We empower families with information and financial support
We build the capabilities of educators
Without child care, San Francisco doesn’t work
Child care makes our life possible
We believe in a San Francisco where every child is able to reach their full potential
Our blog features information and advice on topics like child development, literacy and pediatric health, as well as feature stories about our staff, programs, and the families and educators whose lives have been impacted by our work.
As the new school year approaches, families across the Children’s Council community are navigating a familiar set of priorities: staying organized, managing costs and easing the transition back into the school routine. At Children’s […]
This summer, Children’s Council of San Francisco has officially launched BCDI Children’s Council of San Francisco, a Village of the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI). With this new formal partnership with NBCDI, we are intentional about deepening our community engagement with Black children and families.
This summer, Children’s Council of San Francisco has officially launched BCDI Children’s Council of San Francisco, a Village of the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI). With this new formal partnership with NBCDI, we are intentional about deepening our community engagement with Black children and families.
Children’s Council of San Francisco’s Healthy Apple Program is excited to announce the 2024 Healthy Apple Award recipients.
Healthy Apple recognized 45 child care sites with 69 awards for excellence in child care nutrition and physical activity practices! Even more impactful, these awards reflect healthy practices in place at early education sites serving 625 children.
This summer, Children’s Council of San Francisco has officially launched BCDI Children’s Council of San Francisco, a Village of the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI). With this new formal partnership with NBCDI, we are intentional about deepening our community engagement with Black children and families.
Children’s Council recently honored past leaders, child care champions and dedicated staff who have shaped our organization over the last 50 plus years by unveiling our Children’s Council Leadership Recognition Wall. This wall celebrates past CEOs, Board Chairs, Family Child […]
Veteran fundraising leader will spearhead a comprehensive, mission‑aligned strategy to expand philanthropic support for San Francisco children and families SAN FRANCISCO, CA (June 15, 2026) – Children’s Council of San Francisco is proud to announce that Denise […]
In honor of Pride Month in June, we asked Children’s Council of San Francisco’s staff what Pride means to them, how they celebrate and who inspires them from the LGBTQ+ […]
In honor of Provider Appreciation Day on May 8, we asked Children’s Council of San Francisco Staff about a provider that had a profound impact on them or their child. […]
In honor of AANHPI Heritage Month, we’re highlighting Maria Luz Torre, Children’s Council’s Parent Voices Organizer and her over 30 years of service. Maria has organized and fought relentlessly over the past three decades, helping to win billions of dollars in child […]
by Jessica Boehme-Flores, Senior Manager of Family & Caregiver Engagement and Saeda Fuller, Developmental Playgroup Coach When it comes to a child’s healthy development, the first five years of life […]
At Children’s Council, our work has long been shaped by women leaders, advocates and visionaries who have helped move early care and education forward in San Francisco and beyond. This […]
By Chanelle Brown, Senior Manager of Equity & Leadership BCDI San Francisco is a fiscally sponsored project of Children’s Council. This new organizing space for Black families, community members and […]
Black History Month is a time to honor legacy, leadership and the work shaping our communities today. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month’s national recognition, highlighting […]
If you have been affected by the SFUSD strike and are in need of temporary child care for families with children ages 0-5, Children’s Council of San Francisco is here […]
By Alex Maykowski, Senior Manager for Public Policy & Organizing On January 24, 2026, Children’s Council of San Francisco, Parent Voices SF and the San Francisco Early Care and Education (ECE) Advocacy Coalition hosted […]
By Kelly Martinez, Associate Director of Child Care Quality and Business Supports Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers are indispensable to families and communities across San Francisco. They are the grandparents, aunts, cousins, trusted friends and […]
By Lucia Cazares, Evaluation Manager The Research, Data & Evaluation (RDE) team was established in 2021 to strengthen how Children’s Council of San Francisco understands and demonstrates its impact. Since then, our role has expanded from […]
In child care centers and family child care homes across San Francisco, lifelong eating habits are taking root. A toddler is trying broccoli for the first time. A parent is learning a quick, healthy option for dinner. A classroom is turning […]
Children’s Council has created a holiday resource guide to connect families to resources like food pantries, hot holiday meals, free clothing, toy drives and additional support services. Please check individual […]
Five teams from Children’s Council presented at the 2025 Joint Hybrid Annual Conference hosted by the Thriving Families California Foundation and the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network. This year’s conference was held October 15-17 in Sacramento, CA and focused on the theme, The Power of Partnerships: Uniting to Create Impact.
