SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Safe & Sound brought together nearly 400 of San Francisco’s civic leaders, philanthropists, and advocates at the Fairmont Hotel’s Grand Ballroom on Friday, October 16, for its annual Blue Ribbon Celebration, raising more than $1.25 million to strengthen families and help children grow up safe, supported, and loved.
Hosted by Safe & Sound’s Board of Directors and Blue Ribbon Host Committee, the evening was co-chaired by Hilary Mendola and P. Wayne Osborne & Gregory R. Price. This year’s theme, Building Brighter Futures, captured the spirit of the celebration: optimism, compassion, and a shared commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.
For 52 years, Safe & Sound has worked to prevent and reduce the impact of childhood abuse, neglect, and trauma by strengthening families and building supportive communities. Last year alone, the organization supported nearly 12,000 children and caregivers.
Safe & Sound CEO Dr. Pegah Faed delivered an inspiring address underscoring both the urgency of prevention and its lasting impact.
“Child abuse is not inevitable. It is preventable, and Safe & Sound has 52 years of proof. When we reach a family early, we do not solve one problem—we prevent many.”
Through its leadership of an alliance of 45 family-serving organizations, Safe & Sound is helping build a stronger, more connected network of support so families can access the resources they need before challenges become crises.
One of the evening’s most moving moments came when Tiara McGraw, a Safe & Sound parent, courageously shared her family’s story in honor of her late mother, Deborah Jones. As a young child, Deborah found support, hope, and a sense of belonging through Safe & Sound. Tiara’s reflections brought the organization’s mission to life, illustrating how support for one family can create a ripple effect that strengthens generations and entire communities.
The evening’s inspiring program and the generosity of attendees and sponsors reflected a shared belief in the power of prevention and collective action. Together, supporters raised more than $1.25 million, helping Safe & Sound expand its reach and connect more families across San Francisco and the Bay Area with the resources and support they need to thrive.
Safe & Sound extends its heartfelt gratitude to the event’s sponsors, Host Committee, co-chairs, attendees, and the many supporters whose ongoing generosity makes this work possible. The 2026 Blue Ribbon Celebration was more than an evening of philanthropy; it was a powerful reminder of what a community can accomplish when it comes together for children and families.
Community members can continue making a difference by participating in Safe & Sound’s Holiday Gift Program. Through its annual Holiday Toy Store, Safe & Sound helps hundreds of Bay Area children experience the joy of the season by creating a welcoming space where caregivers can select toys, clothing, and books for their children. Every contribution helps families create meaningful holiday memories and ensures more children feel celebrated and cared for.
About Safe & Sound
Safe & Sound knows that families thrive in supportive communities. The organization combines direct services, research, and advocacy to strengthen families, address childhood trauma, and prevent abuse.
Its direct services reach thousands of individuals each year, helping children and caregivers build on their strengths and access the support they need. In San Francisco, Safe & Sound serves as a central partner in a network of dozens of family-serving organizations working together to support local families. Through research and advocacy, the organization also advances solutions to systemic challenges facing families across California and beyond.
Safe & Sound believes every child deserves the opportunity to grow up safe, supported, and loved—and every family deserves a community that helps them thrive.
When I first connected with Safe & Sound, I was going through one of the hardest times in my life. I was raising my four children, undergoing cancer treatment, and trying to find stability after experiencing domestic violence. I was carrying so much, and it wasn’t easy to know whom I could trust or where to turn for help.
I was referred to Safe & Sound through Child Protective Services, but at first, I hesitated to accept support. I worried about sharing my experiences and how it might affect my family. As I got to know the Safe & Sound team and began building trust, I felt more comfortable accepting help through their Integrated Family Services (IFS) program.
I also joined Safe & Sound’s Pathway to Prosperity program, which helps parents build income in ways that fit their families lives. Through a sewing class, I gained new skills that could help me earn extra income and provide more opportunities for my children. I didn’t realize then that I would gain so much more than sewing skills.
