Reflecting on 2020 & Moving Forward to 2021

DCHSA Managing Director Christina Benjamin

It’s been an incredible year in the lives of many.  Without a doubt, 2020 will be remembered.  As we come to the close of this year and prepare for a new one, I want to thank each of you for your support.  I greatly appreciate the time you have dedicated to making the DC Head Start Association a place to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another. 

Here’s a few highlights from this year:

• Coming together for countless meetings to brainstorm and share ideas, plans, and challenges with reopening centers for Early Head Start (EHS) and Head Start (HS) including EHS-Child Care Partners and Quality Improvement Network (QIN).

• Offering virtual programming for early learning and family engagement (e.g., virtual instruction, virtual home visits, and virtual Parent Cafés).

• Collaborating with DC Health Management Network in developing plans to implement the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) COVID-19 health and safety guidance.

I’m encouraged and inspired by your courage, strength, and grace to continue serving our most vulnerable and precious young children and their families in the midst of the pandemic.  Despite your own challenges and struggles, you consistently go above and beyond to make sure every child and family gets the support needed.  As you go into this next year, I encourage you to take a few moments to reflect on what you’ve learned about yourself and others.

I look forward to our continued work on the behalf of the District’s young children, from birth to five, and their families.  I’m also excited about the possibilities of what we can do together to answer the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Improve Maternal Health.  In the new year, we plan to launch the DCHSA Parent Advisory Council…stay tune for more details!

If you have any suggestions or ideas, please feel free to reach out to me at cbenjamin@dcheadstart.org.

Wishing you and yours the very best,

Christina