Parents with Coleman Advocates, along with other organizations, successfully campaigned to protect the Children’s Fund from budget cuts—and to add back $4.4 million for key children’s programs to the budget. 

When the city of San Francisco planned to cut funds for children’s programs last year, parents with Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth got active. “Many of the youth programs have [already] been cut in my community,” says Toni Hines, mother of six children in Bayview-Hunters Point, “so the youth are out on the streets. Also, cuts to public education [could have hurt] my children’s education.” Tactics included:

Parent and youth leadership: Coleman Advocates held leadership trainings where parents could learn about the political basics and role play public speaking and meeting with Supervisors. Parent and youth leaders also analyzed the city budget and decided on their activism priorities: funding for child care, afterschool activities, health services, and employment for youth.

Community postcard campaign: Parent leaders asked community residents and children’s service organizations to fill out postcards to the Board of Supervisors. They collected 3,000 postcards over six weeks, which helped put additional pressure on the Board, says Chelsea Boilard, Coleman Advocates’ Family Policy and Communication Associate.

Meeting with policy makers: Coleman Advocates or-ganized a Family Lobby Day, which brought parents, children, and youth to city hall to talk with the Board of Supervisors. Parent leader Maria Frias also spoke out at a school board meeting and at city hall to help broaden the support for the campaign, she says.

“The pressure on the Mayor’s office and Board of  Supervisors helped make the cause more public,” adds Boilard. They also worked with Board of Supervisors members, including John Avalos, who negotiated with the Mayor’s office.

Youth involvement: At advocacy events, youth were involved—from young children to teenagers. They talked with supervisors, helped make posters, and stood united with their parents. “Lately, there’s more kids getting into this type of movement,” says Frias.

Partner with others: Coleman Advocates “worked closely with the Budget Justice Coalition, SEIU, housing groups, organizations from the Chinese community. We were all vulnerable populations and this helped us gain wide support,” says Boilard.

Success!

When the Board of Supervisors passed the city budget in July, they preserved funding for the Children’s Fund and Public Education Enrichment Fund—and added back $4.4 million for family support, afterschool, youth employment, and violence prevention programs. “The add-backs have allowed some programs to reopen,” says Hines, “but the services should not have been initially disrupted.” And the fight is not over—advocates are mobilizing to protect children’s programs from more possible cuts this year.

“It’s really important to work with other parents and programs like Coleman Advocates,” adds Avalos. “You need to get involved locally and state level.”

For more info, contact: Coleman Advocates, 415-239-0161, www.colemanadvocates.org