Ready Kids East County Resource Directory
Connecting Black families in East County to essential resources, from womb to classroom
Grounded in the voices and experiences of Black families, the Ready Kids East County Resource Directory connects families to the essential services and support children need—from womb to classroom. It builds bridges between families and trusted community partners, serving as a central place to find and navigate resources that support every child’s growth and well-being.
Click here to learn more about Ready Kids East County.
Organization is Black- or African American-led and/or offers programming specifically for Black and African American communities.
Perinatal & Maternal Health
Provides culturally relevant health education, support, and connection to community resources for expectant and new families, with a focus on improving maternal and infant health in underserved communities. The organization offers lactation peer counseling, nutrition and parenting education, mother‑to‑mother support groups, community baby showers, and referrals to health and social services to help families build healthier beginnings.
Provides home visiting support for expectant and new parents and caregivers throughout the first two years of a child’s life. Welcome Home Baby helps families understand child development, build strong parent child relationships, navigate the medical system and community resources, and access workshops and social connections, all designed to support healthy beginnings and give parents tools to confidently care for their baby. Services are free and available in Contra Costa County.
A nonprofit dedicated to improving maternal mental health outcomes for Black and Brown women and birthing individuals through culturally affirming, trauma-informed therapy, education, and workforce training. Offers free services such as therapy vouchers, community resources, and select trainings/scholarships, alongside paid services including therapy, professional trainings, and workforce development programs throughout Contra Costa County and nationwide.
The Contra Costa County Black Infant Health Program aims to improve the health amongst Black mothers and babies by empowering them to make healthy choices for a brighter future. All services are free and provided by Family Health Advocates, Group Facilitators, Public Health Nurses and Mental Health Professionals. Services include prenatal and postpartum groups, referrals to community resources, one-on-one life planning support, breastfeeding and infant care guidance, postpartum meal support, access to free doulas, and stress reduction techniques.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Contra Costa County residents
- Identify as Black
- Age 16 or older
- Pregnant or baby less than 6 months
A community-based organization providing culturally responsive breastfeeding education, support, and advocacy for Black pregnant and parenting families. Serves families throughout the Bay Area and surrounding areas through free support groups, community education, and in home lactation services designed to improve Black maternal and infant health outcomes and increase breastfeeding rates.
Provides no cost, community based doula support for Black birthing people and families in Contra Costa County, helping ensure pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care is respectful, culturally responsive, and empowering. The program walks families through prenatal education, labor and delivery support, and postpartum care while connecting them to community resources, and also offers training and apprenticeship opportunities to grow a local network of doulas rooted in care, trust, and birth justice.
From the moment you find out you’re pregnant until your child turns 5, WIC is by your side to provide extra support to help keep your family healthy. WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. WIC provides healthy foods, personalized nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals to other services to support families in Contra Costa County.
A Black female‑led community dedicated to uplifting and amplifying the voices of Black women and girls through storytelling, community engagement, and empowerment. Rooted in lived experience, the organization offers workshops, consultations, events, and gatherings that foster sisterhood, self‑discovery, healing, and well‑being. As a community partner in Contra Costa County, Her Story Is Mine helps strengthen local events and resources aimed at supporting Black families and nurturing community connection and growth.
Parent Education & Parenting Supports
Provides cooking education and food security programs, including a free Food as Medicine program for eligible participants in Contra Costa County. The program offers bi-weekly grocery deliveries, virtual cooking and nutrition classes in English and Spanish, and support to help participants eat healthier and manage chronic conditions. This program is available at no cost to Contra Costa Health Plan Medi-Cal members with qualifying conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Provides culturally respectful behavioral health and family support services for children, teens, and caregivers in Antioch and surrounding areas. Antioch C.A.R.E.S. offers strength‑based assessments, case management, referrals to basic needs (like food, clothing, housing support), parenting education, advocacy, and connections to community resources to help families stay safe and supported at home and in the community.
Provides evidence‑based parent education programs, anger management classes, trauma‑informed therapy services, and youth services designed to strengthen resilience, promote mental wellness, and channel hope for young people and families in Contra Costa County and neighboring counties. Services are offered at low cost, and most insurances are accepted.
