Resources / By state / California
Pregnancy & family help in California
56 organizations in California offering help with pregnancy, housing, food, childcare, adoption and more. We checked each one before listing it, but hours and services change, so please call ahead.
Adoption
Adopt International
Nonprofit, Hague-accredited agency offering domestic and international adoption across California and Hawaii.
- 1000 Brannan St., Suite 301, San Francisco, CA 94103
- (415) 934-0300
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Adoption Connection (Jewish Family & Children's Services)
Licensed open-adoption agency: free, confidential options counseling and lifetime support for birth parents, and home studies for adoptive families. Birth-parent line: (800) 972-9225.
- San Francisco, CA
- (415) 359-2494
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Adoptions Unlimited
Full-service nonprofit adoption agency serving birth parents and adoptive families.
- 4091 Riverside Dr., Suite 115, Chino, CA 91710
- (909) 902-1412
- Website (opens in a new tab)
All For Kids
Foster care, adoption and kinship support across Los Angeles County.
- 1910 Magnolia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90007
- (213) 342-0100
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Aspiranet — Foster Care & Adoption
Foster care, adoption and post-adoption permanency support in Fresno County and across California.
- Clovis, CA
- (877) 380-4376
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Family Connections Christian Adoptions
Christian adoption agency serving birth parents and adoptive families for more than 40 years.
- 4101 Tully Rd., Suite 501, Modesto, CA 95356
- (209) 524-8844
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Nightlight Christian Adoptions — California
Christian adoption agency serving birth parents and adoptive families.
- 1528 Brookhollow Dr., #100, Santa Ana, CA 92705
- (714) 693-5437
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Olive Crest
Licensed foster care and adoption agency with offices across Southern California.
- 2130 E. 4th St., Suite 200, Santa Ana, CA 92705
- (714) 543-5437
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Pact, An Adoption Alliance
Adoption placement and lifelong support for adopted children of color and their families.
- 5515 Doyle St., Suite 1, Emeryville, CA 94608
- (510) 243-9460
- info@pactadopt.org
- Website (opens in a new tab)
California Kids Connection
StatewideCalifornia's registry of foster children waiting for adoptive families, with help finding an agency and becoming an approved resource family.
Free / Subsidized Childcare
MAOF — Early Care & Education
Subsidized child care and preschool for income-eligible families at centers in Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino and Monterey counties.
Options for Learning
Head Start, Early Head Start, state preschool and child care subsidies in the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys, Whittier and Northeast LA.
YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles — Head Start & Early Head Start
Early Head Start, Head Start and preschool, starting as young as six weeks.
- Los Angeles, CA
- (213) 351-2201
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Churches / Baby Closets
East Los Angeles Pregnancy Center
Free pregnancy testing, counseling, parenting classes and material help.
- 2342 S. Atlantic Blvd., Monterey Park, CA 91754
- (323) 728-1292
- Website (opens in a new tab)
LivingWell Pregnancy Centers
Free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, counseling and education, plus low-cost well-woman care.
- 2010 N. Tustin St., Suite C, Orange, CA 92865
- (714) 633-4673
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic
Free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and support in the San Fernando Valley. En español: (818) 626-9408.
- 9535 Reseda Blvd., Suite 303, Northridge, CA 91324
- (818) 626-9400
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Pregnancy Help Center of San Gabriel Valley
Free pregnancy tests, support and material help for mothers. 24-hour help line: (800) 712-4357.
- 902–904 E. Main St., Alhambra, CA 91801
- (626) 309-0788
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Sacramento Life Center
Free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, options consultations and support, with a 24/7 hotline.
- 2316 Bell Executive Ln., Sacramento, CA 95825
- (916) 451-4357
- info@saclife.org
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Clothing / Supplies
Baby Closet at St. Francis of Assisi Church
Diapers, formula and toys for young families each week, at the Samaritan Center on the church's lower campus.
- 280 Royal Ave., Simi Valley, CA 93065
- (805) 526-5141
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic
Free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and support in the San Fernando Valley. En español: (818) 626-9408.
- 9535 Reseda Blvd., Suite 303, Northridge, CA 91324
- (818) 626-9400
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Sacramento Life Center
Free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, options consultations and support, with a 24/7 hotline.
- 2316 Bell Executive Ln., Sacramento, CA 95825
- (916) 451-4357
- info@saclife.org
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Domestic Violence
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (Find Help)
StatewideMap of local domestic-violence hotlines and programs across California. In danger now? Call 911; the National DV Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.
Employment
Dress for Success Bakersfield
Professional clothing and career support for women. Tue–Fri, 10–5.
- 1416 17th St., Bakersfield, CA 93301
- (661) 748-1809
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Dress for Success San Francisco
Professional clothing (by appointment, Tue–Thu) and career coaching for women.
- 500 Sutter St., Suite 218, San Francisco, CA
- (415) 362-0034
- sanfrancisco@dressforsuccess.org
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Dress for Success San Jose
Professional clothing and career support for women. Tue and Thu, 9:30–4.
- 504 Valley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035
- (408) 935-8299
- Website (opens in a new tab)
America's Job Center of California
StatewideFree job search help, training and career services at local centers statewide.
Food Programs
Alameda County Community Food Bank
Emergency Food Helpline connects you with same-day groceries or a hot meal near you. Mon–Fri, 9–4.
- Oakland, CA
- (510) 635-3663
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Enter your address to find a food pantry near you anywhere in Los Angeles County.
