Peace of mind for me.
Security for my family.
Life is unpredictable. Emergencies happen.
Having a trusted plan in place ensures your children are cared for by the people you choose.
Life is unpredictable. Emergencies happen.
Having a trusted plan in place ensures your children are cared for by the people you choose.
With a Childcare Safety Plan (CSP), you can prepare for the unexpected and protect your family’s future.
Peace of Mind for Parents.
A CSP is a temporary childcare custody plan that outlines who will care for your children if you are suddenly unavailable. You decide who steps in, ensuring your kids are looked after by someone you trust.
Why It Matters.
Life can change in an instant—whether due to military deployment, illness, incarceration, deportation, or emergency. Having a plan in place makes sure your children are supported, no matter what.
You Keep Custody.
Completing this form does not sign away your parental rights or custody. It simply helps outline who you trust to care for your children if you are temporarily unavailable.
Free & Accessible.
The CSP is free to complete, and support is available at several sites throughout the Central Coast. Use the form on the right to request help, or click here to find a Family Resource Center near you where staff can guide you through the process.
When the 2017 Presidential administration adopted a policy of family separation to deter immigrant families, children were left vulnerable when parents were detained or deported. In response, a group of local community members united to ensure children would not face unnecessary trauma or separation from loved ones.
This coalition included:
Together, they created the Childcare Safety Plan (CSP) — a free, bilingual, self-help template designed to help families prepare for unexpected emergencies. The CSP is a step-by-step template that guides parents and caregivers through documenting important information about their child’s health, school, and daily routines, as well as identifying trusted caregivers who can step in if needed.
The CSP allows parents to:
Our goal: With a CSP in place, no child should be excluded from school, health, or community services for lack of an adult to consent to their participation. Nor should any child be unnecessarily placed in child protective services or guardianship proceedings when their parents have already chosen reliable and loving caregivers.
With the CSP, parents—alongside their chosen caregivers—can continue to participate in their child’s life as fully as possible, even in the face of immigration actions or other emergencies, without risking the loss of their parental rights.
The Childcare Safety Plan Coalition is a community-driven effort—and you can play a vital role in making sure families are prepared and children are protected.
Community Bridges serves as the CSP Coalition’s Fiscal Sponsor and interim staff. Making a donation to the Coalition is quick and easy.
Your donation directly powers this effort by providing bilingual materials for families, outreach to ensure no one is left behind, and the tools volunteers need to guide parents through completing their Childcare Safety Plans.
Every dollar helps protect children and strengthen families when they need it most.
Lend your time and skills to help families complete their Childcare Safety Plans in your own neighborhood. Volunteers receive a short training—offered in person or over Zoom—that prepares you to walk families through the process with care and confidence.
With this support, you’ll be ready to make a real difference by helping parents and caregivers create a plan that protects their children in times of crisis.
Sign up through the CSP Volunteer Dispatch form here: CSP Volunteer Sign-Up
Raise your voice to protect families across California.
By building alignment among legal aid organizations, community-based groups, and policymakers, we can shape a coalition that ensures every family in California has access to a trusted, practical plan for their children.
The Childcare Safety Plan (CSP) is a free document. You should never be charged to complete it. Because of its importance, we recommend filling it out with assistance from trained staff at a trusted organization.
The following organizations can help you complete the CSP at no cost:
UFW Foundation
118 E. Gabilan St., Salinas
(831) 220-3004
Mon–Fri (call for appointment)
Alisal Family Resource Center
1441 Del Monte Ave., Salinas
(831) 775-4500
Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm
Monterey College of Law Community Workshop
2620 Colonel Durham St., Seaside
(831) 582-3600
Call for appointment
Family Service Center – Salinas
433 Salinas St., Salinas
(831) 757-7915
Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm
Family Service Center – Seaside
1178 Broadway Ave., Seaside
(831) 394-4622
Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm
Frank Paul Family Resource Center
1300 Rider Ave., Salinas
(831) 775-4530
Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm
Martin Luther King Jr. Family Resource Center
925 N. Sanborn Rd., Salinas
(831) 775-4580
Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm
Castro Plaza Family Resource Center
10601 McDougall St., Castroville
(831) 633-5975
Mon–Fri (call for appointment)
Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County (CAB)
(831) 440-3556
Support in Spanish/Mixteco/English
By appointment only
Davenport Resource Service Center
150 Church Street, Davenport
(831) 425-8115 | drsc@cabinc.org
CSP support: Mon & Thurs, 3pm–5pm
Mountain Community Resources
6134 Highway 9, Felton
(831) 335-6600
Mon–Thurs, 9am–5pm (closed 12–1pm)
Fri by appointment only
La Manzana Community Resources
521 Main Street, Suite Y, Watsonville
(831) 724-2997
Mon–Fri, 9am–4:30pm (closed 12–1pm)
Nueva Vista Community Resources
711 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
(831) 423-5747
Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm (closed 12–1pm)
Monarch Services (for survivors of domestic violence, rape, or human trafficking)
Live Oak Community Resources
1740 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz
(831) 476-7284
Mon–Thurs, 9am–5pm (closed 12–1pm)
Fri by appointment only
The Childcare Safety Plan Coalition is a community-driven effort—and you can play a vital role in making sure families are prepared and children are protected.