Provides free support for families with children from birth to age 5. First 5 Centers help parents connect with their community, access resources, and support their child’s development. Services include group classes, playgroups, school readiness activities, support groups, one-on-one help connecting to community services, and essentials like food and diapers—all designed to strengthen families and foster early childhood development.
Provides advocacy, education, and resources to help African American students and families succeed in school and beyond. PAAACT offers parental support and training, workshops, mentorship, college and career readiness guidance, and community engagement to break down barriers to equity in education and strengthen connections between families, schools, and community partners.
Health
Provides free health, family support, and early childhood services for parents and young children in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Brighter Beginnings partners with families to support healthy pregnancies and births, provide affordable primary care and mental health services, offer parenting education and case management, and help parents stay in school and build stability.
Provides free health screenings and basic medical care to uninsured residents of Contra Costa County. Services include preventive care, primary care, and mental health support, with referrals to specialists and healthcare providers when needed. Services are offered at no cost, with patients only responsible for any prescribed medications.
Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services at Zócalo Health provide personalized, culturally responsive support to help patients navigate healthcare, behavioral health, and community resources throughout Contra Costa County. The team connects patients to services such as housing, food, transportation, and ongoing care coordination to support overall well-being. These services are free for Medi-Cal individuals and families with Contra Costa Health Plan.
Early Intervention
Provides free parent-to-parent support, training, and resource navigation for families of children with disabilities and special health care needs in Contra Costa County. Services include emotional support, IEP and systems navigation, peer mentoring, and workshops, helping families advocate for their children from early childhood through adulthood.
Provides free 24/7 crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and information and referral services for all residents of Contra Costa County. Offers confidential support via call, text, and chat, along with grief counseling, resource navigation, and connections to community services to help individuals stay safe and navigate emotional or situational crises.
A free program focused on babies, young children, and the people who love them. Help Me Grow is a countywide system that helps identify and address young children’s developmental, behavioral, and social-emotional needs early. Through a centralized hotline and a network of providers, Help Me Grow connects families to screenings, resources, and services so parents can get the right support and answers to everyday questions.
No matter how big or how small, Help Me Grow Contra Costa can answer parents’ everyday questions about their children from birth to age 5.
Provides free assessment and service coordination for young children with developmental delays or disabilities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The Regional Center of the East Bay connects families to early intervention, therapies, and culturally responsive supports, helping children thrive and giving parents the tools and guidance to advocate for their child.
Early Literacy
Provides free access to books, early learning programs, and educational resources for families across Contra Costa County. Contra Costa County Library offers storytimes, homework help, and digital tools, along with safe community spaces and family-friendly activities—helping young children build literacy skills and supporting parents in their child’s learning and development.
Provides engaging literacy services for children and families in East County through hands-on reading activities, creative learning experiences, and community programs. Provides engaging literacy services for children and families through hands-on reading activities, creative learning experiences, and community programs.
Provides free books and reading support for families with young children in Contra Costa County. Reading Advantage helps parents build home libraries, encourages daily reading, and offers programs and literacy packets that strengthen early language skills, boost school readiness, and make reading fun for children.
Tandem, Partners in Early Learning is a Bay Area nonprofit supporting children ages 0–5 and their families through early literacy, language, and social-emotional learning. Through programs like StoryCycles®, family workshops, and educator training, Tandem connects families to resources and creates engaging learning experiences. Active in Contra Costa, Alameda, and San Francisco counties, Tandem strengthens early learning and school readiness for all children.
Child Care & Early Learning Settings
6 locations in the East Bay, this academy provides high-quality, nurturing care for children from infancy through preschool, offering certified staff, age-appropriate curriculum, and engaging activities that support early learning and social-emotional development. Focused on preparing children for school and life, it fosters growth, curiosity, and confidence in a safe, supportive environment.
Locations include:
- Bay Point
- Pittsburg
- Brentwood
- Oakland
Family‑oriented childcare program located in Pittsburg, serving infants through age 8 in a safe and nurturing home‑like environment. The center focuses on growth and exploration at each child’s own pace, offering structured activities, themed projects, group play, reading support, field trips, and nutritious meals. With experienced, certified care and a philosophy that values child‑centered learning and lasting friendships, Best Beginnings helps build a strong foundation for early education and development.
