Financial Assistance that Supports the ECE Workforce
NOTE: This page is for Early Learning Educators. If you’re looking for child care payment assistance, click here.
On July 1, 2017 the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood (DEC) launched San Francisco’s Early Learning Scholarship Program (ELS), to provide eligible San Francisco families who have children from birth to 5 years old with financial assistance to pay for quality early care and education.
As of July 1, 2024, “Early Learning System/Early Learning Scholarship/ Early Learning San Francisco (ELS)” became Early Learning For All! Early Learning For All combines and expands on ELS and PFA bringing them together into a single unified program.
More than 500 Early Child Care and Education (ECE) Family Child Care Homes and Child Development Centers across San Francisco have been qualified to participate in this program that prioritizes quality and continuity of care, supports the ECE workforce through DEC’s workforce compensation initiative, and ensures that every child in San Francisco has access to high-quality early care and education.
Wu Yee Children’s Services is one of the agencies funded by DEC to administer the Early Learning for All program; to provide an array of supports to child care educators in our community and provide eligible San Francisco families who have children from birth to 5 years old with financial assistance to pay for quality early care and education.
For more information on supports being offered by the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood visit DEC’s website or email sfdec@sfgov.org.
What Early Educators Need to Know
- There are many benefits to joining the Department of Early Childhood’s Early Learning For All network. Programs in the network:
- Can offer free or deeply discounted enrollment to their families through Early Learning For All financial assistance.
- Receive increased compensation through DEC’s Workforce Compensation Initiative.
- Have access to free quality improvement supports, professional development, and training opportunities.
- Programs interested in participating in the Early Learning For All network must apply to join.
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying to join the Early Learning for All Early network or in obtaining more information about the process, visit DEC’s join Early Learning for All webpage.
Current Early Learning For All-qualified Early Educators
If you are a current Early Learning for All educator with a question about your enrollments or payment, call or email one of our staff members below for assistance.
For Payment Assistance
Our Scholarship Specialists are committed to helping Family Child Care early educators receive timely and accurate ELS payments.
- Scholarship Specialists support early educators with:
- Understanding monthly voucher payment Payment calculation and payment dates
- Updating program paid holidays
- Monthly attendance sheet assistance
English/Chinese
Lorinda Cheang: call 415.230.7518 or email lorinda.cheang@wuyee.org
Connie Cheng: call 415.230.7584 or email connie.cheng@wuyee.org
Sarah Chen: call 415.230.7539 or email sarah.chen@wuyee.org
English/Spanish
Erika Briseno-Pena: call 415.230.7516 or email erika.briseno-pena@wuyee.org
For Enrollment Assistance
Please contact Wu Yee’s Resource and Referral department at 844.644.4300 or The Help Desk at Children’s Council at 415.343.4669.
Early Learning For All Enroll-Pay System
We are excited to announce the upcoming rollout of the Early Learning For All (ELFA) Enroll-Pay System, designed to streamline payment processes and support providers, families and children across our network. This new system will launch June 1, 2026, and reflects our commitment to operational efficiency and equitable access to high-quality child care.
What is ELFA Enroll-Pay?
ELFA Enroll Pay is designed to align with private market practices by ensuring child care providers receive timely, predictable payments, whether families are paying privately or using ELFA vouchers. By guaranteeing consistent revenue at the beginning of the month of service, Enroll Pay supports providers in maintaining operational stability and continuing to deliver high-quality care. This system promotes equity and parity by giving families with vouchers the same access and payment structure as private pay families.
How it works?
- Providers review their Enrollment Certification Form (ECF) at the beginning of each month.
- Providers certify and submit their Enrollment Certification Form (ECF) by the 15th of each month.
- Providers receive their payments within the first five (5) working days of each month.
Get Connected!
CareConnect is an all-in-one early education platform that saves time and streamlines our partnership. Through CareConnect, you will be able to easily view, certify and submit your enrollment certification form with Children’s Council of San Francisco and Wu Yee Children’s Services.
To activate your CareConnect account, simply download the app or visit MCT | CareConnect Provider and follow the Forget Password prompt. You will have to use the email you have registered with WuYee.
For step-by-step instructions, please click here.
More resources are here:
Need Assistance?
Contact our provider support team at elfapayment@wuyee.org.
For CareConnect technical support, please contact MCT at support@mcttechnology.com or call 909.396.0599.
Early Learning For All Educator Resources
The Early Learning For All Educator Resource and Forms Google Drive contains documents including: Payment Calendar, Early Learning for All Operating Guidelines, Family Fee and Proration Relief Policy, Reimbursement Rates, Provider Raid Closure Days Form, and Provider W-9 Form.
Please submit attendance sheets to ELFApayment@wuyee.org or mail to address:
880 Clay St., Fl 3,
San Francisco, CA 94108
(Attention: Early Learning For All Program).
Reporting Vacancies
Please report all vacancies to DEC’s Early Learning For All Application Portal. It is San Francisco’s early care and education eligibility list. Early Learning For All providers report their vacancies in the system and receive referrals for families that are eligible for financial assistance.
For assistance, please contact Wu Yee’s Resource and Referral department at 844.644.4300 or The Help Desk at Children’s Council at 415.343.4669.
CareConnect Digital Attendance Resources
Online Submission Video Tutorial from Desktop
Online Submission Video Tutorial from Mobile App
