Peninsula Family Service turns 75

I recently had the opportunity to tour the Peninsula Family Service facility in San Mateo and chat with CEO Heather Cleary, and the energy as we walked through each room was absolutely delightful and infectious. Babies barely sitting up were squealing and laughing to peek-a-boo. Toddlers were working with their teachers to practice hand washing and fine motor skills. Preschoolers ran up to us as we entered the room for a hug and asked our names so they could kick off a conversation about what they were learning that day. 

Day care and preschool are widely recognized as important foundational learning environments in support of what has been coined “ready for Kindergarten,” but for families who cannot afford to spend between $1,600-$3,000 per month per child, there is a cost/benefit analysis that too often takes place before signing up and likely in the end, it’s better to leave baby at home with a relative while mom and dad work. 

This is where Peninsula Family Service comes in. With its deeply subsidized-to-free day care and preschool services and early learning centers, families that do not have the financial means to invest in paying for a nurturing yet structured learning environment can still yield its benefits. I saw kids as young as infants practicing the building blocks that would prepare them for kindergarten. They’re learning to scoop their own family-style meals, practicing oral hygiene with toothbrushes on the wall, and thriving in environments designed for stability. 

It’s a real blessing for the hundreds of families able to snag a spot here, especially those facing homelessness, domestic violence or living with disabilities. The nine (and soon to be 11!) centers across the county offer stable and supportive care rooted in early learning pedagogy, and their strategic expansion into infant and toddler spaces — a response to shifting educational landscapes — shows how nimble and vital Peninsula Family Service has been toward shifting community needs. As our school districts expand universal transitional kindergarten and continue to place significant pressure on the viability of private home day care operating models across the state, PFS is doubling down on infant and toddler care, ensuring those critical early years are supported.

But the story doesn’t end with childhood. As our county’s demographics shift, so does the need to support our older adult population. PFS plays an important role here, too. Thanks to funding from Measure K, the county’s half-cent sales tax, it expanded crucial programs serving our aging population like the agency’s peer counseling program, which has been combating loneliness long before it became a buzzword. Through this program, older adults support one another and last year volunteered over 58,000 hours. 

What struck me most wasn’t just what PFS does, but how it does it. Its six core values — diversity, integrity, compassion, respect, teamwork and adaptability are both feel-good phrases and deeply ingrained into the DNA of the organization. As many in the workforce know, to be able to actualize one’s company values is a testament to great leadership. Values are lived out daily by staff that includes former program participants who now serve as impactful ambassadors. These deep-seated relationships, built over 75 years in our community, allow PFS to establish trust and rapport quickly with those who might not feel safe or heard by others.

In a county wrestling with worsening income inequality and rapid change, PFS is a beacon of stability for our most vulnerable residents. This organization is both remaining nimble and reacting to evolving needs and proactively looking ahead. Funded through a mix of government funding, grants and private donations, Peninsula Family Service is building a stronger, more connected San Mateo County — one person at a time. If you’re looking for a way to make a difference, consider volunteering or giving. Every dollar donated or hour volunteered helps build a foundation that lasts a lifetime. Cheers to the next 75 years — visit www.peninsulafamilyservice.org for more information.

Annie Tsai is chief operating officer at Interact (tryinteract.com), early stage investor and advisor with The House Fund (thehouse.fund), and a member of the San Mateo County Housing and Community Development Committee. Find Annie on Twitter @meannie.