CROSS CULTURAL
FAMILY CENTER
About Cross Cultural Family Center
Fihankra: "house/compound"
A symbol of brotherhood, safety, security, completeness, and solidarity.
- from the Adinkra Dictionary
For nearly 60 years, the Cross Cultural Family Center (CCFC) has brought together families of differing cultural backgrounds to work cooperatively in addressing the developmental and educational needs of young children in urban San Francisco.
Today, CCFC serves approximately 300 children and their families across the Western Addition, Tenderloin, Potrero Hill, Castro/Hayes Valley, Richmond District, and Visitacion Valley. We currently hold Community Care Licenses for four infant programs, eleven preschool programs, and two school-age programs.
Our work is guided by a culturally and economically diverse board and staff. Our programs focus on the individuality of each child alongside the collective interests and needs of the children and families in our community. The families we serve represent a wide range of cultures, with 72% coming from homes where a language other than English is primarily spoken. Our teaching, support, and administrative teams reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
Our History
The Cross Cultural Family Center was established in 1969 to carry forward a demonstration project called Nurseries in Cross Cultural Education. Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health from 1965 to 1970, the five-year project studied how cross-cultural education could strengthen the mental health of families living in San Francisco's Western Addition during a period of urban redevelopment.
The project brought together a group of nursery schools where a diverse community of families could work cooperatively to meet their children's developmental and educational needs. When funding ended, the families and staff wanted to continue what they had built — and the Cross Cultural Family Center was created.
Our Mission
To provide child development services in cross-cultural settings, with a commitment to high-quality, community-based, and developmentally appropriate early care and education.