Fall is here and San Francisco is bursting with seasonal activities perfect for families. Whether you are searching for the perfect pumpkin or looking for free ways to enjoy the […]
At Children’s Council of San Francisco, child care providers are the heart of San Francisco’s neighborhoods. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, also honored by many as Latino or Latinx […]
Children’s Council is pleased to announce that Claudia Quiñonez, a valued member of our Executive Leadership Team, has been appointed as our new Chief of Staff. In this expanded role, Claudia will continue to work closely with CEO Barbara (Barb) Coccodrilli Carlson to drive organizational effectiveness, lead strategic initiatives and ensure impactful outcomes that advance our mission.
Children’s Council staff members (and parents) share special places on their parenting journey in San Francisco.
Here, Children’s Council staff member Laura Urban and Michelle Wing of It’s Yoga Kids share their top 10 tips on keeping your kids mentally and physically healthy this summer!
On Friday, June 6, 2025, Children’s Council proudly hosted a heartwarming and joyous graduation ceremony honoring the incredible accomplishments of our third and fourth cohorts of the Black Early Childhood Educator Career Development Pipeline program. The celebration took place at the beautiful Southeast Community Center and welcomed more than 200 guests including friends, family members, and community leaders who came together to uplift and honor the 30 extraordinary graduates.
This summer, Children’s Council of San Francisco has officially launched BCDI Children’s Council of San Francisco, a Village of the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI). With this new formal partnership with NBCDI, we are intentional about deepening our community engagement with Black children and families.
Children’s Council launched a BIPOC ECE Pre-Apprenticeship program this year with an emphasis on addressing the need for Pacific Islander and Black early educators in San Francisco’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) field. Built with strong community input and sponsored by the Department of Early Childhood (DEC), this transformative workforce development program aims to support and improve the quality, care, and education for BIPOC children by recruiting, training and connecting BIPOC students for a career in the early childhood field.
At Children’s Council, we believe in a San Francisco where every child is able to reach their full potential and thrive. And one of our Core Values is to support the growth and well-being of ALL San Francisco families.
No more paper attendance sheets, driving across the city to drop off documents, or waiting for postal service!
Last week, Children’s Council of San Francisco proudly joined early care and education advocates from across the country at the Child Care Aware of America Symposium in Washington, D.C. As part of a united California delegation, we partnered with the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network and Wu Yee Children’s Services to amplify the urgent need for federal investments in child care.
On National Provider Appreciation Day — today, May 9, 2025 — Children’s Council of San Francisco joins our colleagues from across the United States in celebrating the vital contributions of child care providers and early childhood educators.
Meet Children’s Council’s diverse team in our Staff Spotlight. Nikki Smith is our Director of Facilities and Operations.
Children’s Council of San Francisco’s Healthy Apple Program is excited to announce the 2024 Healthy Apple Award recipients.
Healthy Apple recognized 45 child care sites with 69 awards for excellence in child care nutrition and physical activity practices! Even more impactful, these awards reflect healthy practices in place at early education sites serving 625 children.
The Associate Board In Focus series is centered on hearing from and learning more about members of our Associate Board – a group of emerging leaders who dedicate their time, talents, networks and resources to raise awareness of and advance the mission of Children’s Council of San Francisco. In this video, we hear from May Huang who has served on the Associate Board for five years.
Are you a supervisor or administrator working in early childhood education (ECE)? Apply today to join the ECE Equity Leadership Academy.
Through this new, innovative program, we aim to build upon the leadership in our community and amplify the voices of diverse ECE leaders.
National Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Week is March 16-22, 2025! By partnering with dedicated child care providers, we help ensure that San Francisco’s youngest residents have access to the nourishment they need to grow, thrive, and learn.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we honor the women leaders who founded our organization, and we look to the women of today to take us forward.
Children’s Council of San Francisco’s Caregiver and Child Developmental Playgroups provide accessibility for children aged birth to three years who have mild to moderate disabilities, learning differences and/or complex medical needs to engage in inclusive, sensory-based, and hands-on learning activities. We actively partner with their caregivers to participate in supporting their children’s growth and development during the playgroups and at home.
As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s critical to recognize the contributions that countless Black women have made in Early Childhood Education (ECE).
Caring for a child—whether it’s your grandchild, niece, nephew, a friend’s child, or a neighbor’s little one—is an incredible gift to both the child and the family. Yet, we know it can sometimes feel like a journey you’re navigating alone. You are not alone.
At Children’s Council of San Francisco, we recognize the vital role that Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers play in shaping young lives.
