Support for Families with Young Children During Disasters & Trauma
Parenting is challenging even in the best of times and it can feel especially overwhelming during periods of trauma, uncertainty, or change. Fortunately, there are resources available to support you and your family through it.
Helplines & Crisis Numbers: TALK TO A LIVE PERSON 24/7
Sonoma County Behavioral Health 24-hour Emergency Mental Health Hotline – (800) 746-8181 Disaster Distress Helpline open 24/7, 365-days-a-year for counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural disasters. Call (800) 985-5990 toll-free, or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 for multi-lingual, confidential crisis support.
Store the North Bay Rapid Response number (707) 800-4544 in your phone and attend their Legal Observer training
Carry Immigration Legal Resource Center (ILRC) red cards and provide them to people at risk.
For small businesses and nonprofits, review Public Counsel’s extremely helpful FAQ, which includes information specific to health clinics, K-12 schools, homeless service providers, and more. It also includes samples of valid and invalid warrants.
Stay informed! This tracking tool provides an updated list of changes to federal immigration policy. Always consult an attorney regarding individual cases or issues.
Child Parent Institute – Support For Children From Birth Through Age 5 and Their Caregivers. Assessment, treatment, consultation, training, and parenting support is available through both children’s counseling and parent education departments. To schedule an appointment or learn more about services, please call (707) 284-1500.
Early Learning Institute – : For Childcare Providers –The Consultation Project offers trauma focused training and support and flexible, site-specific consultation for staff and families. For Families – The Watch Me Grow Project offers help finding community services via phone consultation;supportive home visits and social/emotional screening for children birth to 5 years of age. All ELI services are free. Call (707) 591-0170.
Jewish Families and Children’s Services (JFCS) – provides counseling, and long-term recovery support. Staff of case managers and clinicians have been trained in emergency response and are ready to deliver services quickly and efficiently. Contact JFCS for help at – (707) 303-1500 or email sonoma@jfcs.org.
National Alliance on Mental Illness: For non-emergency resources, or to talk to someone about mental health issues (your own or someone you care about), please call the Warmline at (866) 960-6264; the Warmline is available Monday to Friday 9-5 PM excluding holidays. Mental Health resources also available on their website.
Petaluma People Services Center: Counselors at PPSC are a group of diverse and skilled therapists offering compassionate and accessible psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and families.
Therapists Who Specialize in Working With Young Children
Christy Livingston, LMFT, Registered Play Therapist: (707) 395-7550, Santa Rosa. Insurance: United Behavioral Health, Sutter Health Plus, Optum Behavioral Health, Tricare, Private Pay accepted on sliding scale.
Kelly Rathman, LCSW: (707) 695-6427, Petaluma. Insurance: Beacon, Private Pay
Jenni Silverstein, LCSW: Infant Family Mental Health Specialist, (707) 546-0506, Santa Rosa. 3-5 free sessions available through RECAMFT Insurance: Beacon, Blue Cross, Sliding Scale
Meg Tippy, PsyD: (707) 237-5209, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. Insurance: Beacon, sliding scale, some pro-bono. Provides telehelp as well.
Emergency Doula Service:
BetterBeginningsforBabies: Emergency Doula Service is now virtual and can supply anyone with a cell phone doula support during labor. The Breastfeeding Cafe in Santa Rosa is open weekly and the staff are prescreening all who attend, both volunteers and families. Hot line number available everyday for families who need support: (707) 902-3031
Activities and Books to Support Trauma
Parents and Caregivers are Strongly Encouraged to Read the Activities and Books to Yourself First to Determine Whether They Will be Helpful to Your Child.
Once I Was Very Very Scared: A book to help children and grown-ups (parents, teachers, and other important adults) understand how stress can affect children and ways to help them.
My Fire Story: A guided activity workbook for children, families and teachers
Trinka and Sam: The Big Fire: A story to help young children and their families begin to talk about feelings and worries they may have after they have experienced a large-scale fire, like a wildfire.
Resources for Childcare, Preschool & Early Childhood Education:
NOTE: First 5 Sonoma provides this list as a reference tool and does not endorse or claim to have personal knowledge of the abilities of those listed. We offer this list as a resource for the public.
