Child Family and Community Services, Inc. (CFCS) is a non-profit organization providing education and family support services to low-income families living in southern Alameda County.  The agency was established in 1965 as part of the Office of Economic Opportunity and was incorporated in 1974 to become the provider for the Head Start Program of Southern Alameda County.

Our programs currently serve more than 3,000 families each year throughout the south county area.  The CFCS Board of Directors has maintained the original agency mission while continuing to add funding and programs to expand services for children, families and communities.

We believe that the families we serve need not only the programs that we offer, but the support to develop the tools to become self-sufficient when they are no longer enrolled in our programs.  We are dedicated to enhancing families’ self-sufficiency and providing children with a foundation to be successful. 

Our Programs, Services and More
Since becoming a Head Start provider in 1974, CFCS have worked to grow and expand this essential program.  Today, CFCS Head Start includes 15 sites and serves more than 1,000 children, and we are continually growing.

Head Start is the most successful, longest-running national school readiness program in the United States.  It provides comprehensive education, medical and dental services, mental health services, nutrition, social services, full inclusion of young children with disabilities, and parent involvement services to low-income children age 3 to 5 and their families.  Nationwide, more than 25 million preschool-aged children have benefited from Head Start.  Throughout California, Head Start serves more than 98,000 children.

CFCS became a provider for the Early Head Start Project in 1996.  Since then, we have offered the same type of programs and services as our Head Start program to expectant parents and families with infants and toddlers through age 3.  CFCS Early Head Start Project is currently serving 125 infants and toddlers throughout the south county area.

Originally funded in 1980 throughout California as an Alternative Payment Program, the CFCS California Child Care Program, (CCCP) now includes funding from four different program types.  This program currently provides full day/full year childcare services to over 700 eligible children.  Services are offered in daycare centers and childcare homes for working parents, parents in training, homeless families, teen parents, school-age children and children with special needs.

Our CAL SAFE program, launched in 2004, provides expectant and parenting teens aged 13 to 18 with childcare and academic, nursing, counseling and vocational support services which will allow them to complete their high school education, help them learn to become competent and caring parents and help them to become successful, contributing members of society.  The program’s overall goals are to enable motivated students to complete their high school education, to learn to provide a safe and caring environment for their young children, to secure gainful employment and ultimately to become fully self-reliant.

Community partnerships continue to be a primary focus at CFCS as we strive to provide our children and families with a well-rounded array of services and programs to prepare them for success.  We continue to build on many active partnerships and collaborations with local cities, school districts, county departments, colleges and universities, social service agencies, health programs and other community agencies.