SAN FRANCISCO CHILD ADVOCACY NETWORK (SF CAN)

The San Francisco Child Advocacy Network (SF CAN) was organized in 2002 as a coalition of child-serving community agencies. Over 100 agencies have been involved in SF CAN since its inception. The purpose of SF CAN has been to protect and enhance children's services in the city budget, and raise children's issues in the city's electoral process. The group functions as a loose-knit coalition, without formal memberships, rules, officers, or by-laws. This flexibility has worked well, as the group has been extremely successful through three budget processes and two elections.

2003 was a banner year for SF CAN. Despite the worst budget process the city has ever seen, there were no cuts in children's services, and significant enhancements in funding for the public schools and child care. In addition, children's issues were more visible in the Mayor's race than in any election in anyone's memory.

SF CAN is composed of the following types of community-based agencies:

• Child care centers
  
• Family child care providers
  
• Youth employment organizations
  
• Beacon Centers
  
• Neighborhood-based community centers
  
• City-wide agencies for children with special needs and special populations of children
  
• Advocacy and legal services
  
• Family resource centers and other family support agencies
  
• Educational agencies
  
• After-school organizations
  
• Health and social service agencies
  

Although the SF CAN membership is primarily service providers, some individual parents and youth also participate. Service providers are encouraged to involve their clients in SF CAN activities and events.

Activities of SF CAN include:

• Developing a comprehensive, citywide budget agenda each year.
  
• Active advocacy throughout the city budget process. Participating in hearings and budget advocacy at the neighborhood, city department, and Board of Supervisor level.
  
• Producing an annual survey of how budget cuts are impacting community based organizations.
  
• Organizing an annual action for children and youth at City Hall. This has included a 1000 Kid March and a Speak Up for Kids Day, as well as other rallies, press conferences and demonstrations.
  
• Monitoring the implementation of the Children's Fund.
  
• Sponsoring educational forums, primarily on city budget issues.
  
• Developing a Children's Agenda for candidates running for Mayor and the Board of Supervisors.
  
• Sponsoring candidate forums on children's issues.
  

SF CAN is sponsored and staffed by Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth. Membership is completely open, and all meetings are widely publicized. If you are interested in being on the mailing list, e-mail at info@colemanadvocates.org, or call 239-0161. SF CAN is most active in the budget season, and during the election season.