Foster Family Resources in Concord, CA

 Providing Essential Support And Resources For Foster Families Navigating The Challenges Of Foster Care In Contra Costa County

When foster families in Concord take in a child, they often face an immediate need for essential supplies with little to no notice.

The emotional transition for both the child and family can be overwhelming, creating stress during an already challenging time. Without proper support, these critical first days can set a difficult tone for the placement.

Expressions of Hope understands these unique challenges faced by Concord foster families. Our comprehensive resource program provides immediate practical support through our Bags of Hope backpacks filled with age-appropriate essentials, access to our fully-stocked Resource Center, and financial assistance through our Enrichment and Respite Fund. Unlike general donation centers, we specialize exclusively in foster care needs.


For Concord families, our local presence means rapid response to your specific needs. As active members of the Contra Costa County foster care community, we've built our services around the real experiences of local foster families, ensuring you receive exactly what you need, when you need it, with dignity and understanding.

Expressions of Hope provides a comprehensive suite of resources specifically designed for foster families in Concord and throughout Contra Costa County.

Our flagship program, Bags of Hope, delivers backpacks filled with age-appropriate essentials to children entering foster care. Each backpack contains items tailored to the child's specific age group – from diapers and pacifiers for infants to journals and hygiene products for teens – providing comfort during a difficult transition.

Beyond our backpacks, our Resource Center located in Napa serves as a vital supply hub where foster families can access clothing, furniture, toys, and other necessities at no cost. We maintain a carefully curated inventory of high-quality items that help normalize the lives of children in care while easing the financial burden on foster families.

The Enrichment and Respite Fund represents our commitment to ensuring foster children experience the same opportunities as their peers. This fund covers expenses for extracurricular activities, sports camps, special medical needs, bicycles, and graduation costs – helping foster children build confidence and develop social connections essential for their emotional development.

Our services work together to create a support system that addresses both immediate and long-term needs of foster families. By providing practical resources alongside emotional support, we empower Concord foster families to create stable, nurturing environments where children can thrive despite challenging circumstances.

Get Essential Foster Get Support for Your Foster Family Today

Key Benefits

Benefit 1: Immediate Support When You Need It Most

When a child arrives at your Concord home, often with little notice, the first hours and days are critical for establishing trust and comfort. Expressions of Hope's Bags of Hope program provides immediate relief during this crucial transition period. Each backpack arrives filled with age-appropriate essentials that address a child's immediate physical and emotional needs.

For infants, we provide diaper bags stocked with diapers, wipes, pacifiers, baby wash cloths, shampoo, blankets, bottles, and bottle cleaners. School-aged children receive backpacks with personal care items like toothbrushes, hair care products, nightlights, and comfort items such as blankets and stuffed animals. Teens receive age-appropriate items including journals, deodorant, hygiene products, and comfort items that respect their developing independence.

Concord foster families particularly value this service because it eliminates the need for emergency shopping trips during an already stressful transition. The carefully selected items show children they are valued and cared for, helping establish a foundation of trust from day one. One Concord foster parent noted that having these essentials ready "made all the difference in helping our new placement feel welcome during those first uncertain hours."

Benefit 2: Ongoing Resource Support for Growing Needs

Foster children's needs evolve throughout their placement, and Expressions of Hope's Resource Center provides Concord families with consistent access to essentials beyond the initial placement period. Unlike one-time donation programs, our Resource Center offers continuous support as children grow, seasons change, and new needs emerge.

The Resource Center maintains a carefully organized inventory of clothing in all sizes, furniture for various ages, educational materials, toys, and specialized items like adaptive equipment when needed. Concord families particularly benefit from our seasonal offerings, ensuring children have appropriate clothing, school supplies, and holiday gifts throughout the year.

For Concord foster families operating on tight budgets, our Resource Center represents significant financial relief. The average foster care stipend in Contra Costa County falls short of covering all necessary expenses. By providing these resources at no cost, we enable families to allocate their limited funds to other important aspects of childcare. Our approach preserves the dignity of both the foster family and child, as all items are carefully selected, cleaned, and presented in a retail-like environment rather than as charity.

Benefit 3: Enrichment Opportunities That Build Confidence

Foster children in Concord often miss out on formative extracurricular experiences that their peers take for granted. Our Enrichment and Respite Fund addresses this disparity by covering expenses for activities that build skills, confidence, and social connections essential for healthy development.

The fund supports a wide range of opportunities tailored to each child's interests and needs. For sports enthusiasts, we cover registration fees, equipment costs, and transportation expenses for local Concord leagues and camps. For artistically inclined children, we fund music lessons, art classes, and supplies. We also address milestone events like proms, yearbooks, and graduation celebrations that create lasting memories and sense of normalcy.

