Description
We are BANANAS!
BANANAS is a Child Care Resource & Referral Agency located in Oakland and serving six Northern Alameda County cities: Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville, Piedmont, and Alameda. Our mission-- partnering with families and child development professionals to raise happy, confident children is supported by a wide variety of programs and services. We offer free parenting workshops, support groups, and parent education classes at our location in Oakland, at licensed child care programs, and CalSAFE sites. We administer child care subsidies for low-income families and provide child care referral counseling to families living in our service area, as well as enhanced referrals for parents who have a child with special needs. We support child care providers with free workshops and trainings, reduced-cost health and safety training, assistance with becoming licensed and setting up child care settings, QRIS coaching, and training on how to care for children with special needs. For both parents and providers we house a boutique where they can shop for free, and we have produced over 200 handouts filled with vital information on child development, how to care for children, and how to run a child care business.
Why Do People Love BANANAS?
As soon as you walk through our front door, you will see that we are not your typical resource and referral center. At any given time there are children busily exploring the BANANAS Playroom, parents stocking up on books and toys from our free boutique, and families meeting with counselors to find the perfect child care fit. We offer person-to-person, individualized support in a friendly and welcoming environment that is inclusive of all people.
