Summer is officially winding down. Hundreds of public charter school students kicked off their school year this week. And on Monday, August 28, DC Public Schools and most of the public charter schools will also head back to the classroom. I’ve always loved the first day of school and the excitement of new possibility. Earlier this summer, I attended several school readiness tours with Councilmember Lewis-George, and the Committee on Facilities and Family Services, and we identified and have been following up on much-needed maintenance, security, and other facilities issues that impede the teaching and learning environment in our schools. Our buildings should be ready to welcome young folks back and I’m hopeful that this will be an amazing year for all our students, teachers, and staff!
This newsletter is full of back-to-school resources for the entire family. Here are some important reminders:
Turn in your Universal Health Certificate form and the Oral Health Assessment form within 20 days of the start of school. There are multiple locations throughout the District that provide free routine pediatric immunizations that are required for students to attend school.
If your child relies on the (OSSE) Department of Transportation program, use their Routing Repository to get daily, real-time status updates for every route.
If your young ones rely on the Metro Transit system, take advantage of the Kids Ride Free program and contact a school administrator for more information and to obtain a Kids Ride Free SmartTrip card.
Additionally, I invite you to begin discussing issues of safety, including but not limited to, peer pressure, substance abuse, and making good decisions, especially with your tweens, pre-teens, and teenagers. We know many of our youth are in crisis throughout the city and we must do our part to engage and support our young people into adulthood. In observance of International Opioid Awareness Day, which is August 31, DC Public Library is hosting a Substance Use Disorder Prevention Workshop at Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library on August 31, from 4pm-5pm. The workshop is designed for residents aged 13 and over and all questions will be answered.
Even if you do not have school-aged children, you can do your part to help start our young people off right by being more alert as you drive in neighborhoods around schools, libraries, and playgrounds. Please mind the directions of crossing guards and slow down. Drop-off is always a little rusty on the first week of school so please, pack your patience.
In service,
Christina Henderson
Councilmember, At-Large
Back to School Supply and Resource Giveaways Throughout the District this Weekend:
Serve Your City DC/Ward 6 Mutual Aid presents the #WeKeepUsSafe Back to School Bash, Saturday 8/26, from 11am-4pm, Eastern Market Plaza- 701 Pennsylvania Ave, SE
The Council’s Legislative Session resumes on Monday, September 18, 2023. There will be a Committee of the Whole Meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, September 19, at 11am, followed by a Legislative Meetings immediately thereafter. You can watch the Meetings on the Council website.
Tuesday, September 26, 1pm: Markup of Confirmation Resolutions for candidates for the Boards of Physical and Occupational Therapy, and the Board of Medicine, as well as several legislative measures.All past Committee hearings can be viewed on Councilmember Henderson's YouTube page at http://www.youtube.com/@CMCHenderson.
Christina in the Community
Black Mamas Community Wellness Resource Day at Bard High School Early College On August 12, Team Henderson joined the Arika Trim Foundation, to provide families with resources, blood pressure checks and monitors, routine vaccinations, Medicaid renewals, school supplies, and more at the Black Mamas Community Wellness Resource Day. Thank you to our partner agencies for coming to support our residents.
Team Henderson at the National Building Museum’s “Look Here” Ward Days On August 3, Team Henderson joined residents for the annual Look Here exhibit. As visitors come across these images in Look Here, they can see themselves in the reflective surfaces and join in these moments from our collective history. Several District agencies, including the Office of Planning and Councilmembers McDuffie, Robert White, Jr., and Frumin, were also present.
Howard University Centers of Excellence (COE) On August 22, Councilmember Henderson visited the Howard University Centers of Excellence. Partnering with DC, Howard University is working to improve access to health care. They have implemented five Centers of Excellence in Behavioral Health, Oral Health, Sickle Cell Disease, Trauma and Violence Prevention, and Women’s Health. To learn more about the innovation taking place at these Centers, visit their website.
