California Department of Education: Child Development Division

In 1975 child care organizations funded by the federal government came under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Education. This was an acknowledgment that child care programs and services were not only valuable because they allowed parents to work or participate in training, but also because child care was educational and the early years were critical to a child's development. In 1998 South of Market Child Care Center, Inc. (SOMACC) was able to obtain one of three infant/toddler grants given to San Francisco agencies through a competitive process by the Department of Education, Child Development Division. Our total CDE grants allow us to serve 47 subsidized preschool children and nine infants and toddlers.

The Department of Education requirements for staffing and staff qualifications are much more stringent than those of Community Care Licensing. SOMACC believes strongly in these requirements and maintains them even for nonsubsidized care. Ratios are one caregiver to every three infants, one to every four toddlers, and one to every eight preschoolers. Teachers must have twenty-four early childhood units and additional general education units. Administrators must have additional coursework, administrative units, and experience. Programs and services are also monitored by contract compliance visits by state consultants, an annual evaluation process, and comprehensive services to families as a condition of funding.

State funding has not only provided low-income families with subsidy for their child care needs, but has also improved the overall quality of child development programs and services in California.

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American Business Collaboration for Quality Dependent Care: IBM and AT&T

In 1922 eleven corporations committed funding to ensure that their employees had access to the quality dependent care services they needed. This groundbreaking initiative, the American Business Collaboration for Quality Dependent Care, was the first partnership of its kind to combine significant financial support from leading companies to improve the supply and quality of child care, school-age care, and elder care services in communities across the country. SOMACC receives funding from this collaboration in exchange for priority enrollment for IBM and AT&T employees for some of the spaces created in the Yerba Buena Gardens Child Development Center. Since sponsoring organizations increase the quality and supply of services across the country, everyone in the community benefits. SOMACC has also benefited from funding for staff training through this collaboration.

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Asian Pacific Islander Family Resource Network (APIFRN)

The APIFRN is a project funded by the San Francisco Department of Human Services providing services to families with children ages 0 to 5 throughout San Francisco. SOMACC is a network partner and Asian Perinatal Advocates in the fiscal/lead agency. Through this partnership, SOMACC receives funding to provide Pilipino parenting classes and support groups, information and referral, intake and assessment, and cultural celebrations.

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The Fremont Group

The Fremont Group has provided funding to SOMACC because of its interest in supporting programs and services that are making a difference in the community especially those serving children and families. Marla Westover, Senior Counsel with The Fremont Group, has joined the SOMACC Board of Directors. Employees of the Fremont Group also provided Christmas presents to children at The Clementina (now the Judith Baker) Child Development Center in 1999.

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San Francisco Redevelopment Agency

The Yerba Buena Garden Child Development Center was developed by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency to meet the child care needs of families who live and work in the South of Market and Yerba Buena Gardens area.

Please contact Noushin Mofakham, Executive Director, at (415) 820-3500 or by email for any additional information or questions. For maps and directions, please see our Contact Us section.