When I first came to Safe & Sound in 2022, I felt overwhelmed. I was caring for my 5-year-old son with special needs and my baby daughter, and I didn’t know where to turn for help. Navigating the school system for my son and finding the right resources for both of my children felt impossible.
Then I found Safe & Sound. I began attending Supportive Family Services, parent workshops, Parent Cafés, and sensory play sessions. Each visit brought a sense of hope I hadn’t felt in a long time. My desire to grow as a parent led me to enroll in the Integrated Family Services (IFS) program, where I received guidance and worked towards my goals.
Safe & Sound became a lifeline for our family. Through therapy for my son, play sessions for both my children, and guidance from the staff, I found hope and the tools to help my children thrive. My son is learning to manage his emotions, make friends, and settle at school. My daughter is flourishing. Safe & Sound feels like a second home for our family.
Building a Brighter Future
Safe & Sound also encouraged me to follow my passion for baking. I’ve started taking small orders for cakes, cupcakes, and cookies, and even baked desserts for Safe & Sound community events. With their support, I’m taking real steps toward building a small business to create a stable future for my family.
Your Gift Makes a Difference
None of this would be possible without donors like you. Your generosity provides therapy, parenting support, and safe spaces for children — helping families like mine turn challenges into opportunities.
This holiday season, I hope you will join me in giving the gift of hope. Your donation ensures that Safe & Sound can continue helping families face life’s toughest moments, grow stronger, and dream bigger. Your support wraps families in care, guidance, and opportunity — giving children the chance to thrive and parents the tools to lead with confidence.
How Your Support Helps Families Like Mine
My journey with Safe & Sound has been one of resilience, growth, and hope. With their support, I’ve learned how to help my children thrive, believe in myself, and take steps toward a brighter future for our family. Thank you for partnering with Safe & Sound — and for giving families like mine the support we need to grow stronger.
Warm Regards,
Janani
Parent and a Client of Safe & Sound
The holidays can often be an expensive time of year, with the kiddos home from school needing entertainment, and festive meals and gifts to buy. Have a look at our ideas for days out and gifts that won’t break the bank.
1] Slide the day away!
Grab an old piece of cardboard and the kids and make your way to the Seward Slides. These concrete slides are built into the side of the hill and have been around for more than 40 years. Pro tip, if you’re looking to go a little faster put a piece wax paper between the cardboard and the slide. More info.
2] Tour the lights
Put on your shoes and head out for an early evening urban hike (or bus / drive if you prefer) to take a tour of the awesome holiday light displays around the city and in your local neighbourhood. At Yerba Buena Gardens they will be lighting the tree on December 6th, so take your cocoa and watch it glow. More info.
3] Find your fortune (cookie)
As we near a new year, it’s the perfect time to find out what good fortune is in store for next year. Whether you believe in the wisdom of the fortune cookie or not, it’s still fun to visit Golden Gate Fortune Cookies and read the words on that tiny little white paper. And, hey, it’s educational too. How does the fortune get inside the cookie? Go find out. More info.
4] Step inside City Hall
City Hall sits there at the helm of our Civic Center. Its grandeur and often changing lights are hard to miss. But if you have never stepped inside, you’re missing a lot. The outside is spectacular, but the inside is something to behold. Did you know that the dome is the fifth largest in the world (and that there are actually two domes)? Swing left after you head inside to take a look at the replicas. More info.
5] Scavenger hunt
There are items hidden all around the city. Go find them. Geocaching is like a giant scavenger hunt that anyone can play. Although it’s created to use with technology / GPS it’s way more fun if you rely on just your wits. So check out the website, uncode some riddles, and start the hunt. There are 4,256 things to find around San Francisco — so you probably don’t have to go far to find one. More info.
6] See great art
Brew up a cup of cocoa, grab a coat, and wind your way through the alleys of the Mission. Although this city is full of great museums, this free outdoor art is amongst the best San Francisco has to offer. More info.
7] Visit a museum
The Cable Car is the first moving national historic landmark — how cool is that? Drop by the Cable Car Museum and learn how it all works. You can even watch the giant cables turn, moving the cars up and down the hills of San Francisco. More info. Many museums in the city have free days – have a look at this list for options.
8] Do kid and family friendly activities
This site has many suggestions for fun and cheap days out with kids, organized by date. More info. And the San Francisco Public Library often has age-appropriate activities in different branches – have a look at the list.
And remember, you can always visit Safe & Sound during Parent Drop in hours and bring your kiddo to spend time in the playroom. You can find the open hours on this page.
1] Handmade coupons
Create coupons for things your child is always asking for, e.g. play their favourite game, movie night of their choice, help me bake cookies, stay up 30 minutes later, etc. Or you could give a “voucher” for a special day out (park, picnic, hike), treasure hunt, or choose dinner night.
2] DIY arts & crafts kit
Gather leftover craft supplies (scraps of ribbon, paper, buttons, beads, stickers) into a jar or box. Include a sheet of ideas/instructions (make a card, decorate a frame, make a new toy etc.).
