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Residents urge supervisors to restore funding for Parent Café, calling it 'life‑saving'
Summary
Dozens of public commenters told the Board of Supervisors at the May 12 budget workshop that funding cuts to Parent Café (Café Padres) would remove a vital local support for immigrant parents, citing improvements in mental health, family stability and parenting skills.
Dozens of residents and program participants urged supervisors to restore funding for Parent Café during a lengthy public‑comment period at the Santa Clara County budget workshop May 12. Multiple speakers said the small, community‑based groups provide parenting skills, reduce isolation and have prevented crises for families in Spanish‑ and Vietnamese‑speaking communities.
Claudia Marcus, who began her remarks by saying, “I am here to talk about the base of our family and our community,” told the board that Parent Café helps parents “understand the system” and gives them tools to help children stay in school. Other speakers said the program helped them recover from depression, saved marriages and gave participants leadership roles that led to employment opportunities. “This café has saved my life,” one Spanish‑language speaker said through an interpreter.
Supporters described Parent Café as an investment in preventative services: several presenters said that strengthening parents reduces school dropouts, lowers future demand for costly child‑welfare interventions and builds community resilience. Trainers and volunteers who have worked with Parent Café told the board they had become mentors and trainers and in some cases found paid work because of skills learned through the program.
Board members listening during the public comment portion asked staff to clarify which parts of the nonprofit contracts are funded by general funds versus state or federal grants and whether a smaller, scaled option could preserve distribution for the most at‑risk families. County staff said they would provide further details during the budget hearings and consider alternatives requested by speakers, including phased or partial funding to maintain core sites.
The board did not take a vote on Parent Café funding at the workshop; staff said proposals and revised budget materials will be posted ahead of the June budget hearings.
Ending: The board asked staff for follow‑up details on funding sources and options to preserve at least some program operations. The matter will return for the June hearings when supervisors will review revised budget recommendations and potential offsets.
