4Cs of Alameda County
Building Stability for Families—and the Systems That Support ThemBlog post description.
4/29/20264 min read
It starts with a parent—often overwhelmed, often unsure where to turn.
Maybe they’ve just taken on a new job with unpredictable hours. Maybe they’re going back to school, trying to build something better for their family. Maybe they’re navigating a sudden change—becoming a single parent, facing rising costs, or trying to keep everything together in one of the most expensive regions in the country.
What they know is simple: they need child care. What they quickly discover is that finding it—and affording it—is anything but.
That’s often when they find the 4Cs of Alameda County.
“Child care really is an essential service,” says Katie Honegger, Director of Development & Communications at 4Cs. “So it's not nice to have for when you would like to have, but it's really a need to have for parents to work or attend school.”
For many families, that first call or visit opens the door to far more than a referral. Through its child care resource and referral services, 4Cs connects parents to a wide network of licensed child care providers, financial assistance programs, and community supports—all at no cost and regardless of income.
From there, the support deepens.
A parent may be matched with a provider that fits their schedule and cultural needs. They may receive help applying for subsidized child care programs that reimburse providers, allowing parents to continue working, attending school, or seeking stable housing. They might also connect with a Family Navigator, who helps them access everything from groceries and diapers to housing support and parenting resources.
Through programs like RISE (Resources through Interconnection, Support, and Equity), families can access food, diapers, clothing, and essential supplies—often serving hundreds of families at a time through distributions and resource centers.
And sometimes, that support changes the trajectory of an entire family.
Honegger recalls one parent who came to 4Cs while working part-time and studying to earn a cosmetology license. With child care costs covered, she was able to stay in school, finish her training, and eventually open her own business.
“She’s opened up this business, she’s employed some employees of her own, which is really exciting,” Honegger says.
Today, that same parent gives back—supporting 4Cs events and ensuring other families have access to the same opportunities.
“It’s really a full circle moment for the family,” Honegger adds.
Stories like this are not rare. They are the foundation of 4Cs’ work.
“We receive dozens of impact stories like these every month,” Honegger explains.
More Than Child Care: A Hub for Families—and Providers
But 4Cs doesn’t just support families—it also strengthens the child care system itself.
Child care providers—whether licensed centers, home-based providers, or family, friend, and neighbor caregivers—rely on 4Cs for training, licensing support, and business development. The organization offers workshops in multiple languages, technical assistance, and coaching to help providers start and sustain high-quality programs.
That dual focus is intentional.
“We want to make sure that the child care that families receive comes from quality programs and that those providers have the resources that they need,” Honegger explains.
In practice, that means 4Cs is working on both sides of the equation—helping families access care while ensuring providers can deliver it.
How 4Cs Fits Into Alameda County’s Child Care Ecosystem
Alameda County is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California, with dramatically different needs from Berkeley to Hayward to Fremont. That complexity has shaped a network of organizations working in partnership—each with distinct strengths.
“The needs of families in Hayward are very different than Berkeley and different than Fremont,” says Katie Honegger, Director of Development & Communications at 4Cs.
4Cs primarily serves families in Oakland and southern Alameda County, while organizations like Hively and BANANAS focus on other regions or populations. All three operate as resource and referral agencies, connecting families to care and supporting providers—but they are not competitors. Instead, they function as a coordinated system, regularly referring families to one another based on geography, need, and specialization.
“We have what I call sister agencies, we work very, very closely together,” Honegger explains, noting that while services sometimes overlap—especially in high-need areas like Oakland—the organizations are aligned in their mission to help families thrive.
Each organization brings something different to the table. Hively has built out a particularly strong mental health infrastructure, integrating clinical services and counseling into its family support model. BANANAS is known for its deep, community-based programming, including playgroups and targeted support for unhoused families.
4Cs distinguishes itself in several key ways.
“We’re the only resource and referral agency that has in-house CPR, first aid, and preventative health trainings that providers must take,” Honegger notes.
The organization also offers services not typically associated with child care agencies, including free tax preparation and filing, and car seat installation by certified technicians—meeting families’ needs in practical, everyday ways.
At its core, what sets 4Cs apart is how it meets families where they are—culturally, linguistically, and economically—while remaining part of a broader, collaborative ecosystem designed to ensure no family falls through the cracks
A Critical Piece of the Economic Engine
Behind every child care placement is something bigger: stability.
When families have reliable care, parents can go to work, attend school, and build careers. Employers gain dependable workers. Communities become more economically resilient.
“It’s really part of the economic engine,” Honegger says. “Businesses have an employee that they can rely on to be there every day.”
That perspective has shaped 4Cs’ growth. Since 2014, the organization has more than doubled its staff and significantly expanded its budget—reflecting the rising demand for its services across Alameda County.
And the need continues to grow.
From rising costs to shifting work schedules to increasing demand for culturally competent care, families today face a complex and evolving landscape. 4Cs is working to keep pace—expanding services, strengthening partnerships, and continuing to serve as a trusted entry point for families navigating it all.
For the parent making that first call, the stakes are immediate and personal.
They’re not just looking for child care.
They’re looking for a way forward.