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 connection and enhance collaboration. For the past year, extended neighborhood collaboratives, led by FRCs have, been ongoing among service providers to explore how the organizations can work together effectively with SFPL to support children 0-5 and their families.
Attendees heard from Early Learning Coordinator, Ruben Balderas, about the robust digital services that SFPL branches offer, including technology support and materials, free streaming services, and online literacy tools. DEC’s Family Support Manager, Shelli Rawlings-Fein, about upcoming programing and opportunities for collaboration and community engagement.
The neighborhood collaboratives have been ongoing in Visitacion Valley, Excelsior, South of Market, and the Tenderloin. The initial success of these collaborative groups has prompted the formation of four additional neighborhood collaboratives in Chinatown, the Sunset, the Richmond, the Mission, and Bayview.
The workgroups organized by the SFPL and DEC, continue to build vital relationships across different sectors, connecting educators with community organizations to enhance service delivery for San Francisco’s young children. DEC’s strong network of 26 Family Resource Centers, funded and implemented through the Family Resource Center Initiative, creates a coordinated system of care that makes it easier in San Francisco to increase access to information and resources.
Branches of the SFPL throughout the City play a crucial role in providing families with technical information and literacy materials. This is why DEC regularly brings together its network of service providers to recognize and celebrate the collaborative efforts of Family Resource Centers and the SFPL in connecting young children to the resources they need beyond the classroom.
Throughout the last year, these neighborhood-based workgroups have deepened their relationships with one another and their local library branch to develop our understanding of how to effectively support young children and ensure that service providers are coordinated in their care for young children.