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Putting the pieces together so children can soar.

Resources for Families

You’re invited to a celebration of young children in SF!

Find Free Family Events

In 2024, DEC helped make San Francisco a great place to raise a family.

Read Our Annual Impact Report

Meet San Francisco’s Department of Early Childhood.

We partner with all of the adults who care for young children, so that together we can create healthier, happier, and more imaginative childhoods. And that makes the city a better place to live for us all.

Putting the pieces together so children can soar.

Resources for Families

You’re invited to a celebration of young children in SF!

Find Free Family Events

In 2024, DEC helped make San Francisco a great place to raise a family.

Read Our Annual Impact Report

Meet San Francisco’s Department of Early Childhood.

We partner with all of the adults who care for young children, so that together we can create healthier, happier, and more imaginative childhoods. And that makes the city a better place to live for us all.

Putting the pieces together so children can soar.

Resources for Families
A mother and a her preschool aged son

Parents, we're here for you.

Parenting can be hard, which is why we put parents at the center of what we do. DEC is the City department solely dedicated to our youngest children. We work to support San Francisco families by funding family services and early childhood programs. DEC is here to make it easier to raise young children in San Francisco.

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES

find Free and Low-Cost child care
Find Resources, Playgroups, and Parenting Classes
get a developmental screening and services

Growing together in early childhood.

Early childhood educators and partners help children grow, learn, and thrive. They make our city stronger. We work together to give children and families amazing resources in our city.

Read Our Strategic Plan
Educator reading a book to a toddler aged boy

News & Updates

Reflecting on DEC’s Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation During Mental Health Awareness Month

As this year’s Mental Health Awareness month comes to a close, we reflect on a pillar of our work at the Department of Early Childhood (DEC): promoting children’s healthy social

May 30, 2025

Press Release: San Francisco Department of Early Childhood Announces Early Connections

San Francisco, CA — The Department of Early Childhood (DEC), the city’s largest funder of early childhood programs dedicated to the safe and healthy development of young children, is proud

May 27, 2025

Strengthening our Coordinated System of Care: Family Resource Center and Early Care and Education Staff Reflect on a Year of Collaboration in Working Groups

Yesterday, DEC co-hosted a gathering with the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), uniting Family Resource Centers (FRCs), Family Child Care (FCCs), and Early Care and Education (ECEs) providers to foster

April 9, 2025
preschool children on 3-wheel bikes

The Joy of Effective Strategies: Celebrating Kindergarten Readiness with SFUSD

Yesterday, 70 early educators joined DEC and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) for “The Joy of Effective Strategies,” an event to discuss and celebrate the positive and increasing

March 19, 2025

Press Release: The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood Invests $15 Million in Pathways Program to Strengthen Early Education Workforce

San Francisco – The Department of Early Childhood (DEC) is investing boldly in the future of early childhood education by launching its Early Educator Pathways Program. Over the next two

March 4, 2025

Celebrating remarkable milestones: Read DEC’s 2024 Annual Impact Report

The Department of Early Childhood is thrilled to announce the release of our 2024 Annual Impact Report. Every year has been exciting, but this year, we are celebrating a truly

January 23, 2025
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Reflecting on DEC’s Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation During Mental Health Awareness Month

As this year’s Mental Health Awareness month comes to a close, we reflect on a pillar of our work at the Department of Early Childhood (DEC): promoting children’s healthy social

May 30, 2025

Press Release: San Francisco Department of Early Childhood Announces Early Connections

San Francisco, CA — The Department of Early Childhood (DEC), the city’s largest funder of early childhood programs dedicated to the safe and healthy development of young children, is proud

May 27, 2025
preschool children on 3-wheel bikes

The Joy of Effective Strategies: Celebrating Kindergarten Readiness with SFUSD

Yesterday, 70 early educators joined DEC and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) for “The Joy of Effective Strategies,” an event to discuss and celebrate the positive and increasing

March 19, 2025
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