Page 3 - 2017-2018_CFS_HeadStart_AnnualReport

As I I write this the days are getting colder and shorter But I I can envision spring just around the the the corner – flowers and grass bursting through the the the earth with new life We will enter another cycle of the the the seasons As the seasons change so so do we we In our our Head Head Start Start and and Early Head Head Start Start programs we we see our our our young children growing by leaps and and and and bounds our our our teachers and and and staff developing professionally and and and our our admin- istration continuing to look at at at how we practice the tenets of our mission and strategic priority Throughout 2017 our agency Planning Committee came together to to assess how we could best ensure that our strategic priority was responsive and and aligned to the the needs of of Rhode Island’s most vulner- able young children who who are the the the core of of whom we we serve and the the reason we we we do this this work Through this this process we we refined five core principles that reflect our mission of of innovative leadership fin in in in in in improving the well-being and and healthy development of of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable young children At Chil- dren’s Friend we are family-centered seamless outcome-driven advocates and stewards of the resources entrusted to us us In our Head Head Start Start and Early Head Head Start Start programs we have embraced these principles through the the integra- tion of of services putting families first problem-solv- ing ing ing and and advocating for the needs of of our children families and and staff These accomplishments include a a a a a a a a a a a partnership with Roger Williams University to to launch a a a a a a a a program to to support a a a a a a a a teaching credential for edu-
cators who work work with with infants and toddlers ensuring that teachers working with with the youngest children have access to credit-bearing work work and professional development We also began an an initiative in in our Head Start centers to counteract absenteeism which we know has det- rimental effects on on children’s learning With the hard work and and dedication of many staff and and our families we saw an an an an an increase in in in in attendance in in in in the the second half of the the school year We continued to support children and and and families with disabilities and and and mental health ser- vices and and and better integrated our our dental program into our overall health team When we we we embrace embrace change – – as as we we we embrace embrace the the seasons – – there is is no stopping what we we we can accom- plish together I am as as always exceptionally grateful to to our our our Children’s Friend and and Head Start community – our our our our families program staff funders and and and our our our our Board of of Directors Because of of your hard work and and and dedi- cation we are able able to to learn grow and and and be be be a a a a a a a a a a a a a better leader on on behalf of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable children Aimee Mitchell
Senior Vice President Programs and Operations Director Head Start DEAR FRIENDS