Children's Council of San Francisco was one of the first child care resource and referral agencies in the United States. Originally called the Childcare Switchboard, we incorporated in 1973. Our core service was free referrals for San Francisco parents seeking high-quality, affordable child care. Now just one among many programs, resource and referral (R&R) still remains the heart of our agency.
In the 1980's, California designated Children's Council as an alternative payments program. We began to administer state-funded child care subsidy payments. With the San Francisco Department of Human Services, we also assisted low-income parents who were moving from welfare to work. In 1996, Children's Council was selected to administer the state CalWORKs child care subsidy program for San Francisco.
Children's Council grew from fewer than 20 employees in the 1980s to 130 in 2008. To meet the needs of our clients, we added services that support child care workers and promote high-quality child care in the city. These efforts include our mental health services, the child care food program, child care training projects, and our program for children with special needs. We maintain the centralized eligibility list, and administer programs that enhance child care provider salaries. We strongly advocate for children and families, and sponsor the advocacy group, Parent Voices. Our staff also contribute to child care policy and planning.
Click here for a timeline of Children's Council history.
Our Mission
Our mission is to meet family needs for high-quality child care in all San Francisco communities.
