Engaging more Bay Area Jewish families with young children in meaningful Jewish life and community

The Early Childhood Education Initiative (ECEI) was launched in the summer of 2007 by the Jewish Community Federation in partnership with the Jim Joseph Foundation. The initiative is in response to the 2006 JESNA study which identified the needs of Bay Area Jewish early childhood programs and highlighted their importance for family engagement within the Jewish community.

Over 150 early childhood educators and experts, Jewish educators, Jewish professionals and communal leaders, funders and Federation staff members were engaged in the planning process to develop this comprehensive initiative. Currently, the ECEI offers numerous programs to the community that focus on Professional Development, Connecting with Families, Compensation & Finance, and Standards of Excellence.

For more resources on early childhood programs visit:

• The Early Childhood Education Initiative Blog
• The PJ Library® website
• Preschool, day school, and camp scholarships
• Kids and Teens Resource Guide
• Contemporary Jewish Museum programs for families
• Parents Place

The Early Childhood Education Initiative is funded by the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties and it's Endowment Fund, the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay and the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, with programmatic support from the Jim Joseph Foundation, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the Maisin Foundation, and local donors. If interested in funding any of the ECEI's programs, please contact Janet Harris, at JanetH@sfjcf.org.