Helpline: 800-829-3777
Community Outreach
Our Approach
Direct Community Engagement
Our outreach team regularly attends community fairs, school events, and resource gatherings across Alameda County to introduce families to Family Paths and the support services we offer. These face-to-face interactions are at the heart of what we do—sharing information about our Parenting Stress Helpline, support groups, therapy services, and classes, all while listening with care to the concerns and needs of the people we meet. We provide multilingual materials and strive to connect in culturally responsive ways that honor the communities we serve.
Whether we’re speaking with a new parent feeling overwhelmed or a community member looking for ways to support a loved one, these moments of connection help build trust. We see community engagement not just as outreach, but as relationship-building rooted in empathy, respect, and understanding.
Relationship-Driven Network and Partnership Building
Family Paths actively builds and sustains partnerships with other organizations that support child and family well-being. We participate in coalitions, like the Strong Families Alliance of Alameda County, and attend cross-agency meetings as part of the Behavioral Health Collaborative of Alameda County
By sharing knowledge, lifting up best practices, and learning from each other’s experiences, we help ensure that families are supported wherever they go. These partnerships also allow us to advocate collectively for better systems, more responsive services, and greater equity across our communities.
Community Advisory Network (CAN)
Family Paths created the Community Advisory Network (CAN) to play a vital role in guiding and informing our outreach efforts. This group includes local leaders, service providers, advocates, and community members who bring on-the-ground insight into the needs, challenges, and strengths of the families we aim to serve. CAN members meet bi-monthly to share feedback, surface emerging concerns, and explore ways we can improve our programs and presence in the community.
A key function of CAN is also to share updates on the programs, services, and events offered by partner organizations and networks. This information helps Family Paths stay up to date on what’s happening throughout the region and ensures that we can share timely, relevant resources with the families we serve. These reciprocal relationships make our collective work more responsive, coordinated, and impactful— strengthening the entire ecosystem of support for Alameda County families.
To join the Community Advisory Network, book our Outreach Team, receive Family Paths’ materials, or to volunteer for our events, email Otis Ward at oward@familypaths.org.
Our Outreach Team
Otis Ward
Otis D. Ward Jr., CPDPE, brings over 30 years of experience in community-based management, case management, and program development supporting families across Alameda and San Francisco counties. He is a Certified Facilitator and motivational speaker who empowers individuals to pursue personal goals and build self-confidence. Otis has worked with a wide range of organizations, including Operation HOPE, Alameda County Social Services, One Stop Career Centers, CalWORKs, and the San Francisco Treasurer’s Office. His leadership and advocacy have had a lasting impact on workforce development and community support programs throughout the Bay Area.
Aisha Wilson
Aisha Wilson is a Foster Parent Community Advocate and Outreach team member with a decade of experience in program coordination and grassroots organizing, including Get Out the Vote efforts. She brings deep expertise in intensive case management and connecting individuals with critical community resources. A lifelong social justice advocate, Aisha has worked on housing, criminal justice, environmental, and reproductive justice initiatives. Her lived experience and commitment to equity make her a vital member of the Family Paths team.
Past Meetings
The CAN meets every other month. To join,
contact Otis Ward at oward@familypaths.org