By Alan Wong, Senior Director of Public Policy Communication This month, Children’s Council of San Francisco, Parent Voices SF and the San Francisco Early Care and Education (ECE) Advocacy Coalition hosted our […]
Children’s Council of San Francisco is excited to introduce a new series focused on members of our Associate Board – a group of emerging leaders who dedicate their time, talents, […]
By Maiysha Dickerson, Director of Black & BIPOC Early Childhood Education Achievement “Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a […]
As 2024 brought the celebration of 5 decades of empowering families and nurturing early childhood education in San Francisco, we’ve gathered valuable insights that have shaped our journey. Here are ten points we’ve learned over the past 50 years and will continue to build upon in the next 50:
Meet Children’s Council’s diverse team in our Staff Spotlight. Laura Urban, Associate Director of Health & Nutrition, brings over 10 years of experience strategizing and implementing nutrition security and chronic disease prevention programs at the state and local level to Children’s Council of San Francisco.
Our Child Care Business Incubator is making a profound impact on the Black community in San Francisco, and the results speak volumes. Through our unwavering commitment to supporting Black and African-American family child care providers, we have fostered a vibrant community of educators dedicated to nurturing the next generation. Our initiatives have led to the establishment of 20 new businesses, empowering 100+ existing micro-entrepreneurs to thrive in their journeys.
For parents with young children, the holiday season can be a time of magic and joy, but also a whole lot of stress! During the holidays, many parents find expenses […]
Children’s Council has compiled a holiday resource list to connect families to resources like food pantries, hot holiday meals, free clothing, toy drives, and more. Please check all program websites […]
Years at Children’s Council: 4 years How I contribute to the success of Children’s Council: I bring over 30 years of experience in working with both the for-profit and not-for-profit […]
Trusted early education leader with deep San Francisco roots to run important SF nonprofit organization SAN FRANCISCO, CA (October 1, 2024) – The Board of Directors of Children’s Council of […]
Here’s everything you need to know.
By Amie Latterman, Chief Advancement Officer As the calendar flips to September, families across the globe find themselves grappling with the whirlwind that is back-to-school month. It’s a time of […]
Come learn more at our child care Mayoral and Supervisor Forums! By Alan Wong, Director of Public Policy Communication As we move past the budget “season” in San Francisco, it’s […]
Years at Children’s Council: 3 years How I contribute to the success of Children’s Council: I provide support, guidance and coaching to three teams at Children’s Council: Community Outreach and Education, […]
Corina Dumitrescu (she/her) is an architect, wife and mother of two. Since 2011 she has dedicated herself to multi-family housing design, construction, and owner representation. Corina believes in whole communities […]
Children’s Council is pleased to announce that José A. Rodríguez will serve as Chief Human Resources Officer for the 50-year-old organization. “We are pleased to welcome José to the leadership […]
By Laura Urban, Associate Director of Health & Nutrition Children spend upwards of 40 hours per week in childcare, giving child care educators a unique opportunity to shape healthy behaviors […]
About a month ago, Children’s Council of San Francisco, along with the SF ECE Advocacy Coalition and our Early Childhood Education (ECE) community, faced a significant challenge. We learned that City Hall was considering cuts to Baby Proposition C funding, putting about $65 million at risk over the next four years due to the city’s budget crisis. In response, the SF ECE Advocacy Coalition quickly convened to strategize on how to engage the Mayor’s Office and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
Juneteenth is not only a time of celebration but also a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and justice. The commitment of our child care providers embodies the spirit of Juneteenth, as they work tirelessly to uplift and empower the next generation.
On June 6, we gathered to honor 21 incredible Black and African American child care educators, our Legacy Providers who have dedicated their lives to nurturing and educating the children of San Francisco.
Years at Children’s Council: 2 years How I contribute to the success of Children’s Council: In my role as Chief Programs Officer and member of the executive leadership team, I […]
Years at Children’s Council: 16 years How I contribute to the success of Children’s Council: I oversee and assist our Family Services Specialists who provide support to families with their […]
Lunar New Year is a special holiday to me. Growing up, my core memories of this holiday consist of large family gatherings, preparation leading up to the holiday and going to the temple.
This Black History Month, we would like to pay homage to Black women in the child care field. Black women in the United States have been the pioneers, trailblazers and sheroes of the child care workforce for centuries.
