Founded in 1975 as a citizen action group, the organization is committed to community empowerment, culturally sensitive services, program models that focus on the strengths of families, and policies that reduce child poverty and ensure that all children have their basic needs met. Coleman's success and innovation have earned the organization a national reputation and have spawned initiatives in communities throughout the country. Coleman combines advocacy, organizing, policy research, and leadership development strategies. Coleman is supported entirely through the generosity of private foundations and individuals. All children deserve to have their basic needs met, and it is the role of government to ensure that this happens.
Poverty is the greatest risk to the well-being of children.
Whenever possible, families should be given maximim support and should be kept together. Services aimed at children and youth should focus on the entire family, whenver feasible. Children and families should receive services in their communities whenever possible, and be instituationalized only as a last resort when less restrictive options have failed. Services for children, youth and their families should focus on assets , rather than deficits, providing positive developmental opportunities rather than problem-oriented intervention. San Francisco should treasure and support the multi-cultural diversity of its children, and help children take pride in thier unique heritage, as well as learn tolerance toward all others.