At first, I kept to myself. But little by little, I began connecting with other parents in the class. I found friendship, a sense of belonging, and a place where I felt safe and understood. I started to believe in myself again.
With the support of Safe & Sound, I received a sewing machine and began using my new skills to earn money through clothing alterations. What began as a small step toward financial independence grew into something bigger.
Today, I have a full-time job and continue sewing as a part-time business. I’ve also stayed connected with Safe & Sound through its TALK Line, where I can turn for support as I navigate the everyday challenges of raising my teenagers.
Safe & Sound helped me see that even during the most difficult times, I could keep moving forward. I found a community I could trust, opportunities to grow, and the confidence to build a better future for myself and my children.
I’m grateful every day for the people who believed in me when I was struggling to believe in myself. Your generosity helps Safe & Sound meet families where they are, offering concrete support, practical resources, parenting guidance, and opportunities to build skills and financial stability.
Your gift helps parents navigate difficult circumstances, strengthen their families, and take steps toward a more stable future
Thank you for believing in families. Because of you, my children have a safe home, I can meet their basic needs, and I have the support to guide them through their challenges without feeling overwhelmed. Because of you, brighter futures are possible, for my family and for many others.
With gratitude,
Safe & Sound parent & a client
Our August virtual Lunch & Learn explored how Family Resource Centers (FRCs) are a natural front door to community pathways because they produce proven results. Yet, FRCs still lack the state recognition and funding needed to fully realize their potential for supporting families.
Family Resource Centers (FRCs) work:
Since FRCs launched in 2009, San Francisco has seen a 52% reduction in the rate of children in foster care, and the rate of substantiated child maltreatment has dropped more than 60%.
Research shows that in California, a Family Support Organization (FSO) can generate $3.65 per dollar invested in savings to the child welfare system over a two-year period by reducing child maltreatment cases.
These data and more are available on the Family Services Alliance, https://sffamilyservicesalliance.org/about-us/#family-support-outcomes
There’s proof that a different path can work. We are excited to have had experts from Colorado where they have had a state-recognized Family Resource Center Program for more than 25 years, and state funding makes up the largest single share of that network’s budget.
Family Resource Centers (FRCs) work: Since San Francisco launched its FRC network in 2009, the city has achieved a 52% reduction in the rate of children in foster care and a more than 60% drop in substantiated child maltreatment.
The ROI of Prevention: Research in California demonstrates that Family Support Organizations generate $3.65 in savings to the child welfare system for every single dollar invested over a two-year period.
Learning from Colorado: Our guests from Colorado shared invaluable insights from their state-recognized FRC Program, which has operated successfully for over 25 years with robust state funding making up the largest share of the network’s budget.
Resources shared during the live panel:
Our team shared several links to evaluation reports, legislative statutes, and advocacy platforms:
Colorado FRC System Documents:
Colorado FRC Statute (Title 26.5)
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mhhdz9R23yNHjiv5aPMAQyRgAmCR6iaW/view(https://)
FRCA Research and Evaluation Hub
California & San Francisco Programs:
Family Services Alliance (FSA) Website
California Family Resource Association Page
Find an SF Family Resource Center Near You (FRCI)
SF Prevention Services Data List
Economic Impact & Advocacy:
The Economics of Child Abuse (California Impacts)
Family Services Alliance Instagram (for advocacy opportunities)
Panelist Contact Information: If you would like to follow up with our speakers regarding their work or the insights they shared, you can reach them directly via email:
We hope you will join us again in the November for the next serie.
For 15 years, the Russian River Ride has brought together a dedicated community of cyclists, supporters, and advocates who believe every child deserves to grow up safe, loved, and supported.
This year, Safe & Sound’s 15th Annual Russian River Ride will take place October 2–4, 2026, bringing riders together for a three-day, 200-mile cycling fundraiser challenge with approximately 16,000 feet of climbing, from San Francisco to the Russian River and back.