Concord foster families have witnessed remarkable transformations through these enrichment activities. Children who struggled with behavioral issues find positive outlets through structured activities. Teens build confidence and discover talents that shape their identities and future aspirations. These experiences help foster children integrate into the Concord community, build supportive relationships outside the home, and develop skills that serve them throughout life. The respite aspect also provides foster parents with essential breaks, strengthening the stability of placements.

Benefit 4: Specialized Support for Unique Foster Situations

Foster care in Concord encompasses diverse situations from emergency placements to long-term care, each presenting unique challenges. Expressions of Hope provides tailored support for these specific scenarios, recognizing that one-size-fits-all approaches don't adequately address the complexities of foster care.

For emergency placements, which are common in Contra Costa County's high-need areas, we offer rapid-response resource kits that can be delivered within hours. For kinship caregivers—grandparents, aunts, uncles, or family friends who suddenly find themselves caring for a relative's child—we provide specialized guidance on navigating the system alongside appropriate resources for their specific situation.

Concord families supporting children with special needs benefit from our specialized equipment lending program and connections to local therapeutic resources. Our staff's extensive experience with the Contra Costa County foster system allows us to anticipate needs before they become crises and connect families with the right community partners. This personalized approach ensures that no matter what challenges a foster family faces, they never have to face them alone or without the specific resources their unique situation requires.

Benefit 5: Community Connection and Emotional Support

Foster care can be isolating for both children and caregivers, particularly in communities like Concord where foster families may be scattered throughout the area. Beyond material resources, Expressions of Hope cultivates a supportive community that understands the unique joys and challenges of the foster care journey.

Through our resource distribution programs, we connect Concord foster families with others in similar situations, creating natural opportunities for relationship building. Foster parents share experiences and advice while children meet peers who understand their circumstances. These connections often develop into lasting support networks that extend beyond our formal programs.

Our staff, including Executive Director Peggy Smith who has 27 years of foster parenting experience, provides emotional support grounded in real-world understanding. This peer-to-peer guidance proves invaluable for Concord families navigating difficult situations, celebrating successes, or simply needing someone who truly understands. Foster parents in Concord particularly value having advocates who can speak from experience when dealing with schools, healthcare providers, and the foster care system itself.

Benefit 6: Dignity-Centered Approach to Resource Provision

Unlike generic charity models, Expressions of Hope's approach to supporting Concord foster families centers on preserving dignity and agency for both caregivers and children. We recognize that foster families are providing an invaluable service to the community and deserve to be treated with respect rather than as charity recipients.

Our Resource Center operates on a "shopping" model where families select items that best suit their specific needs rather than receiving pre-determined packages. All items are carefully inspected, cleaned, and displayed with the same care you'd expect in a retail environment. Children's items are chosen for their quality and appeal, ensuring foster children receive resources that help them feel valued rather than different from their peers.

For Concord families, this dignity-centered approach transforms the resource provision experience from one that could feel demeaning into one that empowers and respects their role. Foster children, who often experience loss of control during their foster care journey, benefit from being included in selecting their own clothing, toys, and personal items when appropriate. This thoughtful approach acknowledges that providing material support can and should be done in ways that build rather than diminish self-worth.

Our Services

Bags of Hope

Our flagship service provides backpacks filled with age-appropriate essentials for children entering foster care in Concord. Each backpack contains items tailored to the child's specific age group, from infant necessities to teen supplies. These carefully curated backpacks provide comfort and essential items during the critical transition period, alleviating stress for both children and foster families in Contra Costa County.

Enrichment & Respite Fund

This specialized fund enables foster children in Concord to participate in extracurricular activities, sports, arts programs, camps, and special events that build skills and confidence. The fund also covers unique needs like graduation expenses, specialized medical equipment, and other costs not covered by standard stipends, ensuring foster children in Contra Costa County have the same opportunities as their peers.

Resource Center

The Resource Center serves as a continuous support system for Berkeley foster Access Concord foster families gain access to our comprehensive Resource Center stocked with clothing, furniture, toys, books, and other necessities. Foster families can visit the center to select items that meet their specific needs at no cost. Our inventory is regularly refreshed with high-quality donations, ensuring Contra Costa families have continuous access to essential resources throughout their fostering journey.

Emergency Support Services

For Concord foster families facing unexpected situations, our emergency support services provide immediate assistance including after-hours resource delivery, crisis support coordination, and short-term specialized resources. This service ensures that even in unpredictable circumstances, Contra Costa foster families have a reliable support system they can count on.

Our Process

Step 1: Contact Our Team

Reaching out to Expressions of Hope is simple and designed to minimize stress during what may already be a challenging time. Call our dedicated Concord resource line or complete the quick form on our website with basic information about your foster family's needs. Our team responds within 24 hours (often much sooner for urgent needs). You'll be connected with a staff member who understands the foster care journey firsthand and can guide you through available resources with compassion and expertise.

