Helpline: 800-829-3777
Our Historic Home: The Grove Building
Family Paths is proud to call Oakland’s historic Grove Building home—a striking Art Deco landmark built in 1933 during the city’s architectural renaissance. Nestled at the vibrant intersection of 18th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way, this two-story gem has served many roles over the decades, from church and school to mortuary, each layer adding to its rich character.
Designed with grandeur in mind, the building originally featured lavish interiors—16-foot arched ceilings, hand-painted gilded columns, and intricate stenciled details—all hidden behind its modest Federal Revival exterior. A 1992 retrofit reinforced its structure, ensuring its preservation. In 2001, the McCoy family entrusted the building to us through a Charitable Remainder Trust, allowing us to continue its legacy as a place of community care. Today, The Grove Building stands as both a testament to Oakland’s resilience and a fitting home for our mission of strengthening families.
Fun fact: Our neighbors include iconic Art Deco landmarks like the Paramount and Fox Theatres, built during the same era of Oakland’s growth.
Did you know? Family Paths provides open space for the community to rent as needed.
About Us
Our Mission
We envision a safe home for every child.
At Family Paths, we strengthen family relationships by providing mental health and supportive services with respect, integrity, compassion, and hope.
We empower families through compassionate, trauma-informed care, fostering resilience and safety for children by supporting parents and caregivers. Grounded in equity and inclusivity, we meet families where they are—24/7—to build stronger, healthier communities.
Respect in our communications.
Integrity in our actions.
Compassion for our struggles.
Hope for the future.
Our Founding Story
Learn more about how Family Paths began
In 1972, a single mother named Carol Johnston Davis turned her darkest moment into a beacon of hope for families. Struggling through a difficult divorce, Carol found herself overwhelmed and nearly harmed her young son in a moment of desperation. That night, a single phone call to a faraway friend—who listened without judgment—changed everything. Realizing no parent should face crisis alone, Carol founded Parental Stress Service, launching a 24-hour support hotline staffed by volunteers. What began as a simple but radical idea—that timely compassion could prevent child abuse—became the foundation of Family Paths.
Carol’s story reminds us that healing begins with a single act of understanding—and that with help, families can not only survive, but thrive.