The 2026 riders start from Safe & Sound’s historic Waller Street office in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, where children and families receive critical support services. From there, they’ll ride north through the scenic roads of Northern California toward the Russian River before making the journey back to San Francisco.
Accommodations along the route are generously donated by riders themselves, who open up their own properties each year to host the group, one of the many ways this community shows up for each other, and for the families Safe & Sound serves.
15 Years of Riding. Nearly $1 Million Raised. A Lasting Impact for Children and Families.
What began in 2011 as a small group of friends riding to support Safe & Sound’s mission has grown into one of the organization’s most powerful annual fundraising events.
In 2011, co-founders Chris Keane and Daniel Morillo launched the Russian River Ride with a small group of friends who shared the belief that every child deserves a safe and nurturing childhood free from abuse and neglect. Fifteen years later, what began as a grassroots ride has grown into one of Safe & Sound’s signature fundraising events, challenging riders to conquer nearly 200 miles and 16,000 feet of climbing—all in support of children and families across San Francisco.
Over the past 15 years, the Russian River Ride community has raised nearly $1 million to support Safe & Sound’s mission, funded programs that provided families with resources, support, and connections before challenges become crises.
‘’The Russian River Ride is one of the most meaningful days on our calendar. Every rider who takes on these 200 miles is showing a family in San Francisco that someone believes in them. Fifteen years later, this community has proven that prevention, not just intervention, is possible when people show up.'”— Dr. Pegah Faed, CEO, Safe & Sound
Year after year, cyclists return to take on the challenge, not only to test their endurance, but to raise critical funds and awareness for reducing and preventing the impact of childhood abuse, neglect and trauma and providing family support services and programs that strengthen children and families throughout San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area
The impact of this incredible community extends far beyond the Ride. In 2025 alone, Safe & Sound served 11,754 children and caregivers. Over the past 25 years, our work has helped reduce child abuse by 69% and foster care entries by 51% in San Francisco.
We are grateful to our 2026 Russian River Ride sponsors for their generous partnership and commitment to our mission. Their support helps make this extraordinary event possible and ensures that riders can continue to make a meaningful impact for children and families.
Greenberg Traurig
BDO
Mazlo
EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultant
Kean’s Law Firm
Special thank you to Bi-Rite Family of Businesses, Sports Basement, Starbucks, and Trader Joe’s for their in-kind contributions towards our 2026 Russian River Ride! Their valuable support and commitment fuels the work of our riders and strengthens our mission to end child abuse, neglect, and trauma.
As we celebrate 15 years of the Russian River Ride, there are several ways to be part of it: Support a Rider/Become a sponsor/Donate. Together, we ride for safe kids, strong families, and sound communities.
This year’s budget season asked a lot of San Francisco. The final FY 26–27 budget answers that challenge with a clear message: the City still believes in prevention, family support, and the everyday work of helping children and families thrive.
Gratitude for Our Partners
Safe & Sound is deeply grateful to the City for continuing to fund both our direct services and our systems-change work. We want to especially thank Mayor Lurie; the Mayor’s Budget Office; Policy Chief Kunal Modi, Assistant Chief Peggy Moriarity, and the rest of the Mayor’s team; the Board of Supervisors and their legislative aides; and the Controller’s Office.
We’re equally grateful to the City departments who partner with us year after year: the Department of Early Childhood (DEC), Department of Public Health (DPH), Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD), Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF), Human Services Agency (HSA), Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), and Mayor’s Office for Victims and Witness Rights (MOVR).
And to our 45 Family Service Alliance (FSA) member organizations, our fellow coalitions, community partners, family support staff, and the families who show up to do this work with us every day: Thank You!
What the Budget Sustains
For more than 50 years, Safe & Sound has worked to prevent and reduce the impact of childhood abuse, neglect, and trauma. Over the last 25 years, that work has reached more than 250,000 individuals and contributed to major reductions in family child welfare involvement across San Francisco.
