Annual Report 2014
O U R I M PACT Provided
11,048
referrals to child care and other community resources Helped more than
5,000
families connect to child care financial assistance Helped
100
families locate inclusive care for a child with special needs
929
participants in child care provider trainings
300
participants in parenting workshops Child care providers in our Food Program served
1.1 million
nutritious meals to over
2,600 children
Board of Directors
Leadership Team
Our Mission
Elena Schmid, President Jim Kirk, Treasurer Renita Sinn, Secretary Victoria Fong Jennifer Holderness Taara Hoffman Jordan Trent Jones Marissa Levinson Ephraim Luft Fran Maier John Nadzam Farris Page, Ph.D.
Sandee Blechman, Executive Director Michael Williams, Deputy Director of Programs Wendy Bear, Deputy Director of Finance and Operations Debra B. Bernstein, Director of Advancement Janet Zamudio, Director of Parent Services Phillip Warner, Director of Family Subsidy Services
Children’s Council connects families to child care that meets their needs and works with parents, providers, and community partners to make quality child care and early education a reality for all children in our city.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
San Francisco is in the midst of another tech boom, which continues to bring many benefits to our city. At the same time, thousands of hard working residents find themselves struggling more than ever to make ends meet. At Children’s Council we meet these people every day. The cost of housing, the largest monthly expense for most families, is rising exponentially. The second biggest monthly expense for most families is child care. And without child care, many parents can’t work or pursue their education. So widespread access to quality child care is crucial if San Francisco is to remain a place where all parents can work and families can succeed. The California Budget Project finds that $96,000 per year is a livable wage for a family of four in San Francisco. Yet the maximum income to apply for child care assistance is $46,800. A startling 33% of local families are eligible for financial assistance, but available government support isn’t sufficient to meet the need. There are currently more than 3,600 children on the waiting list for child care subsidies in San Francisco. So we have a long way to go. Children’s Council is committed to our vision that all families in San Francisco have access to quality child care and early education. This Annual Report features stories of families and child care providers who have benefited from our services. They are just a
few of the 10,000 families and over 20,000 individuals touched by our programs over the past year. We extend our appreciation to the many partners – government agencies, communitybased organizations, child care providers, foundations and individuals – who share our commitment to the families and children of our city. We also thank Children’s Council’s 100+ staff who work diligently every day to support families and child care professionals, and our board members who give so generously of their time and talent in support of our mission and goals.
Sincerely yours,
ELENA SCHMID President, Board of Directors
SANDEE BLECHMAN Executive Director
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“Child care helped me so much. I am very proud of myself and my family.”– UN UN CHE
UN UN CHE WITH DAUGHTERS, MICHELLE, SARA & JENNY
Helping Families Succeed In 2004, Un Un Che was feeling the pressure of single motherhood. Her daughter Jenny was in preschool and another child was on the way. Un Un had two parttime jobs and could barely make ends meet. Proud of her ability to keep a positive outlook, Un Un suddenly felt hopeless. Not only did she need the income, she enjoyed her work and saw it as an important example to set. Now she faced the prospect of welfare.
Un Un soon learned about the San Francisco Child Care Connection, a Children’s Council service that matches families to subsidized child care spaces as they become available. By the time Michelle was born, there was a space for her at a program near Jenny’s preschool. And Un Un could get help paying for both girls’ care. Un Un says that connection to reliable child care restored her faith that she could make a successful life for her family. Since then baby sister Sara has
joined the family. Un Un now balances four part-time jobs, all related to serving families in need. And her positive energy seems boundless. Jenny, Michelle and Sara are proud of their mother’s dedication and spirit. When asked by some visitors about their role models, all three exchanged looks and said, “Our mom.”
