Early Learning Benefit
Your Child's Early Learning Benefit
2 out of 3 SF families are eligible to have child care tuition covered — including family child care!
Eligibility Tiers
✅ Free Tuition≤ 110% AMI
✅ Full Tuition Credit111–150% AMI
✅ Half Tuition Creditup to 200% AMI
Visit sf.gov/sfdec to check your family's income eligibility by household size.
Sign Up Today
Visit sf.gov/sfdec
to check eligibility & enroll
Funding provided in part by the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood.
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Contact Us
Phone: (415) 656-1011
Email: contact@fccasf.com
Web: www.fccasf.com
PO Box 31404
San Francisco, CA 94131
🌱
Family Child Care Association
of San Francisco
Every Child Seen,
Every Milestone Celebrated
Family Child Care Providers
as Partners in Early Screening
We're trained to notice. We're here to help.
Why Family Child Care
The Heart of Relational Health
Family child care providers create the kind of nurturing, home-based environments where children's earliest relationships can flourish.
🏠 Home-Like Warmth
Drop-off should feel like leaving your child with family. Small, cozy settings foster trust and secure attachment.
🤝 Continuity of Care
One caregiver. One home. Years of knowing your child by heart. Consistency is the bedrock of relational health.
🌍 Cultural Match
The language, culture, and traditions that matter to your family matter here too. FCC providers honor every family's heritage.
🌱 Small Group Magic
Small, intimate groups mean every child is seen and known. Mixed-age settings feel like family — because they are.
💪 Resilient & Flexible
Early mornings, late pickups, multilingual care — family child care adapts to real family life.
"It takes a village. Family child care IS the village."
🌼
For Providers & Families
5 Things to Know About Developmental Screening
Because noticing early is an act of love
1
It's a Checkup, Not a Test
Developmental screening is like a well-child visit for milestones. It's routine, it's normal, and every child benefits. There are no wrong answers — just a chance to celebrate progress.
2
You Already Notice — Now There's a Tool
As FCC providers, you observe children every day in natural settings. The ASQ (Ages & Stages Questionnaire) puts structure to what you already see — and gives families a shared language.
3
Early Doesn't Mean Something Is Wrong
Early intervention isn't a diagnosis. It's a head start. Children who get support early build stronger foundations — and most catch up quickly with the right resources.
4
The Sparkler App Makes It Easy
Free for all SF families. Track milestones, complete screenings, and access 3,000+ play activities — in English, Spanish & Chinese. Download on iOS or Android. Access code: SF
5
You're Part of a Team
Pediatricians screen in the clinic. You screen in the living room. Together with families, you form a circle of support. Your observations matter as much as any doctor's.
Based on AAP Bright Futures guidelines &
SF Department of Early Childhood Sparkler initiative
Early Education Professionals
Trained Eyes, Caring Hearts
Family child care providers are early education professionals. Like pediatricians and nurses, we're trained to observe developmental milestones — through the unique lens of daily care in a home setting.
What We See Every Day
Language emerging in a toddler's babble. A preschooler learning to share. A school-ager navigating friendships. These are developmental milestones — and you're witnessing them firsthand.
The ASQ — Your Screening Partner
The Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) is a trusted, research-backed tool used by providers and pediatricians alike. It takes just 10-15 minutes and helps identify if a child might benefit from extra support.
How to Talk to Families
Start with strengths: "I've noticed how well Maya is doing with..." Then gently: "I'd love for us to try a quick screening together — it's something we do for all the children." Normalize it. Celebrate it.
Every Culture's Way: Every culture has its own way of nurturing growth. Screening honors that by meeting each child where they are.
📱 Sparkler App — Free!
Track your child's development milestones, access 3,000+ play activities, and complete screenings — all in one app. Download free on iOS or Android. Access code: SF
Sources: AAP Bright Futures, SF Department of Early Childhood Sparkler Initiative, Harvard Center on the Developing Child