None of it happens without the nonprofit grant funding we receive from City departments. This year’s budget continues to fund our work:
Safe & Sound’s Pathways to Prosperity Program
This year’s City budget also sustains Pathways to Prosperity (P2P), Safe and Sound’s program, helping parents build income in ways that fit their families’ lives. Through the Corte y Confección sewing workshop, Spanish-speaking parents learn to produce goods to sell, and graduates receive a sewing machine to keep earning from home. Through Rooted in Beauty, participants learn hair-braiding skills that translate directly into income. Financial stress is one of the heaviest pressures families carry, and losing P2P would have cut off a primary income pathway for mothers and caregivers, raising both economic instability and child welfare risk. Continued funding means families keep building income, stability, and hope.
Beyond Direct Services
Safe & Sound knows that direct services alone can’t prevent childhood trauma or build the conditions families need to thrive citywide. That’s why we also work as a capacity builder, educator, and advocate, partnering with City departments and community organizations to make policies and practices more just, equitable, and responsive, and to build interconnected communities where every family can access the support they need.
What San Francisco Chose to Prioritize
This budget reflects a broader set of choices about what San Francisco values. Across the FSA network, about 95 percent of roughly $3 million in threatened cuts to 15 member organizations were preserved, protecting an estimated 23 staff positions and services for around 2,500 children, youth, and families.
The City also invested in the wider conditions that help families thrive, with new and restored funding for:
The City also increased the cost-of-doing-business adjustment for all nonprofit contracts, a concrete signal of its commitment to nonprofit sustainability.
Our Commitment
Taken together, these choices show a city actively investing in a prevention-focused, family-centered Community Pathway to keeping children safe and families strong. Safe & Sound is honored to be a trusted partner in that work, and we remain committed to using every public and private dollar to help build a San Francisco where all children grow up safe, nurtured, and free from harm.
Family stability is one of the most powerful drivers of positive outcomes across a person’s life. It influences physical and mental health, educational achievement, and future earning potential. It also reduces involvement in costly systems including child welfare and juvenile justice. When families have the support they need to remain stable during times of challenge, children are more likely to thrive and communities are stronger as a result.
Effective case management can be a cornerstone of prevention, helping families access resources early, build stability, and avoid crises before they escalate. However, for too many providers and families our current system of care is confusing and difficult to navigate. Families and providers are left juggling confusing services or falling through the cracks.
Last week, Safe & Sound and the Family Services Alliance hosted Supporting Families Through the Maze: Connecting SF Families to the Case Management They Need, a webinar focused on helping providers better understand San Francisco’s case management landscape.
Download the toolkit Supporting Families Through the Maze: A Guide for Frontline Providers Connecting Families to the Case Management They Need
The webinar and toolkit are part of a larger conversation about how we build a system that works better for families and those who serve them.
Frontline workers need practical tools, clear referral pathways, and stronger relationships across sectors. Systems leaders need opportunities to align programs, clarify roles, and create shared approaches that put families at the center.
There is still much work ahead, but we are encouraged by the strong participation and engagement from over 100 providers, healthcare partners, government agencies, funders, and community organizations who joined the conversation.
Together, we can build a system where families spend less time navigating services and more time receiving the support they need to achieve stability, well-being, and long-term success.
A new learning brief from the LA County Office of Education shows how a combination of legislation, local will, and community infrastructure can keep families safe, connected, and supported while ensuring child welfare resources serve the children who need them most.
The LA County Office of Education (LACOE) and the Mandated Supporting Initiative (MSI) have done that rare thing: they’ve quickly turned legislation into action. The brief they released, Educators Lead the Way in Mandated Reporting Reform, is a template for how counties across California can embed the intent of AB 2085 into schools to reduce unnecessary child welfare reports by connecting families to the tangible supports they need before a crisis ever begins.
The Data Has Always Told This Story
California’s child welfare system receives nearly 400,000 reports every year. Yet only 1 in 9 children with an allegation of abuse and/or neglect, just over 10%, is substantiated [1]. Almost half of children with an allegation of maltreatment are related to general neglect, a catch-all category that too often brings children and families into Child Protective Services (CPS) for a lack of resources, not for true maltreatment. General neglect allegations are unsubstantiated nearly 80% of the time.
