We are thrilled to announce the release of the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood’s (DEC) Communications and Community Engagement Plan for 2023-2027. This plan marks a significant milestone in our commitment to supporting the city’s youngest children and their families through clear, effective, and inclusive communication.
Why This Plan Matters
The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood was established in 2022 to ensure that every child in our city has the best start in life. As the city’s largest funder of early childhood programs, DEC plays a crucial role in providing resources, support, and leadership to those caring for our children. The development of this Communications and Community Engagement Plan was driven by our strategic plan and strategic priorities, which help guide how DEC will advance racial equity in policy planning and service delivery across the early childhood network of care. As a result, we are committed to amplifying parent voice, increasing cultural responsiveness, and enhancing transparency in our communications and services.
In 2023, DEC embarked on a communications and community engagement planning process to advance these strategic priorities. This process involved parents, early learning and care stakeholders, and service providers as partners. By actively involving those we serve, we have crafted a plan that truly reflects our community’s diverse needs and preferences.
What’s Inside the Plan
Our Communications and Community Engagement Plan is designed to guide our department’s efforts over the next three years. It outlines five goals and several key strategies to ensure that all families, regardless of background, have access to the information they need to support their children’s healthy development. Here are some of the highlights:
- Connecting Parents and Caregivers: Our primary goal is to ensure that every parent is introduced to DEC prenatally and remains connected with us as a trusted resource until their child reaches the age of five. We will build out our website as a comprehensive portal, offering easy access to early childhood services, resources, and information that parents need at every stage of their child’s development.
- Unified Messaging with Partners: We are committed to creating a unified voice across all our partnerships. Whether you are a healthcare provider, early educator, or community organization, we want to ensure that our messaging is consistent and aligned, helping us all better support the families we serve. This includes developing a partner portal that provides tools and materials for effective communication with parents.
- Building Public Awareness: Through proactive media relations and impactful storytelling, we aim to raise awareness of DEC’s work and the importance of early childhood development. We will share success stories, data, and policy recommendations that highlight the value of investing in our city’s youngest.
- Fostering Community Connections: We believe that parents thrive when they feel connected to a supportive community. To this end, we will host in-person events and create opportunities for parents to engage with each other and share their experiences. These efforts will help build a stronger, more connected community of families.
- Engaging Parents as Partners: Parents are at the heart of everything we do. Our plan includes the creation of a parent insights program that offers multiple ways for parents to provide feedback and be involved in decision-making processes. This ensures that our communications remain relevant and responsive to the evolving needs of our community. We are dedicated to ensuring that parents’ voices are heard and that their input shapes our programs and policies.
Our Next Steps
The release of our Communications and Community Engagement Plan is just the beginning. Over the next three years, we will work to implement these strategies, track our progress, and continuously improve our efforts based on feedback from the community. We are excited about the opportunities this plan creates for deeper engagement, stronger partnerships, and a more connected San Francisco community.
We invite you to stay connected with us through our website, social media, and upcoming events. Your participation is vital to the success of this plan, and we look forward to working together to create a brighter future for all children in San Francisco. Stay tuned for more updates as we roll out these exciting initiatives!