South of Market Child Care, Inc. (SOMACC) Early Education & Family Support Programs
South of Market Child Care, Inc. (SOMACC) / Yerba Buena Gardens Child Development Center & Transbay Child Development Center, 790 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
About
South of Market Child Care, Inc. (SOMACC) Early Education & Family Support Programs is a nonprofit organization that serves infants, toddlers, and preschoolers through its early education programs and family support services. The program operates Yerba Buena Gardens Child Development Center (YBG CDC) and Transbay Child Development Center (TB CDC) and serves nearly 130 children each year across these two schools. Its programs are grounded in developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and inclusive early learning practices and are rooted in the belief that education and family empowerment are interconnected.
• Ages: 0–5 years old
SOMACC was founded in 1970 and has served children, their families, and the community for over 50 years. It became officially known as South of Market Child Care, Inc. (SOMACC) in the late 1980s, opened YBG CDC in 1998, launched the South of Market Family Resource Center (SOMA FRC) in 1999, relocated its original site to Natoma Street and renamed it Judith Baker Child Development Center (JB CDC) in 2006, officially opened TB CDC in December 2019, and permanently closed JB CDC in 2022. The organization’s mission is to serve children and families of the South of Market neighborhood and surrounding communities by offering early education and comprehensive family support services in safe and nurturing environments.
SOMACC serves primarily low-income, immigrant, homeless, and at-risk populations and has been described as a vital and highly respected institution in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood since 1970. SOMA FRC, which is co-located with YBG CDC, reaches over 500 families each year with parenting workshops, case management, community events, and other support services that promote family stability, mental and physical health, parenting education, and community connection. SOMACC was selected by Mercy Housing California and the San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education, now known as the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood, to operate an early childhood education site within the Transbay Project Area. The organization is led by Executive Director Jennifer De Palm, Finance Director Melinda Soria, and Development & Admissions Manager Joy Wi.
Last updated March 7, 2026.
• Ages: 0–5 years old
SOMACC was founded in 1970 and has served children, their families, and the community for over 50 years. It became officially known as South of Market Child Care, Inc. (SOMACC) in the late 1980s, opened YBG CDC in 1998, launched the South of Market Family Resource Center (SOMA FRC) in 1999, relocated its original site to Natoma Street and renamed it Judith Baker Child Development Center (JB CDC) in 2006, officially opened TB CDC in December 2019, and permanently closed JB CDC in 2022. The organization’s mission is to serve children and families of the South of Market neighborhood and surrounding communities by offering early education and comprehensive family support services in safe and nurturing environments.
SOMACC serves primarily low-income, immigrant, homeless, and at-risk populations and has been described as a vital and highly respected institution in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood since 1970. SOMA FRC, which is co-located with YBG CDC, reaches over 500 families each year with parenting workshops, case management, community events, and other support services that promote family stability, mental and physical health, parenting education, and community connection. SOMACC was selected by Mercy Housing California and the San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education, now known as the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood, to operate an early childhood education site within the Transbay Project Area. The organization is led by Executive Director Jennifer De Palm, Finance Director Melinda Soria, and Development & Admissions Manager Joy Wi.
Last updated March 7, 2026.
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