August 28, 2020
Dear Washingtonians,
On Monday, thousands of young people will login for the first day of the new school year. I know that our community goes into this new school year with a wide range of emotions, and I want to say again that we remain focused on getting our students back into the classroom as soon as we can.
With the first day back only days away, please make sure you have completed the enrollment process. DCPS families can enroll HERE. If you have not yet been in contact with your child's school, call them today to make sure you understand how to login on Monday. If your child is enrolled in pre-K at DCPS, your child's teacher will reach out to you between Monday, August 31 and Wednesday, September 2; during those conversations, you will learn more about the expectations for learning at home during the first few weeks of school. Again, DCPS students in pre-K are not expected to login for online learning on Monday.
If your child is a K-12 student at DCPS and you still need a device, call your school. Schools will be working through the weekend to distribute devices.
We also understand that this is a particularly challenging time for many families — we are six months into this pandemic, parents are juggling many responsibilities, and all of us are dealing with new day-to-day stressors. To support parents, the DC Department of Behavioral Health has expanded the city's Mental Health Hotline to offer relevant guidance to families. Parents can get real-time help from licensed clinicians or learn more about available services by calling 1-888-793-4357 at any time of the day, any day of the week. Parents can get support for a wide range of issues, from managing your own stress to managing your child's behavior to processing grief and trauma. It is important for families to understand that this anxiety and stress is normal and that our team is here to help support your mental wellness.
As we continue through our COVID-19 response and recovery, let's work together to make Term One a success and do everything we can to get back to in-person learning.
Sincerely,
This week, Mayor Bowser mandated that all DC-licensed health insurers cover COVID-19 testing with no cost sharing for certain high-risk residents.
Under a new order, testing must be covered for asymptomatic people who work in high risk settings, are at high risk for complications from COVID-19, or have been exposed to a recently diagnosed person. Testing is covered once per week, with no cost sharing and without prior approval from a doctor.
Residents who need a test but are unable to get tested through a health care provider can still get a free test at one of the District’s public testing sites.
Learn more about the new requirements HERE.
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On Wednesday, September 2, join us as we kick off our annual 202Creates Month, a celebration of the District’s creative community.
Every September, 202Creates highlights DC's creatives, makers, doers, and entrepreneurs. This year's month-long celebration begins on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Learn more about the virtual festivities at 202creates.com.
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Behind on rent due to COVID-19? DC Government has rental assistance programs available to DC residents.
If you cannot make rent, reach out to your housing provider or landlord, the DHCD network of housing counseling organizations, or the Office of the Tenant Advocate. And visit coronavirus.dc.gov/rent to learn more about available assistance.
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