Expert Support for Children with Special Needs
“I couldn’t have found the right care for Tatiana without Children’s Council. They know all the hidden gems you can’t find on Google.” – JIMENA RENGIFO
Jimena Rengifo knew that her daughter, Tatiana, was on the autism spectrum long before bringing Tatiana to visiting day at her soon-to-be preschool. It was the same program Jimena’s older daughter had attended for two years. So it came as a shock when the director pulled Jimena aside and told her that the preschool would no longer accept Tatiana. Jimena felt a mix of anger, rejection and sadness. Soon the most pressing reality hit her. Jimena teaches first grade and the school year was starting in three weeks. Her husband also works full-time. Who would care for Tatiana? And who could give her the support she needed? Jimena likes to understand her options before making a big decision. But her head was spinning with ideas and loose strands of information. Then Tatiana’s speech therapist referred Jimena to the Children’s Council Inclusion Team. Her first conversation with our Child Development Specialist gave her hope. His questions clarified what kind of support Tatiana needed in a child care setting, as well as the family’s constraints such as cost, location and hours. The next day the Child Development Specialist was making calls to child care providers with track records of providing inclusive care. He helped Jimena schedule visits, prioritize sites, and write down questions to ask. The next two weeks were a flurry of activity for Jimena. But with each visit and each conversation, a solution came more into focus. The week before school started, Jimena found a family child care provider with the right mix of training and compassion to care for Tatiana.
THE CHILDREN’S COUNCIL INCLUSION TEAM HELPS FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS FIND INCLUSIVE CHILD CARE PLACEMENTS.
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Partnering with Child Care Providers Karen Lewis has received a wide range of support from Children’s Council during her 25 years as a family child care provider in San Francisco’s Ingleside district. And she says that taking part in the Child Care Food Program for the past five years has made a big impact on the children she cares for and their parents. Karen prepares fresh, nutritious meals and snacks each day and is reimbursed for much of that
cost through the Food Program. She also has a working garden where the children help grow some of the food they eat. Instilling healthy habits in young children is important to Karen. Parents also appreciate this, plus they are saved the time and expense of preparing meals. When one mother learned that Karen would provide fresh food at no extra cost, she said to Karen, “Where have you been all my life?”
Regular trainings led by Children’s Council staff help Karen stay up-to-date on best practices in childhood nutrition and physical activity. She also learns new recipes. One recent favorite for the children is fruit pizza, with a choice of blueberries or pineapple topping. “I thought no way this will work, but they loved it!” says Karen. “Now they think pizza always has fruit on top.”
“I don’t have to pass the cost of high quality food along to parents. And that makes a big difference for many of my families.”– KAREN LEWIS KAREN AND THE CHILDREN ENJOYING GARDEN TIME.
CHARLENE WALTERS, RESOURCE AND REFERRAL COUNSELOR
Helping Parents Make Important Choices Charlene Walters grew up in a family that values helping others. She remembers regular drives from her home in Southern California to deliver clothes and blankets to communities in Mexico.
“The parents we serve are diverse in so many ways. But they all want to find the best situation for their family. Helping other parents find that balance is a great feeling.” – CHARLENE WALTERS
In her eight years at Children’s Council, Charlene has helped thousands of parents make important choices about child care. And the biggest lesson she’s learned? “There’s no one set formula. My job is to help parents understand what’s out there and what works for them.” Charlene is part of the counseling team that provides one-on-one support to every parent who contacts Children’s Council. She also leads our monthly Choosing Child Care and Choosing a Preschool workshops. In addition to being an expert in San Francisco’s child care landscape, Charlene is the mother of a nine yearold daughter. That perspective helps her appreciate the energy clients invest in decisions about child care. Last year Charlene helped a foster father find a loving family child care home for his two year-old foster son. Recently the father returned to Children’s Council. He felt the boy would benefit by moving to a larger preschool setting, which Charlene helped him select and enroll in.
