Parent Engagement Program

Empowering Alameda County families by providing them with support, advocacy and encouragement.

Parent Engagement Program

The Parent Engagement Program (PEP) empowers Alameda County families by providing them with support, advocacy and encouragement. The program also provides the voice and perspective of parents through their advocacy, policy and program development input and training in collaboration with Alameda County Department of Children and Family Services. The overall goal of the program is to assist the County in its overall mission of improving services and outcomes to parents.

Parent Engagement Program Staff (Parent Advocates) are parents that have successfully navigated the Child Welfare Dependency system and reunified with their children. The program is contracted out to a community agency- A Better Way for oversight and management in close collaboration with Alameda County Social Services.

The Parent Engagement Program provides the following Services for Parents:

  • Child and Family Team Meeting Support
  • Phone Consultation
  • Parent Orientation Classes
  • Support Groups
  • Fatherhood Circle – just for fathers
  • Parent Leadership Support Group
  • Case management


Ways Parent Advocates can support Parents:

Parent Advocates can:

  • Be an example of success, giving hope to both Child Welfare Workers and parents.
  • Help a parent understand the Juvenile Dependency Process and translate child welfare jargon for them.
  • Provide emotional support.
  • Provide a warm hand off to community resources and go with parents to access resources in order to support their initial engagement.
  • Facilitate communication between a Child Welfare Worker and the parent.
  • Encourage a parent to complete case plan activities and connect them to the resources they need to do this.
  • Encourage open and honest communication.
  • Help a parent develop and practice parenting and independent living skills.
  • Attend Child and Family Team Meetings with parents.
  • Help parents overcome road blocks that get in the way of them completing their case plan activities.
  • Empower parents to navigate systems for themselves and advocate for them-selves and their family.

How to Access a Parent Advocate and/or Services:

  • Referral by assigned Child Welfare Worker
  • Call Parent Engagement Program County Clerk on 510-780-8894