Growing Together:

The DCYF Newsletter

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Last Chance: Summer Programs and Opportunities for San Francisco Children and Youth

DCYF-Funded Summer Programs for Children in Grades K-8

DCYF funds 38 agencies in every San Francisco neighborhood to provide summer programs for children in grades K-8. Visit our Summer Programs for Children and Youth page to find out which agencies we fund, and to access their websites. 

Summer Jobs, Programs, and Opportunities for Youth Ages 14-24

Time is running out to apply or register for summer jobs and other programs for youth ages 14-24. If a young person you know is still looking for an opportunity, send them to our Opportunities for Youth page (and tell them to hurry!).

Our415 Resource Website

Use the new Our415 website to find summer programs, services, and anything else you need to raise a family and grow up in San Francisco. 

Free Summer Meals for Children and Youth

Every weekday from June 9 to August 15, 2025, sites all around San Francisco will offer free summer meals to all children and youth under age 18.  No registration or other documentation is required to receive a meal at open Summer Meals sites: children and youth just need to arrive at these sites during their serving times, and they will receive a free meal! 

Now Recruiting: Children and Youth Fund Oversight & Advisory Committee

The Children and Youth Fund Oversight and Advisory Committee (OAC) is DCYF’s advisory body. The OAC provides a forum for community members and service providers to discuss decisions related to the Children and Youth Fund, and provides advice for DCYF. All OAC members are appointed by the Mayor or the Board of Supervisors.

To learn more about the open OAC seats and how to apply for them, visit the OAC page on our website.  

Resources for Immigrant Children, Youth, and Families

DCYF and the entire City & County of San Francisco want to help immigrants, asylees, and refugees connect to resources, opportunities, and more. 

Immigrant Services and Resources Landing Page

Created by the SF Immigrant Forum, this page is a comprehensive source of services, resources, and events. 

The page includes Know Your Rights information, links to immigration legal help, healthcare access, housing and shelter support, financial assistance, and much more. The Immigrant Services and Resources Landing Page can be translated into Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Filipino.

Want to get involved? The next meeting of the SF Immigrant Forum will take place online on Wednesday, May 28. Learn more and register here. 

In addition to the Immigrant Services and Resources page, we want to highlight some resources that people in San Francisco may find helpful if they or someone they know is detained by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE): 

Call the San Francisco Rapid Response Hotline. If you or anyone you know is detained by ICE in San Francisco, call the local Rapid Response 24-Hour Network Hotline: (415) 200-1548.

Have Kids? Have a Plan. Have a plan to take care of your children if you are detained. Make a plan with an adult family member or friend with legal authorization to be in the United States, and who you can contact in an emergency to take care of your child. As soon as you can, ask the ICE agent to let you call that person to take care of your child.

Be Prepared. Have the number of an immigration attorney with you, both programmed in your phone and written on a slip of paper in your wallet. There is no right to a free attorney unless you are charged with a crime. Visit the Immigrant Services and Resources Landing Page to find an immigration attorney.

Announcements and Events

Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and an array of exciting AAPI cultural performances, workshops, film screenings, community festivals, and family-friendly events will take place throughout the month. The APA Heritage Foundation has put together an excellent curated event guide - click the button below to check it out!

SFUSD's Annual Summer Literacy Fair

Join SFUSD at their Annual Summer Literacy Fair and celebrate the joy of reading! All families are welcome, especially those with children in Pre-K through 5th grade.

This free, fun-filled event will offer a variety of engaging literacy activities and games designed to support your child’s reading skills. Families can also receive assistance with ParentVue and explore helpful tips and resources for encouraging reading at home. Plus, every student will receive a FREE book to take home and enjoy over the summer. 

📅 Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Gordon J. Lau Elementary School, 950 Clay St., San Francisco

Funding Opportunity: San Francisco Environment Department's Request for Proposals 

The San Francisco Environment Department (SFE) is seeking multiple qualified organizations to provide proposals for a range of environmental categories, including:

• Zero Waste
• Community Education and Engagement
• Urban Greening
• Toxics Reduction and Healthy Communities

📅 Proposals are due by May 30, 2025.

Funding Opportunity: Early Childhood System of Care Integration Initiative 

The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood is seeking applications from non-profit and other organizations to enhance the City's early childhood system of care by increasing access to family support activities for expecting families and families with children birth to 5 years old. Approximately six grants will support cross-sector relationship building between Family Resource Centers and other family serving entities, and approximately six additional grants will support new points of access to family support activities. 

📅 Proposals are due by June 4, 2025.

Free, Fun, and Fabulous: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival!

The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is back with a summer season of fun, fabulous events for the whole family! There's something coming up for everyone, from circus performances to dance classes to art exhibits and so much more. And it's all free! 

Free Fun Family Activities at the Salesforce Transit Center 

The Salesforce Transit Center has released their calendar of free events from May to November! Check out what’s coming up at the Transit Center, including family-friendly special events, performances, fitness and wellness classes, story times, and much more.

Find Sites Near You Serving Free Meals for Children and Youth 

The CA Meals for Kids Mobile App can help you find sites serving free afterschool and summer meals all over the state of California! You can use the app to find sites by address, county, city, zip code and partial site name. Download it for free on your iOS, Android, or Microsoft devices.

Visit Museums for FREE with Museums for All 

Through the City’s Museums for All program, San Francisco residents with EBT or Medi-Cal cards can get free or reduced admission to more than 25 local museums and cultural centers! 

Visit the San Francisco Museums for All page to find out which museums are participating, and to learn how to get free tickets. 

California Golden Bear Pass for CalWORKS and Tribal TANF Recipients

California’s state parks offer a fun, affordable, and healthy way to connect with family, friends, and the outdoors. The State of California believes that all residents should have access to our parks, and that families should be able to enjoy nature’s benefits regardless of income.

If you receive CalWORKS or Tribal TANF benefits, you can apply for the California Golden Bear Pass, which provides free vehicle day-use access at over 200 California State Parks! 

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Land Acknowledgement Statement

The San Francisco Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF) acknowledges that it carries out its work on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone, the original inhabitants and stewards of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the government agency that stewards the Children and Youth Fund, we accept the responsibility that comes with resources derived from property taxes upon unceded and colonized land. We recognize the history and legacy of the Ramaytush Ohlone as integral to how we strive to make San Francisco a great place for life to thrive and children to grow up.

Learn about the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone.