finding Early care and education
Child care is a top concern for many parents. To find high quality early care and education that will support your child’s development and learning and fit your family needs, explore different care options and cost assistance programs. Speaking with providers and taking tours of programs can also help you make the right choice.
Support is available to help you find and choose a high quality, affordable early care and education program:
Resource & Referral Agencies
Resource and referral agencies are funded by the state to provide information to all parents and the community about the availability of child care in their area. These programs help families find early care and education that meets their needs. They also assist early care and education providers with licensing, training, and professional development, and they coordinate community resources for the benefit of parents and local child care providers.
San Francisco has two resource and referral agencies that are funded by the Office of Early Care and Education (OECE) and the California Department of Social Services. Contact either for assistance.
Early Learning SF
Early Learning SF is an online tool that helps families find out if they qualify for the city’s Early Learning San Francisco (ELS) Program. Using this tool is the first step to apply for subsidized early care and education. After you answer a few questions about your family, income, and the kind of program you need, you will find out if you qualify and you can be matched with quality early care and education programs in your area. If your family is eligible, a text or email will be sent to you with an invitation code to log into Early Learning SF and begin the application process.