AGENCY

Logo for the Department on the Status of Women, featuring a large pink shaded "W"

Department on the Status of Women

Dedicated to promoting gender equity in San Francisco and beyond

A photo on the steps of City Hall following the reproductive justice rally on the Roe v Wade anniversary with diverse women in men in brightly colored clothing, some holding indigenous flags or signs supporting Planned Parenthood

Message from the Department

The Department on the Status of Women and the Human Rights Commission are now reorganized into the Agency for Human Rights. Both Departments will continue with their unique missions as dictated by the City Charter, and report to their respective Commissions. No day to day programmatic functions will change and at this time, no further changes to staff roles or day-to-day operations are planned. DOSW will now have access to more robust administrative and fiscal support as part of the Agency. We continue our mission of empowering women, girls and nonbinary people with the education, tools and resources they need to create opportunities, build pathways to healthy and prosperous futures and thrive! Learn more about the structure in the presentation below.June 2024 Joint Presentation by HRC and DOSW on Proposed Administrative Merger
2025 Community Listening Sessions Report
Across five sessions—held in neighborhoods throughout the City and County and online—we had the privilege of hearing from a broad cross-section of San Franciscans: community members, nonprofit leaders, advocates, service providers, and elected officials. These listening sessions were more than just conversations—they were a bold affirmation that the community’s voice must remain central to policymaking and systems change. The insights shared will directly inform the Department's programs, partnerships, and policy priorities.
2024 Community Needs Assessment
In 2024, the Department launched it's first Community Needs Assessment (CNA). Over 1,200 respondents shared their experiences in San Francisco regarding health & safety, economic sustainability, and community and civic engagement. The comprehensive outreach plan ensured feedback from individuals in every Supervisor District, received responses in three languages, and from a diverse cross section of individuals. The responses are helping to guide the Department's advocacy, programming and policy work. Click above to read the full results of the CNA.
2024 Representation of Women in Public Property
The San Francisco Department on the Status of Women (DOSW) is working to increase the representation of women in public spaces, aiming for at least 30% representation in art, street names, parks, and buildings. A 2018 ordinance mandated this goal, but recent reports indicate that the city is still significantly below this target. DOSW is actively involved in initiatives to address this disparity and promote gender equity in public spaces. Read our most recent report for an in-depth review and suggestions on how we can improve representation of women in public spaces.

Calendar

Full calendar

UPCOMING CALENDAR

Meeting
Commission on the Status of Women Regular January Meeting

PAST CALENDAR

Event
Agency for Human Rights Community Budget Presentation
Meeting
Commission on the Status of Women Special January Meeting

News

See all news
Press release
Mayor Daniel Lurie, San Francisco Department on the Status of Women and Reproductive Justice Leaders Commit to Reproductive Freedom
Mayor Lurie Announces Appointment of Dr. Diana Aroche to Lead Department of Status of Women
Community needs assessmant

Executive Summary

This executive summary outlines the strategic objectives and initiatives that inform our work. We look forward to working with the Commission, Mayor's office and Board of Supervisors on our shared goals of advancing gender equity in the years to come.Download PDF

Resources

About

Established in 1975, the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women originated in the women’s movement thanks to the strong advocacy of leading local feminists. The 1994 City Charter created the Department on the Status of Women (DOSW) and entrusts the agency with monitoring the status of women and girls throughout San Francisco, investigating inequalities and proposing remedies. 

Working at the intersection of health, safety, socioeconomics, policy and gender, today’s DOSW has an expanded portfolio that prioritizes improving the whole lives of women through: Health & Safety, Economic Security and Civic Engagement & Political Empowerment.

We serve as an advocate for gender equity across the City and County, including service delivery, employment opportunities, leadership development and budget allocation. We take a data-driven approach to ensure accountability and measure impact. We bring people together inside and outside City Departments to collaborate on ideas, strategy and action to transform into a fully gender equitable city. Everyone has a role to play to ensure we apply a gender lens across City and County operations to actualize this goal.

Subcommittees

Staff

Dr. Diana Aroche in front of City HallDr. Diana ArocheDirectorDepartment HeadPhoto of staff member Dominque BlakelyDominique Blakely(She/her)Executive Management AssistantCommission Secretary, Commission on the Status of WomenPhoto of staff member Hannah CotterHannah Cotter(She/her)Senior Policy & Programs AnalystA photo of a white woman with dark brown shoulder length hair is in a white shirt in front of a teal wallDenise Heitzenroder(She/her)Project Manager for Strategic InitiativesPhoto of staff member Alfredo HuanteDr. Alfredo Huante(He/him)Research, Data & Evaluation AnalystFebbie Valderrama(She/her)Acting Finance and Administration Supervisor

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