Afterschool Alliance: http://www.afterschoolalliance.org The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of after-school programs and advocating for quality, affordable programs for all children. It is supported by a group of public, private, and nonprofit organizations that share the Alliance's vision of ensuring that all children have access to after-school programs by 2010.
Child Care
Adult's & Children's Alliance (ACA): http://www.acainc.org ACA is a nonprofit corporation offering a comprehensive package of resources and services designed to meet the changing needs of child care professionals, parents, and the community. This site offers information covering the food program, insurance, news, and products.
Child Care Aware: http://www.childcareaware.org This site includes information and tips for parents about many topics, including choosing child care, evaluating a provider, licensing, types of care, a daily Parent Newsletter, and other additional resources.
The Child Care Inclusion Challenge Project (CCICP): http://www.inclusionproject.org The Child Care Inclusion Challenge Project supports efforts to provide quality, inclusive care for children who have special needs, helping their families find information, resources, and child care arrangements that best meet their requirements. The web site includes detailed information about the Project and its services, as well as documented success stories, frequently asked questions, a resource list, and links to related sites.
ExchangeEveryDay: http://www.ccie.com/eed ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for ChildCareExchange.com. The daily bulletin contains news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and other child care-related information. Keeping in mind how busy parents and providers are on a daily basis, EED makes sure that each report featured in the newsletter is short and easy to read. To subscribe to ExchangeEveryDay, visit their website and sign up using a valid email address.
Is This the Right Place for my child? From the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies: http://www.naccrra.org/parent/quality_indicators.php This informational site, provided by NACCRRA, offers parents resources to determine whether or not their children’s child care is suiting their individual needs. The site includes downloadable PDF booklets on identifying high-quality child care.
National Network for Child Care: http://www.nncc.org National Network for Child Care offers an Internet source of over 1,000 publications and resources related to child care. All publications are research-based and reviewed. The site also has an e-mail listserv, providing a way to communicate nationally and internationally with others who care about children and child care. NNCC offers support and assistance from experts in child care and child development. The Network also distributes a newsletter that is issued four times a year for family child care, center-based care, and school-age child care.
Child Development and Early Education
California Children and Families Commission: http://www.ccfc.ca.gov The California Children and Families Commission is dedicated to providing all children prenatal to five years of age with a comprehensive, integrated system of early childhood development services. Through the integration of health care, quality child care, parent education, and effective intervention programs for families at risk, children and their parents and caregivers will be provided with the tools necessary to foster secure, healthy, and loving attachments. This website includes comprehensive resources on early childhood education and related research, as well as information on other First 5 California programs.
Child Development Division, California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ This site offers resources and information for child development contractors, families, and community members regarding child development programs funded by the state.
Child Development Policy Institute: http://www.cdpi.net The CDPI aims to improve early education quality and child care services to children in California. The site includes documents and reports on various child care issues, information on the Governors child care budget proposals, a comprehensive list of child development-related links, as well as an electronic news bulletin, Early Education in the News. The bulletin provides information on breaking child care-related news, recent child care policies, and early childhood education conferences and events. To subscribe to Early Education in the News, send an email to list@cdpi.net.
EarlyChildhood.com: http://www.earlychildhood.com This is a commercial website offering online resources for Teachers and Parents. The site includes topics like sharing ideas, reading center, ask our experts, arts & crafts, and early childhood news in addition to learning toys and supplies.
Head Start: http://www2.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child development programs that serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. They are child-focused programs and have the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families. This site offers information about the different programs of Head Start, as well as research and statistics related to early childhood education.
I am Your Child Foundation: http://www.iamyourchild.org The I Am Your Child Foundation is a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization that was founded in 1997 by actor/director Rob Reiner to raise awareness about the importance of early childhood development and school readiness. IAYC develops a wide variety of resources for parents, early childhood professionals, child advocates, health care providers, policymakers, and the media. IAYC also promotes public policies that help ensure that children have the physical well-being and the social, emotional, and cognitive abilities they need to enter school ready to succeed.
KQED Early Learning: www.kqed.org/topics/education This site includes information on education and learning for child care professionals, educators, and adult learners. It provides news on media literacy, lists upcoming KQED education network programs, and includes links to related websites-- particularly Ready to Learn, which offers workshops designed to help parents and child care workers transform TV from a passive babysitter to a rewarding learning experience for children.
National Center for Early Development and Learning: http://www.fpg.unc.edu/%7ENCEDL/ NCEDL is a national early childhood research project supported by the US Department of Education's Institute for Educational Sciences (IES). Research at the NCEDL focuses on enhancing the cognitive, social, and emotional development of children from birth through age eight. The site offers access to research materials and various publications related to early childhood development.
National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education (NCPIE): http://www.ncpie.org The NCPIE's major goal is to advocate the involvement of parents and families in their children's education, and to foster relationships between home, school, and community to enhance the education of all our nation's young people. Their website includes a complete catalog of resources related to early childhood education.
Policy Analysis for California Education: http://pace.berkeley.edu/packard_foundation_study.html Preschool for California's Children: Promising Benefits, Unequal Access, from Policy Analysis for California Education, discusses disparities in childrens readiness for school and the cognitive benefits of center-based child care -- particularly for children from low-income families. Includes policy recommendations.
