Annual Report 2014

Leadership TeamSandee Blechman, Executive DirectorMichael Williams, Deputy Director of ProgramsWendy Bear, Deputy Director of Finance and OperationsDebra B. Bernstein, Director of AdvancementJanet Zamudio, Director of Parent ServicesPhillip Warner, Director of Family Subsidy Services

Provided

11,048referrals to child care and other

community resources

Helped more than

5,000families connect to child care

financial assistance

Helped

100families 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 millionnutritious meals to over

2,600children

Board of DirectorsElena Schmid, PresidentJim Kirk, TreasurerRenita Sinn, SecretaryVictoria FongJennifer HoldernessTaara HoffmanJordan Trent JonesMarissa LevinsonEphraim LuftFran MaierJohn NadzamFarris Page, Ph.D.

Our Mission 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.

OUR IMPACT

CHILDREN’S COUNCIL SAN FRANCISCO 3

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 exponen-tially. The second biggest monthly expense for most families is child care. And with-out 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 sup-port 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, community-based 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

A M E S S A G E F R O M O U R P R E S I D E N T & E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R

“Child care helped me so much. I am very proud of myself and my family.”– UN UN CHE

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 part-time jobs and could barely make ends meet.

Proud of her ability to keep a positive outlook, Un Un sud-denly 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.

Helping Families Succeed

Un Un soon learned about the San Francisco Child Care Con-nection, 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 pro-gram 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.”

UN UN CHE

WITH DAUGHTERS,

MICHELLE,

SARA & JENNY

CHILDREN’S COUNCIL SAN FRANCISCO 5

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, loca-tion 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.

Expert Support for Children with Special Needs

THE CHILDREN’S COUNCIL INCLUSION

TEAM HELPS FAMILIES OF CHILDREN

WITH SPECIAL NEEDS FIND INCLUSIVE

CHILD CARE PLACEMENTS.

“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

“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 Lewis has receiveda 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

Partnering with Child Care Providers

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.”

KAREN AND THE CHILDREN

ENJOYING GARDEN TIME.

CHILDREN’S COUNCIL SAN FRANCISCO 7

CHARLENE WALTERS, RESOURCE

AND REFERRAL COUNSELOR

“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

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.

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 Choos-ing 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 year-old 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.

Helping Parents Make Important Choices

FISCAL YEAR IN REVIEWYear ended June 30, 2014*

TOTAL BUDGET$65,522,776

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

Programs & Operations

Child Care Subsidy Payments

$30,029,980

Child Care Provider Quality Incentives & Income Supports

$26,121,747

Programs & Operations

$9,371,049

*Unaudited figures

CHILDREN’S COUNCIL SAN FRANCISCO 9

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.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

Program FundersCalifornia Department of Education – Early Education & Support DivisionFirst 5 CaliforniaFirst 5 San FranciscoHuman Services Agency of San FranciscoSan Francisco Department of Children, Youth & Their FamiliesSan Francisco Department of Public HealthSan Francisco Office of Early Care and Education

Donors$10,000 and aboveCalifornia Child Care Resource & Referral NetworkFull Circle FundThe David B. Gold FoundationMimi and Peter Haas FundThe San Francisco FoundationThe Morris Stulsaft FoundationLaszlo N. Tauber Family Foundation

$1,000-$9,999Wendy BearMichael Bien and Jane KahnBeverly BlechmanNina and Michael BlechmanSandee Blechman and Steven GoldbergSusan BrittonVictoria Fong, AIAAlison GeballeAlbert and Judith Goldberg FoundationTheresia GouwAnita Marie HeadHarrington GroupHOK ArchitectsJennifer and Howard Holderness

OUR SUPPORTERSChildren’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.

Yolanda Jenkins, Ph.D.Jordan T. JonesKaiser PermanenteMarissa LevinsonFran MaierMechanics BankPaulette Meyer and David FriedmanGale Mondry and Bruce CohenJohn and Jami NadzamSan Francisco Health PlanBetty and Jack SchaferWells Fargo

$500-$999Angela AlvaradoElizabeth and Andrew DaecherRebecca and Nick EatonMyrna and Tom FrankelSusan Bailey and David HarndenVivian H. JenkinsCarol and David JeskeJim Kirk and Audrey Agustin-KirkEllen LevyCourtney Minick and Brandon LongGarrrett O’ReillyRosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP Philanthropic FundAndrea Scharf and Ken KrugElena SchmidWilson and Malika White

Up to $500Melissa and Robert AbbeJames AnnuziataAndi and David ArrickChristopher BabelAlisa BakerNobl BarazangiAlvin BaumAmy and Jeff BelkoraCarrie BylesSara and Thomas ByrneCarmen ChanMarlinawati Chan and Kevin SiethoMargaret and Charles CharnasRebecca and Mark Clendenin