The data further shows that Education accounts for the most reports of maltreatment with nearly 25% of all allegations. Yet across California, those reports are only substantiated 4% of the time. The data is similar In LA County where Education accounts for 24% of all CPS reports, yet only 8% are substantiated.
Four years ago, Safe & Sound helped sound the alarm. In partnership with the Office of Child Abuse Prevention, we released an issue brief shining a light on the over-reporting of neglect and its disproportionate toll on Black and Native families. The momentum it helped build, paved the way for AB 2085. This is not a call to abolish CPS, but rather to examine current policies and practices to increase the precision of reporting with the central objective to ensure families can thrive.
What the Law Changed — and What It Didn’t
AB 2085, signed in 2022 and effective January 2023, revised California’s definition of general neglect to explicitly exclude economic hardship, and requires a substantial risk of serious physical harm before a CPS report is warranted. Most significantly, it gave educators a legal third option: find support for a family rather than report to CPS when a child’s safety is not in question.
AB 2085 is not a minor technical amendment. It is a legally mandated opportunity to pause, examine a situation, and determine whether a family can be better supported outside of contact with CPS.
Reform Only Works If the Ecosystem Exists
This reform is not about changing what happens inside the child welfare system. It is about building a prevention ecosystem outside of it.
Educators are perfectly positioned to be one piece of that connective tissue. They see families early, notice instability before it becomes a crisis, and have relationships that make hard conversations possible. For years, they had nowhere to turn except the hotline, not because they wanted to report families, but because they had no alternative. AB 2085 changes that, backed by new training, decision-support tools, and an evolving in-school support structure with community linkages. The goal is simple but powerful: connect families to support before a crisis emerges. That is prevention in the truest sense.
Los Angeles Is Leading the Way
In May 2023, the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously formalized the Mandated Supporting Initiative, producing the state’s first AB 2085-aligned training, a decision-support tool, and a Family Resource Finder. In October 2024, LACOE and MSI convened an Education Summit with more than 130 district leaders from across the county and began rolling out AB 2085 training with educators.
Fast forward to 2026, and LACOE conducted listening sessions with four local education agencies that were early adopters of the AB 2085 training—Inglewood Unified, Lynwood Unified, Lawndale Elementary, and Vaughn Next Century Learning Center. The conversations revealed a clear three-stage framework.
Changing practice requires scenario-based training and clear consultation pathways. Educators need to know who to call before they reach for the hotline.
Shifting systems demands leadership commitment, as well as tangible resources like food, housing, and mental health services that make “support don’t report” a real option.
Sustaining change means embedding training in Human Resource systems, aligning board policy with the law, and securing stable, dedicated funding.
Early results are promising: educator confidence in supporting families increased nearly 30% after training, and 95% of live training participants can correctly define general neglect. But only 1.8% of LA County education staff have been trained so far. The infrastructure is proven. Scale is the next goal.
This is What Child Safety Actually Looks Like
Critics sometimes ask whether reducing reports puts children at risk. This reform takes that question seriously and answers it directly. A caseworker investigating a family whose only issue is unpaid rent is a caseworker not investigating a child in genuine danger. When trained mandated reporters, proven decision-making tools, and community resources can come together to support families navigating everyday hardship, child welfare can focus precisely on the children who truly need protection. That is not a threat to child safety. It is a more effective version of it.
What We Believe
Prevention works. Community-based support builds the conditions for families to thrive and offers a pathway to help when those conditions break down. AB 2085 shows that legislation can set the framework, but it takes real resources, real relationships, and real pathways to make supporting families before a crisis a reality. Los Angeles County is showing what that looks like, and sharing a roadmap for other counties to join the reform.