Childrens Health
100% Campaign: http://www.100percentcampaign.org The 100% Campaign is a collaborative effort that was created to ensure that all of California's children obtain the health coverage they need to grow up strong and healthy. The website includes information on advocacy, health care information for parents, and several other resources related to the 100% Campaign.
Community Toolbox for Children's Environmental Health: http://www.communitytoolbox.org/ Community Toolbox for Children's Environmental Health seeks to build the organizational capacity and support of parent and other community-based organizations working to eliminate children's environmental health threats in communities at highest risk. Community Toolbox offers grants for parent and other community-based groups in two issue areas Children's Environmental Health and Justice and Lead Poisoning Prevention. Grant applications are available online.
GoKid.org: www.gokid.org GoKid.org is a community-based website created by a group of San Francisco parents. Written by parents and caregivers, this important resource guide to San Francisco and the Bay Area offers listings of places to go and things to do with kids, kid-friendly restaurants, child care and parenting resources, social services, children's health and safety information, and much more.
Neighborhood Parks Council: www.sfneighborhoodparks.org The Neighborhood Parks Council is a coalition of over 100 community-based park groups that work to improve and restore neighborhood parks, playgrounds, and recreation facilities in San Francisco. The website provides a forum for sharing information and experience among the groups, and lets visitors know how they can support their projects.
Entertainment
Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children's Entertainment (TRUCE): www.truceteachers.org This site provides information to help parents promote creative play, choose positive toys, and reduce the influence of harmful toys on their children. This link is updated annually around the holiday season to help adults make thoughtful gift choices promoting healthy play throughout the year.
General Resources
San Francisco Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF): www.sfkids.org This website provides a broad and valuable selection of resource information for San Francisco families. It includes child care, health, educational, social, recreational, and many other programs, as well as advocacy activities, volunteer opportunities, and special events. There are also stories about family life in San Francisco, online publications and resources, area maps, and census data.
Infants and Toddlers
Zero to Three: http://www.zerotothree.org/ Zero to Three's mission is to promote the healthy development of our nation's infants and toddlers by supporting and strengthening families, communities, and those who work on their behalf. Their site includes parenting tips, resources for families, and information on public policy.
Parenting
Childhood Matters: http://www.childhoodmatters.org This is a live, one-hour radio call-in program for parents and others who care for children. Rona Renner, RN is the host of the show, which airs every Sunday morning from 9 to 10 am on 98.1 KISS FM. Listeners are encouraged to call in with questions to (877) 372-KIDS.
The Daily Parent: http://childcareaware.org/en/dailyparent The Daily Parent is an online newsletter produced by NACCRRA, the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. It contains articles and information on many topics of interest to parents. For past issues of the Daily Parent, and for other information and resources about child care, please visit Child Care Aware at: http://childcareaware.org.
Fathers at Work: http://www.fathersatwork.com Oakland-based Fathers At Work offers workshops on "Balancing Father Stress and Professional Success." Co-founder Armin Brott is the author of six best-selling books on fatherhood, including The New Father: A Dad's Guide to the First Year and Fathering Your Toddler: A Dad's Guide to the Second and Third Years.
Parents Place: www.parentsplaceonline.org Parents Place is a nationally recognized full-service resource center for families with children of all ages. Services on this site include a diverse curriculum of parent support groups, a child care bulletin board, classes and workshops, and a resource library, as well as online answers to your parenting questions from our professional Parents Place staff. Parents Place gives families access to the tools they need whenever they need them.
Support Group for Mothers:http://www.supportgroupformothers.com Support Groups for Mothers Group links mothers with support groups throughout the Bay Area. The site also provides information on community resources, from prenatal courses to infant massage.
Policy and Legal Information
Child Welfare League of America: http://www.cwla.org/childwelfare/familyguide.htm A Family's Guide to the Child Welfare System, from the Child Welfare League of America, provides information for parents on the child welfare system, laws, and policies, as well as how parents can advocate for their family's rights and tips from other parents. Children's Defense Fund Action Council: http://www.cdfactioncouncil.org/actionguide/2004.pdf Nation and Century Defining Time: Where is America Going? from the Children's Defense Fund Action Council is an action guide with information on how federal budget and tax policies affect children's health, poverty, education, and child care. Includes state-level statistics.
Law Help California: http://www.lawhelpca.org/ Law Help California, from the Public Interest Clearinghouse, is a statewide, searchable database of resource and referral information on legal topics, such as housing, public benefits, health, work, immigration, civil rights, family and kids, protection from abuse, and Native American issues.
Social Services
Family Service Agency of San Francisco: http://www.fsasf.org The Family Service Agency of San Francisco (FSASF) is a nonsectarian, nonprofit charitable social services provider. Their site describes the organizations programs and projects designed to improve the lives of the citys neediest residents: vulnerable families and individuals, particularly disadvantaged children, at-risk teens, dependent and isolated seniors, and the mentally ill.
This directory catalogs a wide variety of services and information for physical activity and nutrition in San Francisco, categorized by geographic location and type of activity. Listings include everything from dance and tai chi to self defense and performing arts.
Our Mission
Our mission is to meet family needs for high-quality child care in all San Francisco communities.
