Children's Council of San Francisco

Our history of connecting San Francisco families to child care began in 1973. Co-founders Patty Siegel and Martha Roditti began by organizing neighborhood playgroups in response to the growing community need for full-time child care. In 1975 and 1976, with significant support from both the Rosenberg Foundation and the Ford Foundation, Children's Council was able to expand its services and begin building its comprehensive list of licensed child care throughout San Francisco. After the federal welfare-to-work child care program was introduced in 1996 (CalWorks in California), Children's Council expanded to meet the needs of working families, quadrupling in size in a few years. Under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Linnea Klee, Children's Council added many innovative programs serving the needs of San Fransico's children, families and child care community. Children's Council continues these hallmark programs today. And we have launched new initiatives in parenting support and professional development for child care providers, supported by both private and public funds. Today we are led by Executive Director Sandee Blechman in working toward our vision that all families in San Francisco will have access to quality early care and education.