Family Support
The Family Paths 24-hour Parent Support Hotline provides multiple essential services to the community, including:
- 24-hour support and resources for parents
- Foster Parent Advice Line (FosterPAL)
- Emergency Respite Child Care
- Registration point for Positive Parenting Classes
- Referrals to all of Family Paths’ Mental Health Treatment and Support Services
24-Hour Parent Support Hotline
For almost forty years, we have provided a 24 hour Parent Support Hotline. It is available to anyone within Alameda County in need of support and referrals to community resources. It is also the entry point for all Family Paths services. (800) 829-3777 or (510) 893-5444
Foster Parent Advice Hotline
Raising children is hard work, and sometimes it can feel like nothing is going right. As a foster or kinship parent, the frustration of trying to meet your child’s needs can seem overwhelming at times, and you may need some help making sense of all the issues that are coming up.
The Foster Parent Advice Line (FosterPAL) at Family Paths was designed to give foster parents and kinship care providers support for the unique issues of parenting children who may have exceptional needs related to attachment, separation, experiences of trauma, behavioral concerns, and involvement in multiple legal and social systems.
FosterPAL provides ongoing telephone support, a link to resources and case management while building a sense of trust and security. Together, we can address such issues as:
• Accessing resources
• Meeting the personal support caregiver needs
• Navigating the child welfare system
• Understanding and working with child developmental and behavioral issues
• Support around ‘aging out’ issues
For more information please call our Foster Parent Advice Hotline at 1(888) 580-FPAL (3725).
Emergency Respite Childcare
What is Respite Childcare?
Family Paths provides “short term” periods of free childcare (from a few hours up to overnight) for parents and guardians who need a break during times of high stress and who have no other support. This service provides safety for children while offering caregivers an opportunity to take some time for themselves away from the responsibilities of parenting. This service supports the parent/caregiver's ability to maintain healthy caregiving to their children.
Who is eligible?
Alameda County residents with children newborn up to 14 years old.
Who are the childcare providers?
Family Paths contracts with licensed providers and we certify providers who care for children in their homes. All childcare providers are trained in CPR and First Aid, are fingerprinted, have experience working with children, receive relevant training and must clear a criminal record investigation.
How do I request a respite placement?
You may call our 24-Hour Parent Support Hotline to speak with a counselor about an assessment for Respite Childcare. Placements may occur anytime, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week according to the need of the parents and childcare provider availability. It usually takes from one to several days to arrange a placement.
For more information, or to request Emergency Respite Childcare, call our 24 Parent Support Hotline at 1(800) 829-3777 or (510) 893-5444.