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F I S CA L Y E A R I N R EV I EW Year ended June 30, 2014*
$65,522,776 TOTAL BUDGET
Child Care Subsidy Payments $30,029,980
Child Care Provider Quality Incentives & Income Supports $26,121,747 Programs & Operations
Programs & Operations $9,371,049
Family Subsidy Services $6,863,148
Child Care Provider Services $1,309,758
Parent Services $685,418
Nutrition & Wellness $414,122
Fiscal Intermediary $98,603
*Unaudited figures
H I G H L I G H TS O F T H E Y E A R
Field trips to Children’s Council teach young children and child care providers about gardening and nutrition.
Two champions of child care, State Senator Mark Leno and Children’s Council founder Patty Siegel, greet each other at our logo launch celebration.
500 people attended our Growing Healthy Kids community health fair.
Celebrating the logo launch with our valued local partners. From left to right, September Jarrett of the Mimi and Peter Haas Fund; Graham Dobson and Barbara Carlson of the Office of Early Care and Education; Maria Su of the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families; Lynn Merz of the Mimi and Peter Haas Fund; Sandee Blechman of Children’s Council; and Lisa Lee of First 5 San Francisco.
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O U R SU P P O RT E R S Children’s Council is grateful to the generous supporters who help us pursue our vision of quality child care and early education for all San Francisco families.
Program Funders California Department of Education – Early Education & Support Division First 5 California First 5 San Francisco Human Services Agency of San Francisco San Francisco Department of Children, Youth & Their Families San Francisco Department of Public Health San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education Donors $10,000 and above California Child Care Resource & Referral Network Full Circle Fund The David B. Gold Foundation Mimi and Peter Haas Fund The San Francisco Foundation The Morris Stulsaft Foundation Laszlo N. Tauber Family Foundation $1,000-$9,999 Wendy Bear Michael Bien and Jane Kahn Beverly Blechman Nina and Michael Blechman Sandee Blechman and Steven Goldberg Susan Britton Victoria Fong, AIA Alison Geballe Albert and Judith Goldberg Foundation Theresia Gouw Anita Marie Head Harrington Group HOK Architects Jennifer and Howard Holderness
Yolanda Jenkins, Ph.D. Jordan T. Jones Kaiser Permanente Marissa Levinson Fran Maier Mechanics Bank Paulette Meyer and David Friedman Gale Mondry and Bruce Cohen John and Jami Nadzam San Francisco Health Plan Betty and Jack Schafer Wells Fargo $500-$999 Angela Alvarado Elizabeth and Andrew Daecher Rebecca and Nick Eaton Myrna and Tom Frankel Susan Bailey and David Harnden Vivian H. Jenkins Carol and David Jeske Jim Kirk and Audrey Agustin-Kirk Ellen Levy Courtney Minick and Brandon Long Garrrett O’Reilly Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP Philanthropic Fund Andrea Scharf and Ken Krug Elena Schmid Wilson and Malika White Up to $500 Melissa and Robert Abbe James Annuziata Andi and David Arrick Christopher Babel Alisa Baker Nobl Barazangi Alvin Baum Amy and Jeff Belkora Carrie Byles Sara and Thomas Byrne Carmen Chan Marlinawati Chan and Kevin Sietho Margaret and Charles Charnas Rebecca and Mark Clendenin
Richard Connett Susie Cranston and Russell Hamilton Barbara Curtis Drs. Claire and James Davis Maiysha Dickerson Eric Dilda and Traci Wilda Betsy and Roy Eisenhardt David Elkins Regine Familet Nicholas Footracer Rose Vilma Gass David Gast Ari Gluck Susan and Bill Gould Allyson Halpern and Dan Cohen Genevieve L’Heureux and Timothy Getz Martha S. Hales and Jim McKerrow Albert T. Hardy Dawn and Scott Hartman Anna Zornosa Heymann Taara Hoffman and Steve Bissinger Ari Horie Nancy Horn Leslie and George Hume Minyi Jiang Alice Jones Laura Jones Nancy and Peder Jones Ruth Katz and Michael Rapaport Fred and Carolin Kaynor Erica and Jeremy Kelly Daphne Kotler Laurie and Peer Krane Leena Krasno Michael and Nicole Krassner David H. Kremer and Marla Miller Christina Kristoffersen Rose Lavandero Tuyet Le and Franco Marinaro Man Ling Lin Shavon Lindley Becky Mai Donna and Eric Matcovich
Children’s Council of San Francisco is a 501(c)3 organization and contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law. This report lists supporters from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. We strive for accuracy in our listings. Please accept our apologies for any errors and contact our Development Office at 415.276.2968 or development@childrenscouncil.org so we can make the appropriate revisions.