- 1734 E. 41st St., Los Angeles, CA 90058
- (323) 234-3030
- Website (opens in a new tab)
San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
Find free groceries in San Francisco and Marin online or by phone.
- 900 Pennsylvania Ave., San Francisco, CA 94107
- (415) 824-3663
- help@sfmfoodbank.org
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County
Find a food pantry near you in Orange County.
- 8014 Marine Way, Irvine, CA 92618
- (949) 653-2900
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
Food Connection hotline finds free groceries or meals near you (English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog), or use the online food locator.
- San Jose, CA
- (800) 984-3663
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Health Assistance
AltaMed Health Services
Community health centers in Los Angeles and Orange counties: medical, dental and mental health care, with a sliding-fee discount for uninsured patients.
Medi-Cal
StatewideFree or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant women and families, including prenatal, delivery and a year of postpartum care. Apply online at BenefitsCal or by phone.
Housing Assistance & Shelters
Abode Services
The Bay Area's largest homeless housing provider: shelters, interim and permanent housing for individuals and families.
Mercy Housing California
StatewideAffordable apartments for families, seniors and formerly homeless people in 36 counties. Each property takes its own applications: find one by ZIP code and call it.
PATH (People Assisting The Homeless)
StatewideOutreach, interim housing, rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing in communities across California. Choose your region on the Get Help page.
Infant & Baby Equipment
Foster's Closet
Free clothing, diapers, toys, baby items and school supplies for foster, kinship and emergency-placement families in San Diego County, by appointment.
- 12882 Indian Trail Rd., Poway, CA 92064
- (619) 988-8389
- outreach@fostersclosetfoundation.org
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Mental Health & Postpartum Assistance
Maternal Mental Health NOW
Searchable directory of prenatal and postpartum mental-health providers and support in Los Angeles County.
- Los Angeles, CA
- (213) 346-3200
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Postpartum Health Alliance
Free, confidential warmline: leave a message and a trained volunteer calls back within 48 hours with support and referrals to San Diego therapists and groups. Not a crisis line.
- San Diego, CA
- (619) 254-0023
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Postpartum Support International — California Chapter
StatewideLocal help and referrals for depression and anxiety during pregnancy and after birth. The 24/7 National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (call or text) is 1-833-TLC-MAMA.
Parenting Classes
Children's Institute
Parenting classes, support groups and family services for Los Angeles families, at home, at school or at centers in Central LA, South LA and the South Bay.
- Los Angeles, CA
- (213) 260-7600
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Pregnancy Centers
Alternatives Pregnancy Center
Free, licensed women's clinic: pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, STD testing and support. No insurance needed.
- 8689 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95826
- (916) 880-4040
- info@alternativespc.org
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Obria Medical Clinics — Santa Ana
Free and low-cost pregnancy testing, ultrasounds and women's health care.
- 2001 E. 1st St., Suite 209, Santa Ana, CA 92705
- (714) 516-9045
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Options California (Horizon Pregnancy Clinics)
Free, confidential pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and support at clinics in Huntington Beach, Long Beach and Torrance. 24/7: (877) 558-0333.
- 15061 Springdale St., Huntington Beach, CA 92649
- (714) 897-7500
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Pregnancy Help Center of San Gabriel Valley
Free pregnancy tests and support. Mon–Thu, noon–6 p.m. 24-hour help line: (800) 712-4357.
- 902–904 E. Main St., Alhambra, CA 91801
- (626) 309-0788
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Special Needs Assistance
Easterseals Southern California
Early childhood, autism, adult living and employment services for people with disabilities and their families.
Parents Helping Parents
Parent Training and Information Center: help and resources for families of people of any age with any disability.
- 1400 Parkmoor Ave., Suite 100, San Jose, CA 95126
- (408) 727-5775
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
Free information, education and parent-to-parent support for San Francisco families of children with any disability or special health care need.
- 832 Folsom St., Suite 1001, San Francisco, CA
- (415) 282-7494
- info@supportforfamilies.org
- Website (opens in a new tab)
TASK (Team of Advocates for Special Kids)
Special-education advocacy, training and assistive technology for families of children with disabilities in Southern California.
The Arc of California
StatewideStatewide advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with 20 local chapters.
- Sacramento, CA
- (916) 552-6619
- info@thearcca.org
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Support for Fathers
Children's Institute
Parenting classes, support groups and family services for Los Angeles families, at home, at school or at centers in Central LA, South LA and the South Bay.
- Los Angeles, CA
- (213) 260-7600
- Website (opens in a new tab)
Dads' Club (Vista Community Clinic)
Parenting, relationship and employment support for fathers, with help enrolling in health coverage, CalFresh and CalWORKs. To enroll, call and ask for ext. 7181.
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County — 24/7 Dad workshops
Free 24/7 Dad workshops for fathers and male caregivers (also in Spanish) and other parent sessions at FIRST 5 family resource centers.
- San Jose, CA
- Website (opens in a new tab)
San Bernardino Fatherhood
Free 24/7 Dad classes, Boot Camp for New Dads and father support groups in San Bernardino and Highland.
- Highland, CA
- Website (opens in a new tab)
California Fatherhood Council — Programs by County
StatewideDirectory of fatherhood programs for dads in every region of California.
Transportation
Medi-Cal rides to medical appointments
StatewideMedi-Cal covers rides to covered medical, dental and mental-health appointments and pharmacy trips. Call your Medi-Cal health plan's member services, ideally five business days ahead.
Looking for more? Nationwide hotlines and programs that also serve California are in the full directory search. Know an organization that belongs here? Tell us about it.
