Come Celebrate with Us!
Week of the Young Child (April 1-7) is hosted by the Department of Early Childhood to celebrate San Francisco’s youngest children, and their families, teachers, and communities. Find events at FRCs near you all April.
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
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
Ingrid Mezquita on what DEC means to San Francisco’s families and providers
San Francisco’s newest city agency is the Department of Early Childhood(DEC). This Department, which merges the former San Francisco Office of Early Care & Education with First 5 San Francisco,
San Francisco Launches New Department of Early Childhood
Our new department provides children under six and their families with a robust early childhood system of support and dedicates nearly $300 million to support early educators, children, and…
New Department, Renewed Commitment
We have officially merged First 5 San Francisco and the San Francisco Office of Early Care & Education to create the Department of Early Childhood. We are very excited for
Mayor London Breed Announces $50.7 Million Investment Over Two Years in Children and Family Recovery Plan in Proposed Budget
Mayor London N. Breed announced a planned $50.7 million in her upcoming two year budget to fund four recommendations from her Children and Family Recovery Plan, announced in February 2022.
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
Ingrid Mezquita on what DEC means to San Francisco’s families and providers
San Francisco’s newest city agency is the Department of Early Childhood(DEC). This Department, which merges the former San Francisco Office of Early Care & Education with First 5 San Francisco,