CAMPAIGN

2027 Community Needs Assessment (CNA) Plan

Children, Youth and Their Families

Read the 2027 CNA Plan (PDF)

Learn how DCYF will gather data and community input to guide future funding decisions.2027 Community Needs Assessment (CNA) Plan

About the CNA Plan

The Community Needs Assessment (CNA) helps DCYF understand the needs, strengths and experiences of children, youth, young adults and families in San Francisco.

The CNA Plan explains how we will collect and analyze data, gather community input and use findings to guide planning and funding.

The CNA is the first step in DCYF’s five-year planning cycle and informs future funding decisions.

What is different about the 2027 CNA?

The 2027 CNA focuses more on how people experience services, not just what they need.

We will:

  • Focus on people who use or could use DCYF services
  • Gather detailed input about how services are accessed and experienced
  • Learn what helps people stay engaged in programs
  • Use this information to improve service design and funding

This work builds on the Citywide Community Needs Assessment (CCNA), which provides a broader view across City systems.

How we will gather information

We will use multiple approaches to understand community needs.

Review data and research

  • Existing reports, data and plans from City departments and SFUSD
  • Trends and disparities across communities
  • Updates to findings from the 2022 CNA

Gather community input

  • Youth, families and community members
  • DCYF-funded programs and providers
  • Targeted outreach to priority populations

Use different engagement methods

  • Focus groups and interviews
  • Surveys
  • Youth-led and peer engagement
  • Community events and pop-up outreach

We will offer engagement in multiple languages and formats to make participation accessible.

What we will focus on

The CNA is organized around four areas:

  • Children and youth are ready to learn and succeed in school
  • Youth are ready for college, work and productive adulthood
  • Children and youth are supported nurturing families and communities
  • Children and youth are physically and emotionally healthy

These areas help us understand outcomes and identify where support is needed most.

Who we will hear from

We will focus on people most connected to DCYF services, including:

  • Children and youth
  • Teens and young adults
  • Parents and caregivers
  • DCYF-funded providers

We will prioritize outreach to communities with the greatest needs and barriers to access.

Understanding needs across communities

The CNA will identify where needs and disparities are greatest.

We will:

  • Look at differences by race, income, neighborhood and other factors
  • Identify gaps in access to services
  • Compare where services are available to where needs are highest

These findings will help guide more equitable funding decisions.

Timeline

The CNA will take place from 2026 to 2027.

Key phases include:

  • Spring to summer 2026: data review and analysis
  • Summer to fall 2026: community engagement
  • Winter 2026 to 2027: draft findings
  • Spring 2027: review and approval

What happens next

After the CNA is complete:

  • Findings will inform DCYF’s Services Allocation Plan (SAP)
  • DCYF will develop funding strategies based on community needs
  • A Request for Proposals (RFP) will follow

The CNA ensures that funding decisions reflect community needs and lived experience.

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