Contra Costa County’s resource and referral agency that provides free services to families and licensed childcare providers. The most requested service is childcare financial assistance for income-eligible families. Emergency childcare assistance is also available for families who meet at-risk requirements.
Promotes student success in learning and life by providing leadership, programs, and services that support schools, educators, and diverse learners across Contra Costa County. Delivers specialized education, youth and family services, and professional development—while advancing equity and supporting students facing challenges such as poverty, foster care, homelessness, and disabilities.
Operates 12 licensed childcare centers across the county for children 0–5, offering part-day, full-day, and home-visit early learning programs through Head Start and State childcare grants. Partners with local organizations to expand access for low-income families. Also administers child care vouchers, energy assistance, and community grants that support local anti-poverty initiatives.
A nature-based outdoor program in Bay Point dedicated to nurturing young children through hands-on learning and exploration. Children spend much of their day outdoors engaging with gardens, nature walks, and play-based experiences that support independence, creativity, and emotional development. The program welcomes both subsidized and private pay families, creating an inclusive and enriching environment for all.
Located in Antioch, this preschool offers a nurturing, family‑style early education and childcare environment for infants through preschool‑age children. With a focus on holistic development, the program blends structured learning, play, and enrichment activities to support growth, creativity, and social skills. Staff are dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming space where each child receives personalized attention and care as they explore, learn, and thrive.
Training Children Childcare & Learning Center is a for-profit organization dedicated to early childhood development in the East Bay Area (Antioch, CA). Since 1997, we have operated as a privately run, in-home Christian family childcare, preschool, and learning center, providing a nurturing and structured environment for children to grow and thrive. Our program integrates a Christian-based curriculum with comprehensive learning opportunities that support children from preschool through school age, including afterschool care, potty training, summer experiences, and focused reading and math development. We proudly serve children ages 2–12, offer affordable rates, accept state-funded or subsidized families, and are certified in Child Development (License #073401640).
Countywide Early childhood education program offering play-based, multicultural curriculum that supports school readiness and helps each child reach their full potential. Income-based with priority for low-income families, the program welcomes children of all abilities, including those with special needs.
Provides free year-round full-time educational preschool and daycare services for ages birth to 5 years across the Bay Area. Services are available to low-income, unhoused, and/or working/student families. Focuses on family development through goal planning, health and nutrition education and support, and resource connection.
School Districts
Provides K–12 public education and support services to students and families in Antioch. The district offers academic instruction, early childhood and adult education, and pathways to college and careers, with a focus on equity and student success. It also connects families to resources and opportunities that help students thrive in school and beyond.
Provides K–12 public education and support services to students and families in Pittsburg. The district offers academic instruction, early childhood and adult education, and pathways to college and careers, with a focus on equity and student success. It also connects families to resources and opportunities that help students thrive in school and beyond.
Basic Needs / General Support
Preserves natural and cultural resources while providing open space, parks, trails, and safe, healthful recreation across Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Offers environmental education and free interpretive programs—including field trips, guided hikes, and community activities—that engage diverse ages, abilities, and backgrounds, connecting the public to the East Bay’s natural and cultural heritage.
Serves families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, or elder and child abuse. Based in Antioch, with additional locations across Contra Costa and Solano counties, all services are free for families. Supports include identifying needs, connecting to community resources, advocacy, and other wraparound services, as well as free legal consultation for families who have experienced domestic violence.
Assists community members with applying for and maintaining CalFresh benefits while providing access to food resources. Distributes free food through weekly programs and a network of local nonprofit partners, helping ensure individuals and families in Contra Costa and Solano counties have access to nutritious food and are not turned away due to need.
Provides support, education, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mental health challenges in Contra Costa County. Offers peer‑led support groups, classes on navigating mental health systems, and connections to local resources helping families better understand mental health, reduce stigma, and find support and hope.
Rescues and redistributes surplus, high-quality food and essential goods to address hunger and poverty across Contra Costa County. Through a volunteer-powered network and partnerships with local nonprofits, delivers free, nutritious food and basic necessities—while promoting sustainability and connecting community resources to individuals and families in need.