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Parents, program leaders urge supervisors to restore funding for Parent Cafe supports
Summary
Multiple parents and program leaders told the Board of Supervisors that Parent Cafe peer-support programs help families and should have their funding restored; a supervisor said a revised budget recommendation to restore most Parent Cafe funding will appear at next week’s hearings.
Dozens of speakers at a Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors committee meeting urged the board to restore funding for Parent Cafe programs, which parents and nonprofit leaders said provide peer support, connection and crisis‑prevention services for families.
Rod Shao, who said he is CEO of the nonprofit that built the county activity guide, told the board the guide reaches “1 in 3 families” and is used by 91 county agencies; he asked supervisors to “restore the funding for this very valuable resource.” Several parents described specific benefits: one said Parent Cafe had helped her mother, who has a disability, feel heard and supported; another said the program saved her family during a period of deep depression and helped her understand and assist her autistic child.
The Parent Cafe speakers asked the board to reverse a recommended contract cut from the Social Services Agency. Supervisor (board member) who spoke to the group said she had submitted a revised recommendation for next week’s budget hearing that would restore most of the Parent Cafe funding, and encouraged commentators to review the published budget hearing agenda.
Why it matters: presenters and parents tied Parent Cafe work to prevention and family stabilization, arguing the program reduces escalation to child welfare or juvenile justice involvement. Several commissioners and supervisors said the testimonials demonstrated impacts they had not fully appreciated and urged that contracting decisions reflect those outcomes.
Board action and next steps: supervisors moved to approve the consent calendar and later acknowledged the public comments. A supervisor said a revised budget recommendation to the full board will appear on next week’s budget hearing agenda and that social services leadership had prioritized Parent Cafe for restoration where possible.
Quotes: “1 in 3 families use this guide,” Rod Shao said, urging restoration of funding. “Parent cafes heal the wounds,” one parent said, describing personal recovery and stronger family relationships. A supervisor told commentators, “Your advocacy counted, and your voice made a difference.”
The board did not take a final funding vote during this committee meeting; the supervisor said the revised budget recommendation will be on next week’s full board budget hearing agenda.