Years at Children’s Council: 15 years How I contribute to the success of Children’s Council: I activate the organization’s strategic plan by bringing leadership together to align, strategize, and maintain […]
by Raegan Sales, Healthy Apple Program Coordinator Children’s Council of San Francisco’s Healthy Apple Program is excited to announce the 2023 Healthy Apple Award recipients. We took advantage of a […]
Joelle and her mother De’Orsie just love babies. “I was ten when I realized I wanted to be a teacher,” says Joelle, director of JoJo’s Playhouse, a home-based child care program in the SOMA district. “I love babies so much I wanted to volunteer at the hospital just to hold them,” she says. Since 90% of all brain development occurs before the age of five, the years we spend with nurturing caregivers are critical ones.
The mother-daughter duo opened up their program about five years ago and recently completed the Pipeline for Black Early Childhood Educator Career Development program at Children’s Council — graduating with straight As.
In a unified effort to drive change and advocate for the future of early care and education (ECE), the San Francisco Child Care Planning and Advisory Council (CPAC) and the […]
Join our year end campaign to help solve the child care crisis.
Years at Children’s Council: 3 years How I contribute to the success of Children’s Council: I work with individuals who are launching their child care business and help make the process […]
On September 30, 2023, $37 billion in federal pandemic-era child care support expired. The child care system was already in a precarious position before the pandemic, with a large percentage of parents unable to find or pay for child care. This loss of federal funding will deepen the problem.
Je Ton Carey, Director of Black Early Care & Education at Children’s Council of SF, spoke last night on ABC 7 News about the California Attorney General’s investigation into implicit […]
After nearly five years as President & CEO of Children’s Council, Dr. Gina Fromer recently informed the Children’s Council Board of Directors that she will be pursuing a new challenge.
KQED Radio / Online feature story about our remarkable 2023 Black ECE Pipeline graduates.
Celebrating the accomplishments of our remarkable 39 graduates with an inspiring day of community and celebration.
During the month of June, 700+ child care champions turned out to urge city officials to keep Baby Prop C funding intact during a difficult budget year.
Children’s Council has teamed up with No Kid Hungry to provide local child care programs with weekly organic produce boxes.
Children’s Council recently celebrated the remarkable achievements of ten new Black family child care business owners.
Recently, Children’s Council hosted a site tour and information session with a group of early education colleagues from American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Hawaii.
The California Child Care Resource and Referral Network (The Network) and Social Policy Research Associates (SPR) are conducting an important survey.
We estimate these proposals will result in a loss of $150 – $180 million for child care in SF. Join us in taking action now!
Throughout the “Week of the Young Child” (April 2-8), the San Francisco Board of Supervisors visited child care sites across the 11 districts of the city to showcase the benefits of the WCI and Baby Prop C funding.
It’s imperative that we remind the Governor and our State Representatives that they cannot balance the state budget on the backs of our state’s little ones!
Ben has been appointed Chief Programs Officer, while Phillip has been named Chief Compliance Officer.
We’ll also be sharing the transformative work Children’s Council is doing right now, as well as our bold vision for a brighter, more inclusive future for our community.
USDA’s Dr. Sara Bleich and others see firsthand how Healthy Apple impacts nutrition and physical activity habits of children.
The publication gives a voice to our community of Black child care educators, many of whom have worked tirelessly for decades to support generations of families in SF.
Programs like CalWORKS, MediCal, CalFresh and Child Tax Credits are essential for lifting families and children out of poverty and improving their health and educational outcomes.
What a beautiful and FUN day it was for our annual event!
Everyone 5 years and older should get a COVID-19 booster, if eligible. Most people are now eligible for the new bivalent booster.
On Friday, August 5, 2022, we celebrated the graduation of our first-ever Pipeline for Black Early Childhood Educators. Learn more about the program and why it’s so important to our community.
Children’s Council has been hard to ensure our child care educators have affordable access to healthy meals for the kids in their care.
CPR Reimbursement Deadline If you are a licensed child care provider in San Francisco, the deadline to apply for CPR reimbursement classes is Wednesday, June 22 at midnight. You must […]
Child Care Aware Symposium draws hundreds of child care champions from across the US.
Over 225 attendees helped us surpass our fundraising goal to bring in over $220K!
Being the parent of a child with special needs comes with many challenges, but there are resources for families.
Lisa Lee has been named our 2022 Patty Siegel Child Care Champion. Leticia Ornelas is our Family Child Care Provider Champion.
Claudia brings over 15 years of experience in nonprofit management to our Executive Leadership team.
Be part of the movement to increase accessible, quality child care to Black children in San Francisco. Join our Family Friend & Neighbor Care Institute.
Registration available now! Learn more at www.childrenscouncil.org/events/citykids.