Resources
Our community is here to help
Care Net Santa Maria
Care Net offers free parenting classes and maternity and infant clothing.
Women, Infants & Children WIC
Federally sponsored program through the California Department of Pubic Health available to low income pregnant, breastfeeding , and postpartum women and children under age five who are at nutritional risk and who are at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Providing coupons for milk, cheese, eggs, juice, formula, cereal, etc.
CalWORKS
California state-sponsored program provides temporary financial assistance and employment focused services to families with minor children who have income and property below State maximum limits for their family size.
Catholic Charities of Santa Barbara County
Services include thrift store vouchers for clothing or household items, food distribution, small grants for dental and eyeglasses expenses, and emergency financial assistance.
CalFresh (FoodStamps)
CalFresh is California's food stamps (SNAP) program. Apply to get up to $194 a month per household member on an EBT card.
Section 8 Housing Choice Program Santa Barbara
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program allows low-income households (voucher holders) to pay approximately one-third of their income in rent and utilties to participating housing providers. The remainder of the rent is paid through federal subsidies to the housing providers by the Housing Authority of the County of Shanta Barbara (HACSB).
Villa Majella
Maternity home in Santa Barbara equipping and empowering pregnant women for the future by offering them through outreach programs pregnancy care, education, and guidance whether they choose to personally parent or lovingly select an adoptive home. Also provide residential housing for moms to be through 2 months post-partum.
St. Vincent’s Santa Barbara
St. Vincent’s programs and services address homeless issues, provide affordable and quality childcare, and empower women and children for success through our emphasis on education and counseling. The Family Strengthening Program is a drug- and alcohol-free, transitional housing program (up to 27 months), designed to assist low-income single mothers, with one or two children, five years old or younger, or pregnant with her first or second child (first child must be five years old or younger).
Postpartum Education for Parents (PEP)
Available in Santa Barbara and Buellton, PEP is a free support group for new parents providing weekly meetings, baby basics classes, and postpartum distress support and a 24-Hour Warmline 805.564-3888 (English), 805.852.1595 (Español). Services are also available in Spanish.
CenCal Health
CenCal Health is a publicly-sponsored health plan for Medi-Cal members in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. They also administer smaller programs such as the Healthy Kids program, serving low income children, and the AIM (Access to Infants and Mothers) program serving low income pregnant women. Eligibility for these programs is determined by income status.
Santa Barbara County Public Health Department MCAH Program
The Maternal Child Adolescent Health (MCAH) program is part of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). It assesses the needs of women, infants, children and adolescents, and coordinates and plans programs & services for this population. The program has the following focus: Provide mothers and children (especially those with low income or limited availability to services) access to quality maternal and child health services. Promote the health of mothers and infants by providing assistance with access to prenatal care for low-income, at-risk pregnant women, and to promote the health of children by providing assistance with access to preventive care for low-income children.
Family Service Agency
FSA improves the health and well-being of our community’s most vulnerable children, families and seniors by ensuring access to food, shelter and other basic needs, as well as providing case management, advocacy, and mental health programs. Their programs include:
Unity Shoppe
Unity Shoppe is a Santa Barbara based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free essential services to residents impacted by temporary conditions of poverty, natural disaster, or health crisis. They provide residents with groceries, clothing, and other essentials, as well as job training – the things that help reinforce human dignity, and encourage self-sufficiency and independence.
BeWellLine
BeWellLine is dedicated to making mental health care, life guidance, and community-based counseling available to everyone across California, free of charge. Finances are no longer an obstacle to getting help. Everyone is entitled to reach out. You can call via telephone, arrange a text chat, or join a web conference for groups or your family up to six times. Guests will be able to ask questions, receive advice, and receive long-term support from a case manager.
CenCal Health
CenCal Health is a publicly-sponsored health plan for Medi-Cal members in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties