Resources
Core Service Agencies and Emergency Services
Provide emergency support to families, including immediate food, transportation, shelter referrals, clothing and housing assistance.
San Mateo County
https://hsa.smcgov.org/emergency-safety-net-assistance-core-service-agencies
https://www.smc-connect.org/
Santa Clara County
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/ssa/Pages/ssa.aspx
http://www.211scc.org/
Advocacy and Legal Services
The Peninsula Family Advocacy Program (FAP) of the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County: Provides a wide range of legal services on site at LPCH, Ravenswood, SMMC OB clinics. (650) 517-8904
San Mateo County Private Defender: Representation of indigent criminal defendants. (650) 298-4000
Santa Clara County Public Defender: Representation of indigent criminal defendants. (408) 299-7700
www.lawhelpcalifornia.org: California legal aid referrals.
Child Abuse and Trauma
StarVista: (San Mateo County): Counseling and advice for families with children under 5 years who have witnessed family violence. (650) 579-0361 or (650) 591-9623
Peninsula Family Service: Counseling for children and families, child abuse treatment program. (650) 403-4300
Family and Children Services: Counseling, education, prevention programs. (650) 326-6576
Child Protective Services: Report suspected child abuse.
San Mateo County: (800) 632-4615 / (650) 802 7922
Santa Clara County: (650) 493-1186 / (408) 299-2071
Child Care, Early Intervention, and After School Programs
Child Care Coordinating Council (4C’s): Free referral service to child care providers, offers child care subsidies.
San Mateo County: (650) 655-6770
Santa Clara County: (408) 487-0747
Prenatal to Three Initiative: (San Mateo County): Information, support and care for families with children ages 0-3 including home visits and parent groups. (650) 573-2502
Early Head Start: Developmental services for infants and toddlers (under 3); social services for their families.
San Mateo County: (650) 871-5613
Santa Clara County: (800) 820-8182
Head Start: Free child development and educational programs (ages 3-5).
San Mateo County: (650) 578-3440
Santa Clara County: (800) 820-8182
Family Resource Centers: Prevention, early intervention social services at school sites.
San Mateo County: (650) 802-5018 / (650) 363-4218
Santa Clara County: (408) 260-3700
Regional Centers (See Disability and Special Education)
YMCA of Santa Clara Valley: (408) 298-3888
Peninsula Family YMCA: (650) 286-9622
Mid-Peninsula Boys & Girls Club: (650) 347-9891
Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley: (408) 957-9685
Child Support
Department of Child Support Services: Enforces financial responsibilities of parents for their children.
San Mateo County: (866) 901-3212
Santa Clara County: (866) 901-3212
Family Law Facilitator: At the courthouse, provides legal information, forms, and help with procedures related to child support, spousal support, and family law issues.
San Mateo County: (650) 363-4590
Santa Clara County: (408) 882-2900
Disability and Special Education
Abilities United: Provides training, education, and support for persons with developmental and physical challenges. (650) 494-055
Community Gatepath: Provides disability related services from early intervention for infants to community access and job training for adults and seniors. (650) 259-8508 (Adults) or (650) 259-8544 (Children)
Children’s Health Council: Educational, assessment and treatment services for children. (650) 688-3625
Developmental and Behavioral Unit, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital: Completes developmental assessments for children. (650)725-8995
H.E.A.L. (for Kids @ LPCH): School re-entry program helping medically fragile children access necessary education services. (650) 725-2381
Parents Helping Parents: Resources, support groups for parents of children with special needs. (408) 727-5775
Center for Independence of the Disabled: (650) 645-1780
Parca: Advocates for families of children with developmental disabilities; activity and support groups, after-school recreation, respite care. (650) 312-0730
Regional Centers: Provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities and services for children ages 0-3 with or at risk for developmental delays.
Golden Gate (San Mateo County): (650) 574-9232
San Andreas (Santa Clara County): (408) 374-9960
Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Cash assistance for low-income aged, blind, or disabled persons.1-(800) 772-1213
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) (San Mateo County): Confidential services to victims of domestic/dating violence; help with restraining orders. 24-hour hotline: (800) 300-1080; Legal Information Line: 650-259-1855
Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence (Santa Clara County): Domestic violence full-service agency and shelter. 24-hour hotline: (408) 279-2962 / (408) 501-7550
Support Network for Battered Women (Santa Clara County): Services for victims of domestic violence and their children. 24-hour hotline: (800) 572-2782
Restraining Order Clinic (San Mateo County): Help with Temporary Restraining Orders: (650) 358-0745
Family Court Restraining Order Self Help Center (Santa Clara County): Help with Temporary Restraining Orders: (408) 534-5600 Ext 7
Rape Trauma Services: 24-hr hotline: (650) 692-7273
StarVista, Healthy Homes Project: (See Child Abuse) (650) 579-0361 Ext. 12
Food Assistance (See also Core Service Agencies and Emergency Services)
WIC: Supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, food vouchers, nutrition education, referrals
San Mateo County: (650) 573-2168
Santa Clara County: (408) 792-5101
Food Stamps: Benefits to help low-income households buy food.
