The Family & Children's Services Child Protective Services (CPS) provides protection for children who are at risk of or are victims of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, or emotional or physical neglect, with a focus on the safety of the child and support for parents to strengthen families and promote safe nurturing homes for children.

We screen for and investigate reports of abuse, neglect, or harm, assess for safety and risk, and provides families with referrals to community resources. We also provide supportive services to children and families in their homes, provide out-of-home placement and permanency planning when necessary, and provide services to help foster youth transition into adulthood. Child protective services also provides educational workshops and trainings on identifying and preventing commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), and how to engage/work with CSEC. We also provide trauma-informed care trainings to child care providers.

Learn more: https://www.santacruzhumanservices.org/FamilyChildren/ChildProtectiveServices/WhatisChildProtectiveServices

Trains volunteers to work with children who have been removed from their homes, declared dependents of the court due to abuse, neglect or abandonment and placed in foster care.

Court Appointed Special Advocates work for a judge, alongside attorneys and social workers, as sworn officers of the court to advocate for children. Advocates receive an initial 35 hours of training and volunteer 10-15 hours per month on behalf of one child. The volunteer advocates on behalf of the child until the case is resolved.

Youth Services: Academic Support, Career Exploration and Development, Health and Wellness, Social-Emotional Support, Youth Leadership.

Stress Busters:
Experiencing Nature, Mental Healthcare, Mindfulness Practices, Physical Activity, Supportive Relationships (Foster Youth Only)

• Public Health Field Nursing
  A voluntary home visiting program with a Public Health Nurse to support families during pregnancy and with children up to 5 years old. The program provides strength-based case management, assists families with accessing resources, and provides health and parenting education.
• Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP)
  An evidence-based home visiting program that pairs first time expectant parents with a specially trained nurse. The program begins during pregnancy and provides support, education, and resources to families until their child turns 2 years old. Nurses also check in with the parent regarding their health and wellness and their child's growth and development.
• Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP)CPSP is a statewide program that provides enhanced reimbursement for a wide range of services to Medi-Cal eligible pregnant and postpartum women.
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) ProgramPublic Health Nurses in Santa Cruz County provide bereavement support, information, resources, and follow-up services to assist families and caregivers who have experienced the loss of an infant from SIDS or Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID).

The Family & Children's Services Child Protective Services (CPS) provides protection for children who are at risk of or are victims of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, or emotional or physical neglect, with a focus on the safety of the child and support for parents to strengthen families and promote safe nurturing homes for children.

We screen for and investigate reports of abuse, neglect, or harm, assess for safety and risk, and provides families with referrals to community resources. We also provide supportive services to children and families in their homes, provide out-of-home placement and permanency planning when necessary, and provide services to help foster youth transition into adulthood. Child protective services also provides educational workshops and trainings on identifying and preventing commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), and how to engage/work with CSEC. We also provide trauma-informed care trainings to child care providers.

Learn more: https://www.santacruzhumanservices.org/FamilyChildren/ChildProtectiveServices/WhatisChildProtectiveServices

The Family & Children's Services Foster Care Program provides foster parent recruitment, licensing of relative caregiver and foster family homes, training and support for relative caregivers and foster families and enforcement of foster care regulations. The Adoptions Program places children who are unable to live safely with their birth family into permanent homes. We recruit and screen prospective adoptive parents, finalize adoptions, provide post-adoption services and provide services to birth parents who choose to voluntarily relinquish their parental rights.

Learn more: https://www.santacruzhumanservices.org/FamilyChildren/FosterCareandAdoptions

The Family & Children's Services Foster Care Program provides foster parent recruitment, licensing of relative caregiver and foster family homes, training and support for relative caregivers and foster families and enforcement of foster care regulations. The Adoptions Program places children who are unable to live safely with their birth family into permanent homes. We recruit and screen prospective adoptive parents, finalize adoptions, provide post-adoption services and provide services to birth parents who choose to voluntarily relinquish their parental rights.

Learn more: https://www.santacruzhumanservices.org/FamilyChildren/FosterCareandAdoptions