Amerigroup DC Visit On August 23, Councilmember met with representatives from Amerigroup DC, which is one of the Medicaid providers for District residents through the DC Healthcare Alliance. They discussed Medicaid renewals/recertifications, maternal health initiatives, particularly doulas, toured their wellness center where they host community events, fitness, and nutrition activities.
In Case You Missed It: Councilmember Henderson in the News
International Opioid Overdose Awareness Day-A Youth Event on Tuesday, August 29, at 5pm, at THEARC-Blackbox Theater: Join the Health Alliance Network and the Psychiatric Institute of Washington as they host a youth-centered event that sheds light on the impact of substance use disorders. Performances begin at 5pm, with school supply distribution at 6pm, followed by a candlelight vigil and healing space memorial at 7:30pm. For more information, call Ambrose Lane, Jr. at 202-374-6226.
The final Late-Night Drip is this Friday: On Friday, August 25, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is hosting the final installment of Late-Night Drip, at Banneker Pool (2500 Georgia Ave NW), from 6pm-11pm. Late Night Drip is a nighttime pool party with music, pool games/inflatables, and more. It is fun for the entire family. For additional information, visit DPR’s website.
Bring the family to Oxon Run Day Community Day Health and Wellness Fair: On Saturday, August 26, from 2pm-6pm, DC Health Places of Worship Advisory Board is hosting a Community Wellness event at Oxon Run Park. Enjoy free games, pony rides, fresh produce, free lunch for the first 2,000 residents, therapy robotic pets for seniors, vaccination clinic, school supplies, and much more. To learn more and to RSVP, visit the event’s website.
Sign up for DDOT’s weekly construction updates: The 2023 Paving Plan is published on the PaveDC website at the start of the construction season. The website also includes separate tabs for sidewalks scheduled for repair and the Alley Restoration Plan for Fiscal Year 2023. For more information about these projects, please visit DDOT's interactive tool, PaveDC. To sign up for DDOT’s weekly construction updates, visit the sign up page.
Apply for the Enhanced Mobility Program: The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) will conduct a solicitation for applications for the Federal Transit Administration’s Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities (Section 5310) grant program. Applications will be accepted August 1 through September 30, 2023. To find out more information and to apply, visit the COG’s website.
Apply for Capital Area Food Bank’s Client Leadership Council by September 1: Recruitment has begun for the 4th Annual Client Leadership Council, apaid, ten-month advocacy training program for people who are experiencing food insecurity in the Greater Washington DC Area. The goal of the CLC is to empower individuals to shape policy, inform the media, and influence food bank programming by sharing their lived experience and becoming advocates. All members are paid a living wage stipend for their time, including any transportation costs to and from the food bank. The program curriculum is offered in both English and Spanish. For more information and to apply, visit the Capital Area Food Bank's website.
Medicaid Renewal, Don’t Wait to Update: On April 1, 2023, all DC residents with health coverage through Medicaid, Alliance, or the Immigrant Children’s Program must renew their coverage. Please visit the District Direct website to update your address, phone number, and/or email so that the Department of Healthcare Finance (DHCF) knows where to send your Medicaid renewal letter. If you require assistance, please call the Public Benefits Center at 202-727-5355.
Office of Unified Communication (OUC) Junior Academy Fall Cohort application: The next cohort for the Junior Academy will begin on September 21, 2023! The program will consist of 5 once a week sessions aiming to familiarize youth with OUC career opportunities. They are accepting interested forms on a rolling basis. To learn more information, visit their website to complete the form.
DPW's trash collection gets an earlier start: Due to constant high temperatures & poor air quality, DPW will begin trash & recycling collections at 6:00 am until September 1st. Please place your trash and recyclables outside the night before the scheduled collection. For more information, visit DPW's website.
Have a constituent service need related to the Health Committee or any of the other agencies in DC Government? Want Councilmember Henderson to come to your community event or meeting? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Constituent Services Director Ana Berrios-Vazquez during regular business hours (9:00am - 5:30pm) at 202-724-8105, or ABerriosVazquez@dccouncil.gov.
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