3] Use photo memories
Use popsicle sticks, cardboard cutouts, printed photos and decorative paper to make a collage, frame or memory book.
4] Nature gift
Collect pine cones, rocks, shells, and make a “nature collection kit” with a little note. Or plant seeds in small cups and give “your own little garden” gift.
5] Free educational printables
Many websites offer free coloring pages, puzzles, activity booklets you can print. If your child is interested in astronomy you can print them a booklet from The Universe in my Pocket. The San Francisco Public Library offers free daily printing to all card holders.
6] Consumables
Make a hot chocolate mix or cocoa bomb in a jar so it can be easily mixed up for a delicious treat.
Every December, Safe & Sound transforms into a festive Holiday Toy Store, where parents and caregivers can shop for new toys, books, and warm clothing for their children — all at no cost. Speak to your care coordinator to book your shopping slot at this year’s toy store.
The first five years of life mark a critical time for childhood development. Early experiences and relationships with caregivers shape the architecture of a developing brain and lay the foundation for mental health across an individual’s life.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recently released a clinical report, (published in the September edition of Pediatrics), endorsing preventive pediatric screenings for mental health, emotional, and behavioral concerns and offering providers additional clinical guidance to support their practice.
However, these endorsements can only have value if there are the providers available to deliver them. The need for these mental health roles has never been greater.
Despite the recognized importance of mental health in early years, the mental and behavioral health needs of infants, toddlers, and young children are often overlooked.
California has started to increase investment and launch initiatives in mental health for older children, but state and local governments are yet to do more to ensure we meet the mental health needs of California’s youngest, particularly as recent changes in mental and behavioral health funding through Proposition 1 and the Mental Health Services Act may soon impact the availability of community-based prevention and early intervention services.
First Five Center for Children’s Policy issued a report last year highlighting a concerning mental health provider workforce shortage impacting the nation and our state.
Some key findings highlighted in the report:
This shortage is particularly acute for providers serving specific sub-populations of California children, such as children in Medi-Cal, infant and toddlers, and for providers that are culturally and linguistically relevant for the diverse population of children in the state. First Five Center for Children’s Policy’s Brief proposes several key recommendations for state leaders which aim to address the critical shortage of IECMH providers, improve access to mental health services for families with young children, and reduce the inequitable impacts of the current system.
Subsequent data released by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information further emphasized these findings, explaining that in 2025, all 58 counties are projected to face a shortage across all behavioral health roles examined, and that the challenges facing mental health workforce supply and demand are projected to persist through to 2033.
In order to meet these needs, Safe & Sound works to build the system of care for children and families in San Francisco and beyond in a number of different ways.
Often, in the absence of a mental health provider, peer support is essential. Safe & Sound, as the backbone agency of the Family Services Alliance (FSA), is piloting ways to increase the number of family support providers that are reflective of their community and able to offer this peer support. By partnering with Community Health Worker training programs we can ensure that experienced community members get valuable training in peer support and then are placed within trusted Family Resource Centers. They could then undertake tasks such as mental health screenings that could be an early indicator of mental health issues requiring further support, navigation to resources and mental health education.
Where mental health providers are available, the FSA is working to strengthen the connections between these providers and family support services so that a family’s holistic needs can be met. Without access to basic needs such as shelter or food, it is difficult for a family to address trauma, anxiety or depression in therapy, lessening the value of mental health support. Safe & Sound and the FSA work to ensure that families’ basic needs are provided for both directly, and by increasing connections and advocating for more resources for families.
The Center for Youth Wellness, a program of Safe & Sound, works with pediatric clinics nationwide to support the introduction and implementation of ACEs screenings, and to ensure that children who have a high ACEs score are referred to Enhanced Care Management where they can receive a high level of case management.
And finally, Safe & Sound’s clinical care team based at both of our San Francisco locations provided 1,068 therapy sessions in 2024 for children and caregivers in our community. This team offers healing, relationship-focused therapy, primarily for children and teens. Whether a child is struggling with trauma, anxiety, or big feelings, or facing behavior challenges or trouble connecting with others, we help them build coping and calming skills, process experiences and strengthen their relationships and confidence.
Safe & Sound collaborated with Support for Families, a fellow member of the Family Services Alliance, of which Safe & Sound is the backbone agency, to provide a Spanish-language workshop specifically for caregivers wanting to understand more about Special Education.
Support for Families helps Bay Area parents of children with disabilities access free resources, support, and guidance. This special workshop for parents and caregivers of children with special needs enabled caregivers to connect, learn, and feel more supported and confident in supporting their child’s education.
The workshop covered:
Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legally binding, written plan for students with disabilities that details specialized instruction, related services, goals, and accommodations to ensure they receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Mandated by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the IEP is collaboratively developed by a team including parents, educators, and specialists to address the student’s unique needs and track their academic and functional progress.
The workshop had a very high turnout showing a real need for this information amongst our community of families. Caregivers were able to bring their children to our Therapeutic Playroom while they attended the workshop, allowing them to focus on the content.
This workshop was one of a number of new initiatives by Safe & Sound to expand our services for local families to meet their specific needs.
Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook and too often we rely on our experience of being parented as a guide. That’s why Safe & Sound offers groups and workshops on parenting and topics related to family well-being. When parents are supported in accessing knowledge about parenting that’s useful to them, it creates greater opportunities for individual development which carries on to child development, allowing caregivers and children to thrive.
Creando Conexiones (Building Connections) is a ten session in-person Spanish-language support group series for pregnant, new mothers and their partners (if applicable) and for parents and other caregivers with children 0-8 years old.
This group serves as a safe space for parents and caregivers to share concerns about their children’s needs as well as their own needs with regards to topics such as: Pregnancy, Postpartum Care, Breastfeeding, Child Development, Self-care, Nutrition, Mental Health etc.
We are currently enrolling for the next series which will start in September.
The curriculum for Creando Conexiones has been intentionally designed to align with parents’ needs and the Protective Factors. The 5 Protective Factors are areas of family functioning that help support youth and families to be strong. Research shows that when these factors are present in populations of families, it reduces the risk of abuse, maltreatment, and negative outcomes. You can read more about the 5 Protective Factors in this blog.
There are so many different opportunities for you to join us this summer. We’ve been working hard to create different workshops to suit your needs, from shared playtime promoting bonding, social-emotional skills, and parenting education through play-based activities, to exploring inspiration and expression through the use of art, to practical parenting tips and supporting children to discuss their feelings.
For classes requiring registration, visit the dedicated website page for workshops. You can also sign up to our email newsletter to get advance notice of new workshops.
And remember, outside of our workshops and classes you can drop in to our Waller Street Building during PDI Summer hours:
Monday: 10:00am-2:00pm
Tuesday: 3:00pm-6:50pm
Wednesday: 2:00pm- 4:50pm
Thursday: 10:00am-2:00pm
Sharon was overwhelmed with sadness and it deeply affected her daughter, Emma. Emma mirrored her mom’s emotion and stopped playing with friends and her joy faded as her mom’s depression worsened. Seeing her daughter’s happiness fade, Sharon knew she needed help but didn’t know where to begin.
Then she found Safe & Sound. Through drop-in sessions and support groups, Sharon connected with other parents and realized how her family benefitted from these programs and services. With the support of the counseling team and guidance, Sharon grew more resilient and overcame her struggles, becoming a more confident and present mother. Meanwhile, Emma attended the Therapeutic Children’s Playroom, where she learned critical social-emotional skills in a nurturing space. Slowly, Emma found her joy again, reconnecting with friends and enjoying playtime like before.
“Safe & Sound has shaped who I am today. It’s the place I turn to because I know I’ll find support. I always feel respected and safe there. Through their services—like the single parent network, parenting classes, and therapy—I’ve gained resilience and become a confident parent.” – Sharon
Because of your support, Safe & Sound was there for Sharon and her family when they needed it the most, providing critical services for them to heal. Today, many more families like Sharon’s and Emma’s need our support.
With your donation, we can continue providing life-changing services—concrete support, therapy, parenting classes, Therapeutic Children’s Playroom and more.
Your contribution will help every child grow up in a safe, loving home.
When parents decide to separate, it can be confusing, scary, and traumatizing for children. In fact, the conflict and chronic stress involved in divorce is one of the leading causes of trauma in young children and a very significant ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience). Safe & Sound’s Kids’ Turn program is a keystone initiative that helps families navigate these difficult times, ensuring that children are supported and heard. It equips parents with the skills to collaborate and heal alongside their child—setting the stage for success by lessening the trauma and building their child’s social-emotional strength and resilience.
“When parents get angry and ask, ‘who do you want to be with?’ children feel so much stress. The stories are hard, but after the workshop, children feel better and more confident. Kids still need both parents, and this program helps put children in the center of healing instead of in the middle of conflicts” said Gabriela Fohaco, Parent Child Education Manager at Safe & Sound.
Sarah*, a devoted mother of two, was abandoned by her partner while she was pregnant with her second baby, and found herself in a custody battle when her ex-partner re-entered her life. For the safety of the children, she and her ex-partner were mandated by the courts to attend Kids’ Turn.
“Kids’ Turn helped me learn how to focus and prioritize my kids over anything else. As long as they are safe and happy, that’s what matters” said Sarah.
Through the Kids’ Turn workshop, Sarah gained valuable insights into parenting, and turned her family’s outdated parenting techniques into positive approaches that benefited her children and helped break the cycle of harmful patterns.
*Not her real name
Kids’ Turn is just one example of how Safe & Sound ensures that parents receive the tailored support they need to be the best caregivers they can be. Because there is no “one size fits all” parenting support approach, Safe & Sound provides many different education workshops to help parents and children manage stress and trauma—together. Our workshops also celebrate the diversity of participants, ensuring that all families receive the tailored support they need to thrive.
By supporting Safe & Sound, you help us provide these essential resources and workshops that empower families to overcome the normal challenges of life.
These difficult situations are happening for families every single day. We need your generosity to expand our workshops throughout the Bay Area, ensuring that more families can heal together. With your help, we can give children and families the tools they need to overcome adversity and thrive.