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 (CSP) Coalition brings together a committed network of community leaders, advocates, and childcare professionals working collaboratively to strengthen safety, preparedness, and equity across childcare programs. Guided by the values of collaboration, prevention, and empowerment, the Coalition ensures that children, families, and providers have the tools and resources necessary to thrive in safe, resilient environments.
The CSP Coalition is currently led by a dedicated Steering Committee composed of cross-sector leaders who provide strategic guidance, policy direction, and community engagement support. Members of the Steering Committee include:
The founding members of the Childcare Safety Plan Coalition laid the groundwork for a collaborative model that bridges public, nonprofit, and private sectors in support of childcare safety. Their early leadership and partnership established the framework for what has become a thriving regional initiative. Founding members include:
Members of the Childcare Safety Plan Steering Committee Robert Re, Miriam Stombler, Rob Allen, Sherry Cassedy, and Tanya Harmony Ridino. (Not pictured: Raymon Cancino, Kellie D. Morgantini, Paulina Moreno, Kate Hinnenkamp, Tony Nunez)
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
Every child deserves to be safe, cared for, and protected—no matter what circumstances their family faces. Across California, too many parents and caregivers still lack the clear, accessible tools they need to make sure their children are cared for in times of crisis—whether due to illness, detention, deployment, or other emergencies.
With the passage of AB 495 (The Family Preparedness Act of 2025), California has taken a major step toward empowering families. The law directs the Attorney General’s Office to promote family preparedness statewide—a goal that the Childcare Safety Plan helps fulfill through a ready-to-use form and toolkit available to every family, county, and childcare provider.
The Statewide Childcare Safety Plan Initiative provides a practical pathway for counties, service organizations, and childcare providers to help families understand and exercise their rights under AB 495. It reduces confusion, promotes collaboration, and ensures consistent protections for families in every region of California.
Add your voice to our statewide petition by CLICKING HERE.
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.
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