Danielle McGuire Carol M. Mears Marlene Miller Paula Moya Negar Naraghi and Khosro Daraie Amy Portello Nelson and Family Oona Nelson Theresa Nelson and Bernard Smits Courtney Norris Avital and Tali Oliver Ann Marie and Joe Perrelli John Proctor Amy and Joshua Rassen Paul Resnick and Joan Karlin Natalie Rome Helene Roos Sally and Toby Rosenblatt Aaron Rosenthal and Catherine Zinn Debra and Robert Rosenthal Joanna Rosenthal Janice Platt and Jeffrey Ross Susan Rothstein and John Koeppel Margie Sargent Sara Schaer Sue Ann and Robert Schiff Rita Semel Wendy Singley Renita Sinn Philippe Sion and Erin O’Donohue Melissa Sladden Sharon Smuckler Abby Snay and Edward Yelin Betty Somocurcio-Leon Jonathan Spring Vera and Harold Stein Victoria Stone and Michael Freeman Haywood A. Strickland Don and Sara Sweet Joy Taylor Trish Tierney Sandra Treacy and Robert Bunker Christine Tripp United Way of the Bay Area Combined Federal Campaign Melinda Van Vleck
Marilyn and Murry Waldman Phillip Warner Lynn and Peter Wendell Beverley and Robert Wesman Nancy and Bebo White Jay Williams and Holly Holter Glenda and Al Wiman Janet Zamudio Karen and Carter Zinn Marc Zussman and Rebecca Turner Matching Gifts Apple Genentech Google Kaiser Permanente Community Giving Campaign PG&E Corporation United Way of the Bay Area United Way of California, Capital Region In-Kind Supporters Ajilon Professional Staffing Chris Bajarias Bay Area Discovery Museum BAYCAT Bi-Rite Market Sandee Blechman California Academy of Sciences Cole Hardware Costumes on Haight Cresencia Angelo Photography Delfina The Walt Disney Family Museum Exploratorium flip & tumble Victoria Fong, AIA Allyson Halpern Carolyn Hodge, Roccam Consulting Integral Yoga Mission Cliffs POPSUGAR Preferred Meals Recess Urban Recreation Carlos Resendiz San Francisco 49ers San Francisco Soup Company San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market SF-Marin Food Bank Sports Basement Starbucks Trader Joe’s Whole Foods Market
Community Partners 18 Reasons BANANAS California Alternative Payment Program Association California Early Childhood Mentor Program California Child Care Resource & Referral Network Child Abuse Prevention Council Child Care Coordinating Council of San Mateo Child Care Food Program Roundtable Child Care Law Center Child Care Planning and Advisory Council City College of San Francisco Community Child Care Council of Alameda County Compass Family Services Contra Costa Child Care Council Family Child Care Association of San Francisco Family Child Care Peer Mentor Program Family Support Services of the Bay Area Fu Yau Healthy San Francisco Instituto Familiar de la Raza Leah’s Pantry Mission Economic Development Agency Parents Place Raising A Reader San Francisco Child Care Health Project San Francisco Child Care Providers Association San Francisco Department of Public Health San Francisco Family Support Network San Francisco Sheriff’s Department San Francisco State University San Francisco Unified School District Sports Basement University of California, Davis WestEd Wu Yee Children’s Services
CHI LDR E N’S COUNCI L SAN FRANCI SCO 11
445 Church Street San Francisco, CA 94114 415.276.2900 childrenscouncil.org
Original photography by Carol Vaziri / Design by Terra Studio, San Francisco