Creating “Safety in the Spaces Between” at DEC’s 2025 Infant/Toddler Conference

Approximately 240 early childhood educators, coaches, consultants, and advocates gathered on June 12, 13, and 14 for San Francisco’s third infant/toddler conference, hosted by DEC and WestEd. The event was […]
DEC Launches Celebrating Young Children Events Across San Francisco

The Department of Early Childhood is partnering with 26 Family Resource Centers (FRCs) throughout San Francisco to ensure a healthy start for the city’s children. FRCs play a vital role […]
Reflecting on DEC’s Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation During Mental Health Awareness Month

As this year’s Mental Health Awareness month comes to a close, we reflect on a pillar of our work at the Department of Early Childhood (DEC): promoting children’s healthy social […]
Press Release: San Francisco Department of Early Childhood Announces Early Connections

San Francisco, CA — The Department of Early Childhood (DEC), the city’s largest funder of early childhood programs dedicated to the safe and healthy development of young children, is proud […]
Strengthening our Coordinated System of Care: Family Resource Center and Early Care and Education Staff Reflect on a Year of Collaboration in Working Groups

Yesterday, DEC co-hosted a gathering with the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), uniting Family Resource Centers (FRCs), Family Child Care (FCCs), and Early Care and Education (ECEs) providers to foster […]
The Joy of Effective Strategies: Celebrating Kindergarten Readiness with SFUSD

Yesterday, 70 early educators joined DEC and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) for “The Joy of Effective Strategies,” an event to discuss and celebrate the positive and increasing […]
Press Release: The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood Invests $15 Million in Pathways Program to Strengthen Early Education Workforce

San Francisco – The Department of Early Childhood (DEC) is investing boldly in the future of early childhood education by launching its Early Educator Pathways Program. Over the next two […]
Celebrating remarkable milestones: Read DEC’s 2024 Annual Impact Report

The Department of Early Childhood is thrilled to announce the release of our 2024 Annual Impact Report. Every year has been exciting, but this year, we are celebrating a truly […]
Why we’ve invested $46 million to increase early educator wages

In a city known for its innovation and commitment to progress, DEC is taking bold steps to ensure San Francisco’s future is brighter than ever! Research shows that investing in […]
Announcing DEC’s Innovative Communications and Community Engagement Plan to Reach Families Where They Are

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 […]