Children’s Waiting Room Reopens at Hayward Hall of Justice

Updated waiting room offers a safe location to drop off children while conducting court business

Hayward, Calif. – October 20, 2026 – The Children’s Waiting Room at the Hayward Hall of Justice has reopened, providing parents free childcare as they attend court or meet with staff at the court’s Self-Help Center.

 “These services have a meaningful impact on improving access to justice because our Hayward courthouse handles family law cases involving children, as well as small claims matters in which a large number of people are representing themselves,” said Presiding Judge Michael Markman. 

The waiting room will be staffed by childcare professionals employed by Catalyst Family Inc., a Mill Valley-based nonprofit that provides a variety of childcare services from early childhood education to after school programs. The organization operates children’s waiting areas in 17 other court locations, including Superior Courts in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Santa Clara Counties. Employees working in the waiting room must undergo Court background checks.

“We are all thrilled to have the Children’s Waiting Room open again,” said Charlotte Marin, Director of Family Law Operations. “It’s an extremely important service given we are dealing primarily with family law cases, self-represented litigants and we are home to the Court’s main Self-Help Center.”

About 4,500 people a month visit the clerk’s office at the Hayward Hall of Justice, in addition to others who visit the Court for hearings, jury duty, and self-help center appointments. Many of those utilizing the Hayward Hall of Justice are doing so for family law related matters such as divorce, child custody issues and restraining orders. In addition, the Court is the primary location for small claims and unlawful detainer matters.

The Children’s Waiting Room has been closed since the pandemic.

“We are grateful for the efforts of our Director of Family Law Operations and her team in their successful search for a new vendor to operate the facility and provide quality care for the visiting children,” Judge Markman said.

The waiting room provides children with snacks, educational activities, and rest areas. It is free for parents and guardians to use on a drop-in basis. Parents and/or guardians must fill out a registration form at the waiting room before leaving their children, but formal appointments are not necessary.

Once registered, parents and children will be provided matching wristbands. The same person registering at the Children’s Waiting Room must be the person who is picking up the child, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

The Children’s Waiting Room will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break closure between 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, please visit https://www.alameda.courts.ca.gov/general-information/childrens-waiting-room or call 510-690-2749.