Raising kids is tough. Period. The toughest thing you will ever do! And for many of us, we might be doing the job alone or in a low income family or have many socio-economic factors challenging our everyday lives. We may face challenges due to our age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion. We may be raising a grandchild or niece/nephew or a foster child. Our child may have disabilities. Whatever the situation, it is not uncommon and does not mean we have to do it all without any help. Do you, as a parent or caregiver in Oakland, know what services are available to you?
- Family Paths is a non-profit organization of mental health professionals and volunteers. They have a 24 hour parent support hotline which can provide support, crisis management, counselling etc. as well as a Foster Parent Advice line. They provide a wide range of mental health services providing support for families going through traumas such as divorce, loss, violence, abuse, victims of crime. They also provide family support services and classes.
- Family Support Services offer help to families of children with disabilities, substance exposed, HIV+. They support parents or guardians who are at risk of abusing/neglecting their children and help improve their parenting, providing a safe environment for the child. Their Family Preservation Program provides intensive home-based assistance to focus on the safety of the child and avoid the child being taken into care. They also offer services such as respite for a parent/caregiver of a disabled child to relieve some of the stress and responsibility and provide a much needed break.
Related: Choosing the best preschool in Oakland
- Children's Home Society of California offer a range of services, including the Oakland Family Resource Center. This is a safe space for parents, children and families to come for support and for referrals for the appropriate services available in the area. They also provide assistance to low-income families with subsidized child-care programs and assistance with employment, education and training to help parents to become self-sufficient.
While there can be many challenges facing you as a parent or caregiver, no challenge is insurmountable. Find the right service to help your individual situation and realise how many others are in a very similar situation. Seeking help, receiving professional advice and resources and meeting others facing the same problems will quickly make you realise you are not alone.