San Mateo County: East Palo Alto:(650) 363-4218, Daly City: (650) 301-8400, Belmont: (650) 802-5018, South SF: (650) 877-5608
Santa Clara County: Mountain View: (650) 988-6100, San Jose: (408) 817-6000
Second Harvest Food Bank: connects callers with food resources in their local area (800) 984-3663
Health Insurance/Coverage
Community Health Advocate Hotlines: Screen for Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, Healthy Kids, and County Indigent Care program eligibility and helps families enroll in the right program. Call to find local places to apply for all health insurance/coverage programs at once.
San Mateo County: (650) 616-2002
Santa Clara County: (888) 244-5222
Medi-Cal: California's Medicaid program that provides health insurance coverage for low-income families and elderly or disabled individuals.
San Mateo County: (650) 802-6470, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park: (650) 363-4175
Santa Clara County: (408) 817-6000
Indigent Care: Low cost medical services for adults without health insurance at County clinics and hospitals
Santa Clara County: Ability to Pay Determination Program: (408) 885-7470
San Mateo County: ACE, DHC or MCE:(650) 616-2002
Housing
County Housing Authority offices: Rental subsidies, low income housing provision (Section 8, Public Housing)
San Mateo County: (650) 802-3300
Santa Clara County: (408) 275-8770
Mid-Peninsula Housing Management: Provides affordable housing in San Mateo and Santa Clara. (650) 356-2900
HIP Housing (San Mateo County): Home sharing, self-sufficiency services, home equity conversion programs, general affordable housing. (650) 348-6660
Shelter Network: Housing and support services for homeless families. (650) 685-5880 ex. 211
Emergency Housing Consortium (Santa Clara County): Shelter, housing opportunities and supportive services for homeless families. (408) 294-2100
Catholic Charities: Transitional and permanent housing and supportive services.
San Mateo County: (415) 972-1200
Santa Clara County: (408) 468-0100
Community Action Agency (San Mateo County): Home weatherization services, supplemental payment of energy heating costs, appliance replacements, emergency food. Leave a message with information: (650) 595-1342
Inspection Services: See Housing Box.
Immigrant and Refugee Assistance
Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: Legal help with immigration issues. (650) 326-6440
Coastside Hope (San Mateo County): Legal help with immigration. (650) 726-9071
Katherine and George Alexander Community Law Center: Legal help with immigration. (408) 288-7030
International Institute of Bay Area (San Mateo County): Naturalization, immigrant legal services, and community education and outreach. (650) 780-7530
Immigrant Assistance Line: (415) 543-6767 (Spanish/English), (415) 543-6769 (Cantonese)
Immigrant Hotline of the Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network (SIREN) of Santa Clara County: Citizenship application assistance; immigration education. San Jose: (408) 453-3003 / (408) 453-3013 (Hotline)
Asian Law Alliance (Santa Clara County): Immigration consultations and legal representation. (408) 287-9710
Mental Health and Counseling
San Mateo County Mental Health ACCESS Team: Information, referral and assessment for mental health services. (800) 686-0101, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park: (650) 363-4030
Santa Clara County Mental Health Call Center: Information, referrals, crisis intervention. (800) 704-0900
Youth Service Bureau (San Mateo County): Individual, group and family counseling. (650) 349-7969
Family and Children Services: Counseling, education, and violence prevention programs. (650) 326-6576
StarVista Counseling Center (San Mateo County): Individual, family and group counseling for children, teens and adults. $120 fee – sliding scale. (650) 591-9623
Mental Health Association (San Mateo County): Homeless shelter for mentally ill and substance abuse. (650) 368-3345
Parenting and Custody Issues
StarVista: Provides counseling prevention, early intervention, education, residential programs, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention. (San Mateo County)
24-hour Information and Hotline: (650) 579-0350
Family Law Facilitator (see Child Support)
Family and Children Services: Parenting classes only. (650) 326-6576
Kinship Support Services (San Mateo County): Counseling, tutoring, and other support services for children being raised by relatives. (800) 496-3019
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM): Low-cost health coverage for pregnant women who don’t have health insurance. Must apply before 30th week of pregnancy. 1-(800) 433-2611
Family PACT: Free family planning services for low-income women, men, and teens. 1-(800)-942-1054
Planned Parenthood: Counseling and health care for contraceptive needs.
