San Francisco’s Department of

Children, Youth & Their Families

A National Model of Service to the Community

Created in 1989, San Francisco's Department of Children, Youth & Their Families (known as DCYF) is one of the few city departments in the country dedicated exclusively to meet the needs of young people from birth through the age of 24.  The department's mission is to ensure that families with children are a prominent and valued segment of San Francisco's social fabric by supporting programs and activities in every San Francisco neighborhood.

For regular updates on these efforts, please SUBSCRIBE to the electronic newsletter, A Message from DCYF.

DCYF Public Notices 

(CLICK HERE)

H I G H L I G H T S
(listed starting from most recent)

• Funding Opportunity Announcement - Youth Empowerment Fund Mini Grants
  

  SF Youth Empowerment Fund, a project of the Department of Children, Youth, and their Families is making funds available for Youth-led projects.  A total of $50,000 are available for projects taking place between July- December 2012.  The deadline for proposals is June 1, 2012 at 5:00pm.  For more information, go to the Youth Empowerment Fund website, or contact Gillian Bogart at gbogart@dcyf.org or (415) 554-3510. 

• Register Now for the 2012 Public Defender's Justice Summit, JUSTICE ON TRIAL: Gangs, Neuroscience and Drug Reform
  

  Former gang members, top law enforcement officials, leading neuroscientists and drug reform pioneers will gather for a frank and fascinating discussion at the 2012 Public Defender’s Justice Summit on Tuesday, May 29. The event will take place at the San Francisco Main Library in the Koret Auditorium, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free, but seating is limited. For more information and to register for the event, please visit sfpublicdefender.org.

• DCYF and DPH to Hold Information Session to Introduce Community Mental Health Worker Certificate Program:
  DCYF and the Department of Public Health-Mental Health Services Act Unit will hold an informational session with Dr. Sal Nunez to introduce the Community Mental Health Worker Certificate Program, a pilot project launched by MHSA and City College of San Francisco. The Community Mental Health Worker Certificate (CMHC) at CCSF is a 16 unit program based on the wellness and recovery model of mental health. The curriculum is designed to train a diverse group of front-line health workers to provide culturally responsive mental health and recovery services, and is focused on engaging mental health consumers, their family members, and other interested individuals and communities. Students will complete an internship with a local agency serving consumers of mental health services and family members.

   

  Please click here for full details about the program.   

  The informational session will take place on Tuesday, May 22nd from 1:30pm to 3:30pm at 1380 Howard Street, 4th Floor - Conference Room 424. If you plan to attend the informational session, please e-mail your RVSP to Kathleen Minioza.  　

• International Legal Clinic (Location: El Salvador) Great opportunity to be involved with a new start-up international human rights clinic, helping shape its direction, fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS,  fighting discriminatory practices in Education, Employment, Medical care and the impunity of gender and hate crimes.  This is a self-funded, volunteer position for attorneys, law school graduates, law students and others who have a passion for LGBT rights. For more information, CLICK HERE!

• Final Draft of Children's Services Allocation Plan (CSAP) Posted:
  DCYF is proud to present the final draft of the Children's Services Allocation Plan. The CSAP was unanimously approved by DCYF's Citizens Advisory Committee on March 8. Over the last two weeks Director Maria Su and Deputy Director Max Rocha presented the CSAP at the Commission meetings for the Department of Health, the Juvenile Probation Department, Rec & Park, Human Services Agency, and the Youth Commission. The CSAP will be presented before the Board of Supervisors for final approval in April.

• Funding Opportunity Announced - Early Care and Education Systems Support RFP
  The Department of Children, Youth and their Families, First 5 San Francisco, and the San Francisco Human Service Agency are accpeting proposals for programs dedicated to high quality early care and education for children ages 0-5. The joint funding effort will grant out $18,224,303 annually from FY 2012-2013 through FY 2014-2015. Grants will be awarded in ten difference services areas, ranging from quality rating services to field building and peer support. The proposal due date is March 23, 2012 at 3pm. Please see the Bidding Announcement for more information, and please visit the Bid Document in order to apply.

• Funding Opportunity Announced - Neighborhood Based and Population Focused Family Resource Centers:
  The Department of Children, Youth and their Families, First 5 San Francisco and the San Francisco Human Service Agency announce this Notice of Availability of Funds (NOFA) of up to $10,441,138 to support neighborhood based and population focused family resource centers in San Francisco.  Grant awards are anticipated to begin July 1, 2012 and are renewable (for up to 2 additional years) pending performance and fund availability.  The NOFA document will be available on or about February 17, 2012 at www.first5sf.org.  Interested parties should consult the NOFA document for application instructions, bidder’s conference details, and objectives for these funds.  The proposal due date is March 30, 2012.

