Welcome!
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.
Parents, we're here for you.
Parenting is hard sometimes. That’s 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 through partnerships, family services, and early childhood programs. As a result, we are making it easier to raise young children in the city we love.
OTHER RESOURCES
FOR FAMILIES
Growing together in early childhood.
We believe that the educators, community partners, and spaces where children grow, learn, and thrive are what make us strong. Together we can advance benefits, provide tools and training and connect children and their families to the city and beyond.
As First 5 and OECE transition to DEC, information on all of our existing programs and services can still be found on our websites:
News & Updates
The Fun Has Just Begun: DEC’s Family Resource Centers Celebrated SF’s Week of the Young Child
Every year during the first week of April, communities across the nation celebrate the Week of the Young Child to honor and uplift the importance of early learning, young children,
LISTEN: Child Care is Getting More Affordable in S.F. with DEC’s Wei-min Wang
In an interview on KQED’s podcast, The Bay, Wei-min Wang from our team, recently shared how Child Care is Getting More Affordable in S.F. Listen here! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452?i=1000613049906 Child care is
En route to a thriving early childhood system in San Francisco
San Francisco has many programs and agencies aiming to serve our city’s babies and young children, but they could be more coordinated. As a result, agencies, providers, and families are
Week of the Young Child in San Francisco
The Week of the Young Child is being celebrated all of April in San Francisco! Family Resource Centers are hosting free events all over the city. During the first week of April and
Announcing Our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan
More than three years ago, when First 5 San Francisco (First 5 SF) and the San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education (OECE) first began planning together and exploring
DEC’s Year in Review
As we begin the new year, we reflect on our collective accomplishments in 2022. In our initial year as a new city department, DEC has established itself as a strong
The Fun Has Just Begun: DEC’s Family Resource Centers Celebrated SF’s Week of the Young Child
Every year during the first week of April, communities across the nation celebrate the Week of the Young Child to honor and uplift the importance of early learning, young children,
LISTEN: Child Care is Getting More Affordable in S.F. with DEC’s Wei-min Wang
In an interview on KQED’s podcast, The Bay, Wei-min Wang from our team, recently shared how Child Care is Getting More Affordable in S.F. Listen here! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452?i=1000613049906 Child care is
En route to a thriving early childhood system in San Francisco
San Francisco has many programs and agencies aiming to serve our city’s babies and young children, but they could be more coordinated. As a result, agencies, providers, and families are