San Mateo County: (650) 948-0807
Santa Clara County: (408) 795-3600
Family Health Services Resource Line: Free or low-cost clinics. Call the Prenatal to Three Initiative to find a clinic or a home visit: (888) 840-0889
California Youth Crisis Hotline: (800) 843-5200
National STD/AIDS Hotline: (800) CDC-INFO
Substance Abuse
Alcoholics Anonymous 24-hour hotline
San Mateo County: (650) 577-1310
Santa Clara County: (408) 374-8511
Alcohol and Other Drugs Helpline (AOD) (24 Hour): (650) 573-3950
Project 90: Residential alcohol/drug recovery services. (650) 579-7881
National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service: (800) 662-4357
California Smokers’ Helpline: (800) 662-8887
Teen Resources
The National Runaway Safeline (NRS): 1-(800)-RUNAWAY
California Youth Crisis Hotline: (800) 843-5200
Suicide Prevention Center: (650) 579-0350
National Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Youth Hotline: 1-(800) 347-TEEN
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender National Hotline: 1-(888) THE-GLNH
Your House South: Emergency and temporary housing for youth whose families are in crisis. (650) 367-9687
Sequoia Teen Wellness Center (San Mateo County): Medical care, family planning, health education, and case management for youth. (650) 366-2927
Utility and Fuel Assistance
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Weatherization services, utility assistance.Call the Community Action Agency to apply: (800) 499-1348
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE): 20% discount for PG&E customers who meet income guidelines. (866) PGE-CARE (866-743-2273)
PG&E Medical Baseline program: Discounts for customers with certain medical conditions. (800) 743-5000
SBC/ATT Universal Lifeline Service: 50% discount on local phone service for low-income customers. (866) 999-6181
Provide emergency support to families, including immediate food, transportation, shelter referrals, clothing and housing assistance.
San Mateo County
https://hsa.smcgov.org/emergency-safety-net-assistance-core-service-agencies
https://www.smc-connect.org/
Santa Clara County
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/ssa/Pages/ssa.aspx
http://www.211scc.org/
Advocacy and Legal Services
The Peninsula Family Advocacy Program (FAP) of the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County: Provides a wide range of legal services on site at LPCH, Ravenswood, SMMC OB clinics. (650) 517-8904
San Mateo County Private Defender: Representation of indigent criminal defendants. (650) 298-4000
Santa Clara County Public Defender: Representation of indigent criminal defendants. (408) 299-7700
www.lawhelpcalifornia.org: California legal aid referrals.
Child Abuse and Trauma
StarVista: (San Mateo County): Counseling and advice for families with children under 5 years who have witnessed family violence. (650) 579-0361 or (650) 591-9623
Peninsula Family Service: Counseling for children and families, child abuse treatment program. (650) 403-4300
Family and Children Services: Counseling, education, prevention programs. (650) 326-6576
Child Protective Services: Report suspected child abuse.
San Mateo County: (800) 632-4615 / (650) 802 7922
Santa Clara County: (650) 493-1186 / (408) 299-2071
Child Care, Early Intervention, and After School Programs
Child Care Coordinating Council (4C’s): Free referral service to child care providers, offers child care subsidies.
San Mateo County: (650) 655-6770
Santa Clara County: (408) 487-0747
Prenatal to Three Initiative: (San Mateo County): Information, support and care for families with children ages 0-3 including home visits and parent groups. (650) 573-2502
Early Head Start: Developmental services for infants and toddlers (under 3); social services for their families.
San Mateo County: (650) 871-5613
Santa Clara County: (800) 820-8182
Head Start: Free child development and educational programs (ages 3-5).
San Mateo County: (650) 578-3440
Santa Clara County: (800) 820-8182
Family Resource Centers: Prevention, early intervention social services at school sites.