• FY 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 Proposed Budget:
  On February 16 the DCYF staff presented the proposed budget for FY 2012-2013 and FY 2013-2014 to the DCYF Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). Please click here to access the proposed budget, and click here to access the budget memo and projections that were presented at the January CAC meeting.   

• America's Cup Youth Involvement Plan Posted:
  Since September 2011, DCYF has worked with the America’s Cup Event Authority, Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and the Recreation and Parks Department to draft a Youth Involvement Plan. The Draft Youth Involvement Plan defines the scope of activity in order to provide focus and the ability to achieve objectives within two years. This will involve analysis of feasibility of proposed activities, as well as resource availability combined with innovative partnerships to achieve the Event youth involvement objectives of the delivery organizations. The following engagement areas have been selected for the Draft Youth Involvement Plan, aimed at addressing AC34 Youth opportunities: Employment and internships; Sailing instruction, opportunities and access to the waterfront; Event access; Programming; America’s Cup Healthy Ocean Project; and Experiential and project-oriented learning opportunities. Click HERE to download the plan. Comments can be written to Office of Economic and Workforce Development at americascup@sfgov.org or to the America’s Cup Event Authority at youth@americascup.com.

• 2012-2013 VPI RFP Award Recipients Announced:
  DCYF received 139 proposals worth a total ask of $35 million -- with less than $16 million available for allocation, the competition for funding was highly competitive. We would like to thank every organization that put in the time and effort to apply for funding, and to congratulate the award recipients! Please click here for a list of the award recipients. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the VPI RFP awards, please send an e-mail to VPIRFP2011@dcyf.org.
  
• San Francisco Teacher Residency Program: The San Francisco Teacher Residency is recruiting aspiring teachers in critical subject areas. We are looking for future math, science, bilingual, and elementary education teachers who are committed to teaching in an urban setting.  San Francisco Teacher Residency (SFTR) is recruiting talented college graduates, career changers, and community members of all ages.  The program will give candidates the tools to make an immediate impact in the classrooms of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). For more information please check out our website at: www.sfedfund.org/sftr
  
• DCYF's 2011 Community Needs Assessment released
  The 2011 Community Needs Assessment, which was approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, was informed by a rich set of data and extensive public engagement. The Needs Assessment will inform the development of a strategic plan, called the Children’s Services Allocation Plan, to guide DCYF over the next several years.
  Click here to read more and to download the report overview and full report.
  
• National Council of Crime Delinquency and California Cities Gang Prevention Network Find San Francisco Street Violence Reduction Initiative a Success for the City
  - Click here to review a copy of the San Francisco Street Violence Reduction Initiative
  
  
• ALL GRANTEE MEETING (April 26, 2011):
  - Download the SLIDE SHOW (PPT)
  - Download the VPI Slide Show (PPT)
  - Download the VPI Hand Out (Word Doc)  
  
  
• Check it Out! The New Youth Empowerment Fund Website:
  Learn about DCYF's work to increase youth voice & youth leadership in S.F.
  
  
• BOARD APPROVED ITEMS: 
  - Community Needs Assessment
  - Children's Services Allocation Plan 
  
  
• Keep it Real and Stay in School:  
  Re-engaging San Francisco Students
  
  
• SFUSD-Related Items:
  - Student Assignment Redesign
  - CBO Resource Guide (pdf)
  - TIPS FOR CBOs: Fundraising Basics
  
  
• Find FREE: 
  - Snacks at Afterschool Programs
  - Help is HERE: Family Resources Poster
  
  
• Employment: 
  - !NEW! Youth Job Opportunity: Youth Empowerment Fund Advisory Board
  - Youth Employment Resource Directory
  - Employment Opportunities at DCYF and Beyond
  
  

Family SUPPORT Information, Activities, and Events:

SFKids is designed to help every family in every neighborhood.   For the best family event calendar in the City, visit San Francisco's Official Family Resource Guide:  SFKids.org (Enter HERE or click on the logo).   

DCYF achieves its mission by:

• Strategic stewardship of the city’s landmark Children’s Fund
• Creating innovative partnerships within government and with the community
• Researching and promoting policies and a shared agenda to make San Francisco a family-friendly city
• Engaging the public, particularly youth and parents, in accessing services and participating in the policymaking process.

For San Francisco city & county services call 311

For public information from the Department of Children, Youth & Their Families email Public@DCYF.org