At Safe & Sound, we recognize the urgency of strengthening the systems that families depend on. Through our new Community Pathway Initiative, we are working alongside trusted community partners to ensure the intent of AB 2085, that poverty is not treated as neglect, means families are connected to a network of organizations and a workforce equipped with the knowledge, skills, and infrastructure to truly show up for them. Join us in building a community where no family has to navigate their hardest moments alone. Learn how you can get involved here.
[1]California Child Welfare Indicators Project (CCWIP), CDSS/UC Berkeley. https://ccwip.berkeley.edu/
She went to the hospital for help. Her family was separated instead.
A mother in our community shared a moment she still carries with her. Her twin sons were not yet two years old when she noticed something was wrong. One child had a limp arm after being in daycare. Like any parent, she rushed her son to the hospital seeking answers, care, and help.
But what should have been a moment of support became something very different. Her son had a broken arm and fractures in both legs. Instead of receiving guidance and support, she was met with suspicion. Instead of being seen as a parent in crisis, she was treated as a subject of investigation.
“That moment should have been the beginning of help,” she said. “Instead, it became the beginning of separation. I walked into the hospital asking for help and I left without my children.”
In the days that followed, fear and confusion took over. The system she turned to for help became one she had to navigate alone. What she needed at that moment was simple, but critical—someone to stand beside her, explain what was happening, and help her care for her child as everything unfolded. A place where asking for help would not lead to fear.
This is what the Community Pathway makes possible.
Through Safe & Sound’s Community Pathway Initiative, families are connected to support before challenges escalate into crisis. Instead of being left to navigate complex systems alone, families are met through trusted community connections such as Family Resource Centers, schools, healthcare providers, and local organizations.
Together, they identify needs early, co-create support plans with families, connect to trauma-informed services, and address root causes like housing instability, stress, and poverty—reducing unnecessary involvement with child welfare and the justice system by supporting them when they need it most.
What this mother needed is exactly what you can help provide today.
With the Community Pathway in place, her story could have been very different—met with coordinated care instead of confusion, supported by a trusted advocate instead of isolation, and guided through a frightening experience with dignity and care. She would not have had to face it alone.
But too many families still do.
For more than 50 years, Safe & Sound has worked to prevent child abuse and strengthen families. Each year, we support thousands of children, parents, and caregivers. But too often families only receive help after a crisis has already begun.
The Community Pathway is changing that by building a coordinated, community-based system of care where support—not surveillance—is the first response.
Will you help make this possible today?
Your gift will:
Strong Families. Strong Futures.
When we care together, families don’t have to face their hardest moments alone. They can get support early, stay connected and can thrive.
Your gift will help us build a Community Pathway where every family is met with care, before the crisis ever begins. Donate today and be a lifeline for families in need. Together, we can build a safer, stronger community for every child.
We are thrilled to announce the publication of the Children, Youth & Family Summit report, which shares the findings from Children, Youth & Family Summit: Aligning for Thriving Communities, held on November 7, 2025, at UC Law San Francisco. Co-hosted by Family Service Alliance and Prosperity Initiative and funded by Safe & Sound and the Crankstart Foundation, the Summit brought together nearly 350 nonprofit leaders, Mayor Daniel Lurie, Board of Supervisor Members, City departments, philanthropy partners, and community members for a first-of-its-kind convening centered on honest, solution-driven conversations about what it takes to better support children, youth, families, and the nonprofit workforce that serves them.
The report reflects four key themes and shared solutions that emerged from the day’s conversations:
We encourage you to read the full report and share it with your networks. We are planning to host the Summit again in November 2026 and would love to have you involved. Please reach out to fsainfo@safeandsound.org if you are interested in participating!
On April 14, 2026, more than 70 people filled the steps of San Francisco City Hall on Polk Street for a Child Abuse Prevention Month press conference and rally, the first SF City Hall event of its kind in years. Every April since 1983, communities across the nation have recognized April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Dressed in blue, in solidarity with children and families, the crowd gathered to send a unified message: when families are supported, children are safer.
