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.

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

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

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