Richard ConnettSusie Cranston and Russell HamiltonBarbara CurtisDrs. Claire and James DavisMaiysha DickersonEric Dilda and Traci WildaBetsy and Roy EisenhardtDavid ElkinsRegine FamiletNicholas FootracerRose Vilma GassDavid GastAri GluckSusan and Bill GouldAllyson Halpern and Dan CohenGenevieve L’Heureux and Timothy GetzMartha S. Hales and Jim McKerrowAlbert T. HardyDawn and Scott HartmanAnna Zornosa HeymannTaara Hoffman and Steve BissingerAri HorieNancy HornLeslie and George HumeMinyi JiangAlice JonesLaura JonesNancy and Peder JonesRuth Katz and Michael RapaportFred and Carolin KaynorErica and Jeremy KellyDaphne KotlerLaurie and Peer KraneLeena KrasnoMichael and Nicole KrassnerDavid H. Kremer and Marla MillerChristina KristoffersenRose LavanderoTuyet Le and Franco MarinaroMan Ling LinShavon LindleyBecky MaiDonna 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.

CHILDREN’S COUNCIL SAN FRANCISCO 11

Danielle McGuireCarol M. MearsMarlene MillerPaula MoyaNegar Naraghi and Khosro DaraieAmy Portello Nelson and FamilyOona NelsonTheresa Nelson and Bernard SmitsCourtney NorrisAvital and Tali OliverAnn Marie and Joe PerrelliJohn ProctorAmy and Joshua RassenPaul Resnick and Joan KarlinNatalie RomeHelene RoosSally and Toby RosenblattAaron Rosenthal and Catherine ZinnDebra and Robert RosenthalJoanna RosenthalJanice Platt and Jeffrey RossSusan Rothstein and John KoeppelMargie SargentSara SchaerSue Ann and Robert SchiffRita SemelWendy SingleyRenita SinnPhilippe Sion and Erin O’DonohueMelissa SladdenSharon SmucklerAbby Snay and Edward YelinBetty Somocurcio-LeonJonathan SpringVera and Harold SteinVictoria Stone and Michael FreemanHaywood A. StricklandDon and Sara SweetJoy TaylorTrish TierneySandra Treacy and Robert BunkerChristine TrippUnited Way of the Bay Area - Combined Federal CampaignMelinda Van Vleck

Marilyn and Murry WaldmanPhillip WarnerLynn and Peter WendellBeverley and Robert WesmanNancy and Bebo WhiteJay Williams and Holly HolterGlenda and Al WimanJanet ZamudioKaren and Carter ZinnMarc Zussman and Rebecca Turner

Matching GiftsApple GenentechGoogle Kaiser Permanente Community Giving CampaignPG&E CorporationUnited Way of the Bay AreaUnited Way of California, Capital Region

In-Kind SupportersAjilon Professional StaffingChris BajariasBay Area Discovery MuseumBAYCATBi-Rite MarketSandee BlechmanCalifornia Academy of SciencesCole HardwareCostumes on HaightCresencia Angelo PhotographyDelfinaThe Walt Disney Family MuseumExploratoriumflip & tumbleVictoria Fong, AIAAllyson HalpernCarolyn Hodge, Roccam ConsultingIntegral YogaMission CliffsPOPSUGARPreferred MealsRecess Urban RecreationCarlos ResendizSan Francisco 49ersSan Francisco Soup CompanySan Francisco Wholesale Produce MarketSF-Marin Food BankSports BasementStarbucksTrader Joe’s Whole Foods Market

Community Partners18 ReasonsBANANASCalifornia Alternative Payment Program AssociationCalifornia Early Childhood Mentor ProgramCalifornia Child Care Resource & Referral NetworkChild Abuse Prevention CouncilChild Care Coordinating Council of San MateoChild Care Food Program RoundtableChild Care Law CenterChild Care Planning and Advisory CouncilCity College of San FranciscoCommunity Child Care Council of Alameda CountyCompass Family ServicesContra Costa Child Care Council Family Child Care Association of San FranciscoFamily Child Care Peer Mentor ProgramFamily Support Services of the Bay AreaFu YauHealthy San FranciscoInstituto Familiar de la RazaLeah’s PantryMission Economic Development AgencyParents PlaceRaising A ReaderSan Francisco Child Care Health ProjectSan Francisco Child Care Providers AssociationSan Francisco Department of Public HealthSan Francisco Family Support NetworkSan Francisco Sheriff’s DepartmentSan Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco Unified School DistrictSports BasementUniversity of California, Davis WestEd Wu Yee Children’s Services

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Original photography by Carol Vaziri / Design by Terra Studio, San Francisco