San Francisco State University may have taken the first steps, but the San Francisco Head Start program of 2003 would not be what it is without the exceptional range of community partners who have whole-heartedly joined with the University. Together, we are truly transforming the futures of many of San Francisco’s high needs children and families. Dr. van Keulen has told me that many of our agency partners say that they have never before partnered like this -- and now that they have, they couldn’t be more enthusiastic.

At the end of this program, we will individually identify all the community partners, to whom we are so grateful. I am pleased to say that the list is too long to read out right now, but I do want to describe in more general terms just what our partners are achieving for Head Start, and for our community.

San Francisco Head Start and Early Start have become, I strongly believe, an inspiring, national example of the very best that can be achieved when a community-oriented university and a receptive community pool their talents and their resources

Vital support for San Francisco Head Start began even before the program was in place. Many of you will recognize how exceptional it was for us to be able to submit eight licensing applications for the first centers at the same time -- and to get licensing approval in three months -- an exceptional turnaround. Thanks for that goes to Community Care Licensing of the Department of Social Services.

And when, in our first year, we discovered belatedly that the outgoing grantee had made a commitment to establish full-day, full-year centers in public housing, we turned to Mayor Willie Brown’s Office of Children, Youth & Families for help. Their "bridge" grant to Head Start of almost $400,000 enabled us to follow through on someone else’s promise.

Now consider these facts: Today, just five years after it lay in ruins, San Francisco Head Start serves children in 53 locations throughout the City. Thirteen of these locations are within City schools. Two are within public housing projects. One center, located at our Head Start headquarters, serves Head Start parents, offering community college courses -- for credit -- so that these parents, and Head Start staff members, can earn an Associate of Arts degree.

Community partnerships have been fundamental to the "wraparound model" we have developed. As you know, Head Start funding supports only a half day program -- not enough for parents who are training for the workplace or who are already holding jobs. But by combining resources with willing and exceedingly able partners -- each of us funding half the day -- we have been able to provide a full-day, year-round program.

And we continue to add services. A number of them, I am proud to say, come through San Francisco State. When we took on the Head Start program, we saw it as a marvelous living laboratory -- a learning and service opportunity -- for students in fields such as nursing, public health, social work, early childhood education, business administration, mental health and curriculum development. This kind of student and institutional engagement is something we value highly on campus and consider a significant part of a San Francisco State education.

The Early Head Start grant we received a few months ago provides a full-time public health nurse to lead and coordinate these services. And with support from many directions, San Francisco Head Start now offers special reading programs, gifts for the children such as back packs loaded with school supplies and Giants tickets, and vital health services such as dental care.

Head Start public health partners are ensuring that the children receive nutrition, general health and mental health services -- absolutely free. Other agencies are collaborating with us to give children with disabilities the opportunity to learn and play among their non-disabled peers in Head Start classrooms.

I would also like to recognize the large and dedicated group of volunteers who make up the four Head Start Advisory Committees, the Board of Directors and Policy Council. Their advice and counsel are invaluable and their time also helps us to meet the federal requirement for 20% in matching funds.

I cannot emphasize too strongly that San Francisco Head Start has become the great success that it is because of partnership -- generous-hearted, ongoing, creative partnership. It takes a city to raise our children. We are that city, and our children will benefit from our work together all their lives. To all of you who have come together for Head Start, please accept my thanks and great admiration.