Picky Eaters 
Santa Clara County Public Health: Childhood Feeding Practices
(408) 793-2700
Resources for developing healthy eating habits. 
USDA: My Plate
Dietary guidelines and healthy eating resources.

Resources for Financially Challenged Families

Financial Resources

CalWORKS (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids)
Provides time limited cash assistance, childcare and health care coverage to families with dependent children (under 18). Apply through the County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency online or by phone, (408) 758-3800. 
LifeMoves Opportunity Center -LifeMoves is a part of the County’s Emergency Assistance Network which provides a variety of services to prevent homelessness and act as a safety net for residents facing eviction, utility disconnection, and hunger.
33 Encina Ave., Palo Alto
(650) 853-8672
Eligible Zip Codes include 94301, 94303, 94304, 94305, 94306
Santa Clara County Community Resource Guide
This guide contains a diverse array of information for financially challenged families and well as resources on health care, transportation, domestic violence, food and nutrition programs, education and child care programs.
More financial assistance programs for rent, utilities, and general assistance are listed on the Emergency Assistance Page.

Food Insecurity

Santa Clara County Public Health WIC Program
(408) 792-5101
The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program gives free healthy eating support to pregnant people, new parents, and children up to age 5. Services include health eating tips, breastfeeding support, and monthly help to buy healthy foods.
CALFRESH
(408) 758-3800
CalFresh is a federal food program administered by the Santa Clara County Department of Employment and Benefit Services. Apply online or call the number listed above.
More resources for free groceries and meals are listed on the Food Page.

Affordable Housing

Alta Housing

(650) 321-9709
Fosters, develops, acquires, rehabilitates and operates affordable housing benefiting low- and moderate-income families, seniors, and the disabled in Palo Alto. Maintains a waiting list for Palo Alto residents/workers for Below Market Rate (BMR) home purchase program. 
Community Housing Developers
(408) 279-7657
Manages affordable housing to persons with low to moderate income, with special attention given to those with unique needs such as seniors, single-parent families, homeless families, and the physically disabled.
Housing Authority, Santa Clara County
(408) 275-8770
Offers voucher programs, including Housing Choice Vouchers (formally known as Section 8), and rental properties to low-income families and individuals.
For more information and an interactive map of available affordable housing in Palo Alto, go to the Affordable Housing Page.

Health Care

Peninsula Healthcare Connection
Opportunity Center - 33 Encina Avenue, Palo Alto
(650) 853-0321

Offers free healthcare and wellness services for people experiencing homelessness and low-income households. Insurance is not required, however private insurance, Medi-Cal, and Medicare insurance are accepted. 
Ravenswood Family Health Network - Mayview Palo Alto Clinic

270 Grant Avenue, Palo Alto
(650) 330-7400
Provides comprehensive Primary Care, Behavioral Health, Optometry, Chiropractic, and Dental services. Under and uninsured patients are welcome, sliding scale payments available. 
A full list of health services and health insurance options are listed on the Health Services Page. 

Mental Health Care

County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services

(800) 704-0900
The Behavioral Health Call Center is the entry point to all Santa Clara County behavioral health services. Services for individuals and families include behavioral health urgent care, emergency psychiatric services, inpatient and outpatient services, community mobile response team, substance use services, suicide crisis and prevention, and a behavioral health navigator program.

Peninsula Healthcare Connection
Opportunity Center, 33 Encina Avenue Palo Alto
(650) 853-0321
Offers free healthcare and wellness services for people experiencing homelessness and low-income households. Insurance is not required, however private insurance, Medi-Cal, and Medicare insurance are accepted. Behavioral health services include individual counseling, referrals to case management and other resources, substance abuse disorder treatment, and psychiatric medication management.

Ravenswood Family Health Center: MayView Palo Alto Clinic
270 Grant Ave, Palo Alto
(650) 330-7400
Provides comprehensive Behavioral Health services, including individual counseling. Under and uninsured patients are welcome, sliding scale payments available.
 A full list of mental health resources is listed on the Mental Health Services Page.

Social Emotional Learning

Children's Health Council
650 Clark Way, Palo Alto
(650) 326-5530
Resource library articles on social emotional learning.
JFCS Center for Children and Youth
The Koret Family Resource Center, 200 Channing Avenue, Palo Alto
(650) 688-3030
Support services and resources for children with social, emotional, and learning challenges.


Other Online Resources

California Department of Education 
Center for the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning
Child Mind Institute
Developmental Search Institute
Project Cornerstone
Social Thinking
The Teaching Pyramid

Contact Us

 

Cubberley Community Center
4000 Middlefield Road, T2
Palo Alto, CA 94303

General Resource Information: (650) 463-4906

Direct: (650) 463-4953

Email: minka.vanderzwaag@cityofpaloalto.org

Family Resources Hotline: (650) 329-2221

Fax: (650) 856-8756

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