To help children and families develop the insights, life skills and permanent relationships to promote their social, emotional, educational and economic well being.

Adoption , Children & Youth , Foster Care , Human Services , Residential Care & Adult Day Programs

Mental health - we provide mental health services that are strength-based, family-driven, collaborative, comprehensive, and evidence based/evidence informed. Our treatment focus is behavioral & emotional issues and placement stabilization. Our treatment teams include doctorial and masters level clinicians as well as family partners and occupational therapists. We provide services in the areas of therapeutic visitation, reunification, pre or post adoption, and general psychotherapy. Services can include psychological testing, parent-child interaction therapy (pcit), group therapy, and many other types. In addition, we have a specialty program that focuses on birth to 5 year old children. We were recognized as one of the top providers in San Francisco for this program. In fiscal year 2014, a better way provided mental health services to 378 children in foster care or at risk of entering foster care in San Francisco and Alameda Counties. All of them are referred to us by the respective county social service departments. Social Services (previously parent engagement) - Our parent advocates empower parents through advocacy, education and resource development so that families thrive in their own communities. Our commitment is to build relationships, competency skills, and parenting capabilities as we support family preservation. We focus on partnerships with parents to establish safe and stable homes for all family members. We help families exit the social services system as we guide them toward health and interdependence. We engaged families and the community thru 27 parent orientation classes, where 91 parents out of 134 graduated. In fiscal year 2014 we handled 144 cases which served 195 parents. We participated in 452 team decision meetings (TDM's), 48 support groups, and numerous other county team meetings, panels, committees, and workgroups. The staff also provides trainings to the community. Training - a better way provided 569 trainings in alameda, san francisco, and solano counties to service providers of children in foster care or at risk of entering foster care. Service providers consist of county social workers, clinicians/therapists (both a better way and other non-profit agencies), foster parents, adoptive parents, and birth parents. Trainings are provided by experts in their field including several who are nationally recognized. Permanency programs (previously Foster Care/Adoption services) - We are in the process of re-focusing our services to be older children adoptions, intensive treatment foster care, and transitional housing for transitional aged foster youth.

Children and Families

Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Santa Cruz & Solano Counties