Shared Family Care is a whole family placement program that offers an alternative to conventional child welfare services. In this program, an entire family lives in the home of a mentor family who is trained to mentor and support biological parents as they develop skills necessary for healthy, safe, independent living. Shared Family Care is free and provided countywide by FamiliesFirst through referrals from the Contra Costa County Children & Family Services Bureau. For more information email Rhonda Smith at the Employment & Human Services Department at smithr@ehsd.cccounty.us.

Typical Family Profile

An early life impacted by substance abuse and poverty hit bottom for Francis Bennett when her child was removed from her care after severe neglect threatened the baby. Several years later, Ms. Bennett was sober but at risk of having her second child removed from her care when her caseworker suggested that she try Shared Family Care. "I didn't want to live in someone else's house, but I felt desperate enough to try," she said when recounting her emotions on that cool spring day.

Ms. Bennett and her child moved in with a trained mentor family and before long established a strong bond. "I don't know what I would have done without the support and caring of Ms. Hubs (her mentor) , I really consider her a friend, make that a mother. She taught me to say no when I needed to and how to set limits for my child and how to have self confidence."

After six months of living together, Ms. Bennett was able to establish a bank account for the first time, save money, plan healthy low cost meals, and parent more effectively than ever before. With the help of Shared Family Care, she recently received full custody of her child and was able to obtain housing.