Step 2: Resource Needs Assessment

Once connected, we'll conduct a brief needs assessment to understand your specific situation and resources required. This conversation typically takes 15-20 minutes and helps us prepare exactly what your Concord foster family needs. For new placements, we'll arrange immediate delivery of age-appropriate Bags of Hope. For ongoing needs, we'll schedule your Resource Center visit or begin the Enrichment Fund application. This personalized approach ensures you receive precisely the support that matches your unique circumstances.

Step 3: Resource Provision

Based on your assessment, resources are quickly provided through the appropriate channels. Bags of Hope are typically delivered within 24-48 hours of request (same-day in emergencies). Resource Center appointments are scheduled at your convenience, typically within 3-5 days. Enrichment Fund applications are processed within one week, with expedited options for time-sensitive activities. Throughout this step, you maintain control over which resources you accept, ensuring they truly meet your family's needs.

Step 4: Ongoing Support

Your relationship with Expressions of Hope continues beyond initial resource provision. Our team checks in two weeks after your first interaction to assess additional needs and answer any questions. Concord foster families can access the Resource Center monthly as needs evolve and apply for Enrichment Fund support throughout the year. You'll also receive invitations to community events and workshops specifically designed for foster families in Contra Costa County, creating a continuous support system for your fostering journey.

Our Approach

Expressions of Hope approaches foster family support with a foundational belief that every child deserves to feel valued, every caregiver deserves support, and every foster family should have access to the resources they need without barriers. This philosophy stems from our founder's 27 years of firsthand foster parenting experience and shapes every aspect of our program design and delivery in Concord and throughout Contra Costa County.

Unlike generalized assistance programs, our methodology centers on the unique challenges of foster care – particularly the unpredictable timing, emotional complexity, and diverse needs that characterize the fostering journey. We've designed our resources to be responsive rather than rigid, understanding that a foster placement may occur with just hours of notice and needs evolve rapidly as children adjust. This responsive approach is particularly important in Concord's foster care landscape, where placement needs often fluctuate and emergency placements are common.

Our support model integrates practical resource provision with emotional support and community building, recognizing that material needs are just one aspect of successful fostering. We deliberately create opportunities for connection between Concord foster families, believing that peer support from others who truly understand the journey is invaluable. Our staff, many of whom have personal fostering experience, serve not just as resource providers but as knowledgeable guides who can help navigate the complexities of the Contra Costa County foster care system.

We maintain close relationships with local schools, healthcare providers, and social service agencies throughout Concord and neighboring communities to ensure our support complements rather than duplicates other available services. This networked approach maximizes resources and creates a more cohesive support system for foster families. By understanding the specific challenges of fostering in Contra Costa County – from the county's placement processes to the local school systems' approaches to foster children – we tailor our support to address the real-world contexts in which our families operate, making our resources not just helpful but transformative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expressions of Hope has been serving foster families throughout Northern California since 2009, with dedicated support for Contra Costa County families for over a decade. Founded by a foster parent with 27 years of experience, our organization uniquely understands the practical and emotional challenges of fostering. Our team includes staff with direct foster care experience who bring firsthand knowledge to our support programs serving Concord and surrounding communities.

  • We serve foster families throughout Contra Costa County, including Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Martinez, Pittsburg, and Antioch. Our delivery services for Bags of Hope extend throughout the county, and our Resource Center is accessible to all Contra Costa foster families. While our physical location is in Napa, we have dedicated staff who regularly serve the Concord area with local deliveries and support.

  • For Concord foster families receiving new placements, we typically deliver Bags of Hope within 24-48 hours of request. In emergency situations with after-hours placements, we maintain a rapid response team that can often provide essential items the same day. Simply call our emergency placement line at (707) 732-4800, and we'll coordinate delivery based on your specific timeline and location in Concord.

  • No, we serve all types of foster care arrangements in Concord, including licensed foster homes, kinship care placements (relatives caring for children), and emergency placements. We understand that Contra Costa County uses various placement types, and our resources are available regardless of your specific certification status, though we may ask for basic verification of your caregiving role.

  • Concord foster families can apply for Enrichment Fund support through a simple form on our website or in person. The application asks for basic information about the child, the activity or need, associated costs, and how the opportunity will benefit the child. Applications are reviewed weekly, with decisions typically made within 7 days. For time-sensitive needs, we offer an expedited review process. Funds are either paid directly to providers or reimbursed to foster families with receipts.

  • Yes! We welcome donations of new or gently used items from Concord community members who want to support local foster families. We maintain a current needs list on our website highlighting the most-needed items. For Concord donors, we offer convenient drop-off locations throughout Contra Costa County and can sometimes arrange pickup for larger donations. Financial contributions can also be designated specifically to support our Concord area programs.

 Support Your Concord Foster Family Today

Join hundreds of supported foster families throughout Contra Costa County!