The program, emceed by Safe & Sound CEO Dr. Pegah Faed, featured an impressive lineup: parent and Richmond Neighborhood Center staff member Tiffany Duncan; Supervisors Sherrill, Mandelman, Melgar, Chen, Wong, Sauter, Dorsey, and Mahmood; Human Services Agency Deputy Director Joan Miller; parent leader and SF Fatherhood Initiative founder Joey Cordero; and Family Services Alliance co-chair Mario Paz of Good Samaritan Family Resource Center.
Supervisor Sherrill, who sponsored the event and the Board of Supervisors resolution recognizing April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month, set the tone: “When we talk about public safety here in this city, we have to talk about prevention. No parent knows how to be a parent when their first child is born — it’s a learned skill. Today is about standing up and saying help is here, but we need to provide more.”
The stakes are real. In 2025, more than 4,300 children in San Francisco were the subject of a report of abuse or neglect, and 431 had allegations substantiated. Human Services Agency Deputy Director Joan Miller said, “Prevention works when families have support, resources, and someone to call; children stay safer and they stay together with their families. Together we can continue working towards a San Francisco where families have what they need to thrive and every child grows up safe and supported.”
But here’s what also matters: prevention works. Over the last 20 years, San Francisco has seen a 64% reduction in child abuse and a 51% drop in foster care entries, the direct result of sustained investment in family support. Mario Paz, co-chair of the Family Services Alliance and Executive Director of Good Samaritan Family Resource Center, challenged every leader present to hold the line for children even in tight budget times: “We are here today because there’s no greater commitment in the city than ensuring every child feels safe, protected, loved, and cared for. We cannot retreat from that commitment.”
$333 million. That’s how much child abuse and neglect cost San Francisco in 2025 — across healthcare, child welfare, criminal justice, and a lifetime of lost potential for 431 children. When we invest in family support services, we build the conditions that prevent abuse and neglect before they start and we spend less, save more, and keep children safer. Safe & Sound CEO Dr. Pegah Faed reminded us: “Too often, families are pulled into costly systems when what they really need is support, such as stable housing, child care, or mental health services. Prevention is not just the morally right thing to do, it’s the fiscally responsible choice.”
The voices of parents were at the heart of the rally. Tiffany Duncan, a parent and staff member at Richmond Neighborhood Center, spoke to what community support actually feels like from the inside: “Experiencing support from Safe & Sound has made me more confident as a parent, and has helped me reach out, instead of being afraid to ask for help.” Family support builds five proven protective factors, parental resilience, social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, children’s social and emotional competence, and concrete support in times of need. When those factors are present, children are safer and families are stronger.
San Francisco has built something real: a network of 45 family support organizations, city departments, public safety partners, and community advocates all working together so that families have what they need before a crisis. The rally on April 14 was a reminder that this network is made of people, neighbors, parents, case workers, and supervisors, who show up because they believe every child in this city deserves to be safe.
Because when we care together, families thrive.
Read more about the accompanying SF Board of Supervisors CAP month resolution and Safe & Sound’s economics of child abuse report..
Thank you to everyone who made this event possible.
City Departments: Human Services Agency · Department on the Status of Women · Department of Early Childhood · Department of Children, Youth and Their Families · Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development · Department of Public Health · Human Rights Commission · Mayor’s Office for Victims’ Rights
Elected Officials: Supervisor Sherrill · Board President Mandelman · Supervisor Melgar · Supervisor Chen · Supervisor Wong · Supervisor Sauter · Supervisor Mahmood · and all members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors · Representatives from Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani’s office
Public Safety & Justice Partners: San Francisco Police Department, Assistant Commander Jonas and Lieutenant Tony Flores · Children’s Advocacy Center of San Francisco · Child Death Review Team · Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Multi-Disciplinary Team · District Attorney Victims’ Services Division · Family Violence Council
Parents & Community: Tiffany Duncan · Joey Cordero · Mario Paz, Good Samaritan Family Resource Center · The 45 member organizations of the Family Services Alliance · All our countless community partners and parents · Safe & Sound Staff