San Mateo County: (650) 802-5018 / (650) 363-4218
Santa Clara County: (408) 260-3700
Regional Centers (See Disability and Special Education)
YMCA of Santa Clara Valley: (408) 298-3888
Peninsula Family YMCA: (650) 286-9622
Mid-Peninsula Boys & Girls Club: (650) 347-9891
Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley: (408) 957-9685
Child Support
Department of Child Support Services: Enforces financial responsibilities of parents for their children.
San Mateo County: (866) 901-3212
Santa Clara County: (866) 901-3212
Family Law Facilitator: At the courthouse, provides legal information, forms, and help with procedures related to child support, spousal support, and family law issues.
San Mateo County: (650) 363-4590
Santa Clara County: (408) 882-2900
Disability and Special Education
Abilities United: Provides training, education, and support for persons with developmental and physical challenges. (650) 494-055
Community Gatepath: Provides disability related services from early intervention for infants to community access and job training for adults and seniors. (650) 259-8508 (Adults) or (650) 259-8544 (Children)
Children’s Health Council: Educational, assessment and treatment services for children. (650) 688-3625
Developmental and Behavioral Unit, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital: Completes developmental assessments for children. (650)725-8995
H.E.A.L. (for Kids @ LPCH): School re-entry program helping medically fragile children access necessary education services. (650) 725-2381
Parents Helping Parents: Resources, support groups for parents of children with special needs. (408) 727-5775
Center for Independence of the Disabled: (650) 645-1780
Parca: Advocates for families of children with developmental disabilities; activity and support groups, after-school recreation, respite care. (650) 312-0730
Regional Centers: Provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities and services for children ages 0-3 with or at risk for developmental delays.
Golden Gate (San Mateo County): (650) 574-9232
San Andreas (Santa Clara County): (408) 374-9960
Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Cash assistance for low-income aged, blind, or disabled persons.1-(800) 772-1213
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) (San Mateo County): Confidential services to victims of domestic/dating violence; help with restraining orders. 24-hour hotline: (800) 300-1080; Legal Information Line: 650-259-1855
Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence (Santa Clara County): Domestic violence full-service agency and shelter. 24-hour hotline: (408) 279-2962 / (408) 501-7550
Support Network for Battered Women (Santa Clara County): Services for victims of domestic violence and their children. 24-hour hotline: (800) 572-2782
Restraining Order Clinic (San Mateo County): Help with Temporary Restraining Orders: (650) 358-0745
Family Court Restraining Order Self Help Center (Santa Clara County): Help with Temporary Restraining Orders: (408) 534-5600 Ext 7
Rape Trauma Services: 24-hr hotline: (650) 692-7273
StarVista, Healthy Homes Project: (See Child Abuse) (650) 579-0361 Ext. 12
Food Assistance (See also Core Service Agencies and Emergency Services)
WIC: Supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, food vouchers, nutrition education, referrals
San Mateo County: (650) 573-2168
Santa Clara County: (408) 792-5101
Food Stamps: Benefits to help low-income households buy food.
San Mateo County: East Palo Alto:(650) 363-4218, Daly City: (650) 301-8400, Belmont: (650) 802-5018, South SF: (650) 877-5608
Santa Clara County: Mountain View: (650) 988-6100, San Jose: (408) 817-6000
Second Harvest Food Bank: connects callers with food resources in their local area (800) 984-3663
Health Insurance/Coverage
Community Health Advocate Hotlines: Screen for Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, Healthy Kids, and County Indigent Care program eligibility and helps families enroll in the right program. Call to find local places to apply for all health insurance/coverage programs at once.
San Mateo County: (650) 616-2002
Santa Clara County: (888) 244-5222
Medi-Cal: California's Medicaid program that provides health insurance coverage for low-income families and elderly or disabled individuals.
San Mateo County: (650) 802-6470, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park: (650) 363-4175
Santa Clara County: (408) 817-6000
Indigent Care: Low cost medical services for adults without health insurance at County clinics and hospitals
Santa Clara County: Ability to Pay Determination Program: (408) 885-7470
San Mateo County: ACE, DHC or MCE:(650) 616-2002
Housing
County Housing Authority offices: Rental subsidies, low income housing provision (Section 8, Public Housing)
San Mateo County: (650) 802-3300
Santa Clara County: (408) 275-8770
Mid-Peninsula Housing Management: Provides affordable housing in San Mateo and Santa Clara. (650) 356-2900
HIP Housing (San Mateo County): Home sharing, self-sufficiency services, home equity conversion programs, general affordable housing. (650) 348-6660
Shelter Network: Housing and support services for homeless families. (650) 685-5880 ex. 211
Emergency Housing Consortium (Santa Clara County): Shelter, housing opportunities and supportive services for homeless families. (408) 294-2100
Catholic Charities: Transitional and permanent housing and supportive services.
