Connecting to SF Families: DEC’s Weekend of Family Engagement around the City
If you were strolling through San Francisco this weekend, you may have seen DEC’s table. We were out and about, getting to know the children and parents in three of San Francisco’s bustling neighborhoods. Families stopped by to get to know us, complete a survey, and learn about everything SF DEC offers families here in […]
A Brighter Future for San Francisco’s Children: Early Education Milestones and Aspirations
Every half-decade, the San Francisco Child Care Planning and Advisory Council (CPAC), in partnership with the Department of Early Childhood (DEC), undertakes a significant endeavor: crafting a comprehensive needs assessment for early care and education in the city. This assessment isn’t just a report. It’s a cornerstone in our quest to provide every child in […]
Expanding Access to Quality Child Care in San Francisco: Financial Support for Early Learning Programs
San Francisco has always been at the forefront when it comes to prioritizing early childhood education and ensuring that every child has access to high-quality care. In a remarkable move, the city has recently expanded eligibility for financial support for Early Learning San Francisco’s exceptional child care programs. This expansion aims to provide more families […]
San Francisco Early Care and Education Needs Assessment
DEC provides funding and collaborates with the Child Care Planning and Advisory Council to produce a comprehensive needs assessment for early care and education every five years. San Francisco Early Care and Education Needs Assessment – Executive Summary Download Executive Summary San Francisco Early Care and Education Needs Assessment – Full Report Download Full Report
Making Magic at the First Annual SFQC Infant/Toddler Conference
Over 100 early childhood educators, coaches, and consultants gathered on June 9 and 10 for San Francisco’s first infant/toddler conference, hosted by DEC and WestEd. The event, Pathways to Security, focused on attachment theory and the importance of early relationships. Thought-provoking content was complemented by good food, great conversation, and lots of fun at Once […]
The Fun Has Just Begun: DEC’s Family Resource Centers Celebrated SF’s Week of the Young Child
Every year during the first week of April, communities across the nation celebrate the Week of the Young Child to honor and uplift the importance of early learning, young children, and their teachers, families, and communities. The 26 incredible Family Resource Centers (FRCs) funded by DEC’s Family Resource Center Initiative embody these values in San […]
LISTEN: Child Care is Getting More Affordable in S.F. with DEC’s Wei-min Wang
In an interview on KQED’s podcast, The Bay, Wei-min Wang from our team, recently shared how Child Care is Getting More Affordable in S.F. Listen here! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452?i=1000613049906 Child care is too expensive and inaccessible for kids and families. That’s why in 2018, San Francisco voters approved Baby Prop. C, a tax on commercial landlords that would […]
En route to a thriving early childhood system in San Francisco
San Francisco has many programs and agencies aiming to serve our city’s babies and young children, but they could be more coordinated. As a result, agencies, providers, and families are only sometimes aware of what resources are available. And too many wheels get reinvented when they could work together to propel a child forward. As […]
Week of the Young Child in San Francisco
The Week of the Young Child is being celebrated all of April in San Francisco! Family Resource Centers are hosting free events all over the city. During the first week of April and throughout the month, there will be events that celebrate your child, parenting, and all of the resources that are available for families in your community. […]
DEC Strategic Plan
The creation of the Department of Early Childhood puts San Francisco at the national forefront of early childhood services, providing unprecedented resources and allowing us to be bold. The 2023-2027 Strategic Plan helps us catalyze bold action by defining our vision and values, setting clear goals and strategies, and establishing a Theory of Change and […]