Raising a Family while Supporting Families
By Grace Berlanga, Family Subsidy and Children’s Service Specialist
From left to right, Brianna, Vanessa, Anabella and Viviana
As a 15-year veteran staff member of Children’s Council, I work with some of San Francisco’s most vulnerable families and children, including those in the foster care system and CalWorks, a welfare program. So every day I see how crucial quality child care is for families trying to get back on their feet.
I also love helping families access child care because I know first hand how child care makes a difference for both parents and children. When my first daughter Brianna was born 10 years ago, my husband and I were nervous about leaving her in child care. But we needed child care because we both had to work.
Even though I was working for Children’s Council and I had the support of our counselors, I was shocked by how hard it was to find child care. I was even more shocked by the cost of infant care. Although we qualified for financial assistance, there were no available spaces for subsidized care in San Francisco. So when an opening for subsidized care finally opened up in San Mateo County, we jumped at the opportunity.
But here’s the thing: we live and work in San Francisco.
So I understand that San Francisco’s high cost of living coupled with the high cost of quality child care is overwhelming for many parents.
Since Brianna was born, our family has grown. We have six year-old Vanessa and four-year-old twins, Anabella and Viviana. My husband was laid off from his job shortly after the twins were born. It was essential for our family that I continue to work and that he have the time to look for a new job. And our need for child care had just doubled!
This is why Children’s Council’s services are so critical for families.
Child care provides two vitally important bridges. It keeps parents in the work force and it provides the early learning opportunities that help children succeed in school.
Brianna and Vanessa both went to a family child care provider who used a preschool curriculum. By kindergarten they could write their name and numbers up to 15. They knew shapes and colors, and could safely handle scissors and glue. This strong foundation got them off to a successful start in elementary school. And this fall Anabella and Viviana started preschool!
In this last week before the New Year, please consider making a donation to Children’s Council. Support from individuals like you helps Children’s Council meet the child care needs of parents like me.