Florence Crittenton Services and Whitney Young Child Development Center Merge to Serve Children and Families in San Francisco

Partnership will mean a more comprehensive menu of services for San Francisco’s low-income families resulting in greater community impact

San Francisco, CA (February 2, 2011) – Florence Crittenton Services (FCS) and Whitney Young Child Development Center (WYCDC) today announced they have merged to jointly address the rising need for children and family services in San Francisco. Both organizations have a long history of serving San Francisco’s low-income families and the merger greatly expands the span of neighborhoods that will be supported by the combined organization.

“Whitney Young and Florence Crittenton Services are well recognized institutions in the San Francisco community and the combination creates an agency that will be able to do more for their constituents than each agency could do on its own,” said Karen Wing, President of the WYCDC Board.

“In this economic climate, both organizations were facing the need to serve greater needs with fewer resources,” said Rakesh Mehta, President of the FCS Board. “As we explored various ways to work together, the common vision of serving children and low-income families led us to think about greater integration and ultimately the decision to merge.”

FCS and WYCDC have been serving San Francisco neighborhoods for over 120 and 50 years, respectively. The combined organization will provide high-quality childcare to over 350 children from infancy through sixth-grade after school, thereby expanding the continuum of care for those children as they grow up. In addition, the combined organizations will be able to bring job and other family support services to the Bayview, Visitacion Valley and Western Addition neighborhoods.

The merger will bring a number of benefits to San Francisco children and their families, including:

• Expanded childcare services from infant/toddler through school age children
• A more efficient operation
• A stronger organizational infrastructure
• More exposure to the City’s employment programs
• Overall family support including parent skill-building, employment skill building opportunities and case management support

The merger is subject to regulatory approval and expected to be effective in May of 2011. Both organizations will continue to operate under their current names and from their current facilities.

The Boards will join memberships to form a stronger, more diverse, and more visible body. Both organizations currently have Interim Executive Directors and the combined Board is searching for a permanent Executive Director. The Boards are using CompassPoint Nonprofit Services to conduct this search.

About Florence Crittenton Services
Florence Crittenton Services is one of the oldest charities in San Francisco, with roots dating back to 1889. FCS is dedicated to serving low-income families residing in the Southeast Sector of the City, as well as those in the Western Addition. FCS provides high-quality child care and development services; job support, training, and placement for adults; and comprehensive family services and referrals, helping mothers and fathers make healthy choices and access critical resources, including food, housing, and violence prevention programs. By providing families with the resources, tools, and referrals to help them become independent and self-sufficient, FCS is ending poverty, one family at a time.

About Whitney Young Child Development Center
For over 52 years Whitney Young Child Development Center (WYCDC) has been serving and promoting the needs, rights, and well-being of San Francisco's young children. Though WYCDC has received many awards over the years, it is most recognized for its role in becoming the first school in the nation for mainstreaming low-income handicapped children. WYCDC’s two licensed child development centers provide a range of services that build self-esteem, foster academic readiness, promote participation in the arts, and encourage children’s healthy development.

Deeply rooted in the Bay View Hunters Point and Haight Ashbury communities, WYCDC provides licensed full-day childcare for toddler and preschool children of working parents, and half-day (before and after school) enrichment for K-6th graders. Both programs operate near or at capacity and maintain a waiting list; a testament to the critical need we meet for over 200 children who rely on us daily.

Press Contact:
Mim Carlson, FCS Interim Executive Director
415-567-2357 ext. 104
mcarlson@fcs-sf.org

Cory Pohley, WYCDC Interim Executive Director
415-821-3590
cpohley@whitneyyoungcdc.org