San Mateo County: (415) 972-1200
Santa Clara County: (408) 468-0100
Community Action Agency (San Mateo County): Home weatherization services, supplemental payment of energy heating costs, appliance replacements, emergency food. Leave a message with information: (650) 595-1342
Inspection Services: See Housing Box.
Immigrant and Refugee Assistance
Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: Legal help with immigration issues. (650) 326-6440
Coastside Hope (San Mateo County): Legal help with immigration. (650) 726-9071
Katherine and George Alexander Community Law Center: Legal help with immigration. (408) 288-7030
International Institute of Bay Area (San Mateo County): Naturalization, immigrant legal services, and community education and outreach. (650) 780-7530
Immigrant Assistance Line: (415) 543-6767 (Spanish/English), (415) 543-6769 (Cantonese)
Immigrant Hotline of the Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network (SIREN) of Santa Clara County: Citizenship application assistance; immigration education. San Jose: (408) 453-3003 / (408) 453-3013 (Hotline)
Asian Law Alliance (Santa Clara County): Immigration consultations and legal representation. (408) 287-9710
Mental Health and Counseling
San Mateo County Mental Health ACCESS Team: Information, referral and assessment for mental health services. (800) 686-0101, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park: (650) 363-4030
Santa Clara County Mental Health Call Center: Information, referrals, crisis intervention. (800) 704-0900
Youth Service Bureau (San Mateo County): Individual, group and family counseling. (650) 349-7969
Family and Children Services: Counseling, education, and violence prevention programs. (650) 326-6576
StarVista Counseling Center (San Mateo County): Individual, family and group counseling for children, teens and adults. $120 fee – sliding scale. (650) 591-9623
Mental Health Association (San Mateo County): Homeless shelter for mentally ill and substance abuse. (650) 368-3345
Parenting and Custody Issues
StarVista: Provides counseling prevention, early intervention, education, residential programs, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention. (San Mateo County)
24-hour Information and Hotline: (650) 579-0350
Family Law Facilitator (see Child Support)
Family and Children Services: Parenting classes only. (650) 326-6576
Kinship Support Services (San Mateo County): Counseling, tutoring, and other support services for children being raised by relatives. (800) 496-3019
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM): Low-cost health coverage for pregnant women who don’t have health insurance. Must apply before 30th week of pregnancy. 1-(800) 433-2611
Family PACT: Free family planning services for low-income women, men, and teens. 1-(800)-942-1054
Planned Parenthood: Counseling and health care for contraceptive needs.
San Mateo County: (650) 948-0807
Santa Clara County: (408) 795-3600
Family Health Services Resource Line: Free or low-cost clinics. Call the Prenatal to Three Initiative to find a clinic or a home visit: (888) 840-0889
California Youth Crisis Hotline: (800) 843-5200
National STD/AIDS Hotline: (800) CDC-INFO
Substance Abuse
Alcoholics Anonymous 24-hour hotline
San Mateo County: (650) 577-1310
Santa Clara County: (408) 374-8511
Alcohol and Other Drugs Helpline (AOD) (24 Hour): (650) 573-3950
Project 90: Residential alcohol/drug recovery services. (650) 579-7881
National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service: (800) 662-4357
California Smokers’ Helpline: (800) 662-8887
Teen Resources
The National Runaway Safeline (NRS): 1-(800)-RUNAWAY
California Youth Crisis Hotline: (800) 843-5200
Suicide Prevention Center: (650) 579-0350
National Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Youth Hotline: 1-(800) 347-TEEN
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender National Hotline: 1-(888) THE-GLNH
Your House South: Emergency and temporary housing for youth whose families are in crisis. (650) 367-9687
Sequoia Teen Wellness Center (San Mateo County): Medical care, family planning, health education, and case management for youth. (650) 366-2927
Utility and Fuel Assistance
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Weatherization services, utility assistance.Call the Community Action Agency to apply: (800) 499-1348
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE): 20% discount for PG&E customers who meet income guidelines. (866) PGE-CARE (866-743-2273)
PG&E Medical Baseline program: Discounts for customers with certain medical conditions. (800) 743-5000
SBC/ATT Universal Lifeline Service: 50% discount on local phone service for low-income customers. (866) 999-6181
