Empowering Families and Communities: Dorcas Johnson’s Journey with Head Start
When Dorcas Johnson and her husband began the journey to find a daycare program for their two children, Dinah and Israel, they were overwhelmed by the cost of two. Dorcas continued to homeschool, but she worried about her kids missing out on social interaction with other children. Fortunately, a colleague mentioned the Head Start program. It didn’t take long for the couple to find NCCHS.
Dinah and Israel started the NCCHS program virtually in 2020. Dorcas says the virtual learning experience was excellent, and her children quickly made friends with their classmates. She commented that Dinah was well-prepared for kindergarten and was ahead of her peers after one year at NCCHS. Israel continued in the program until 2023 when he transitioned to kindergarten.
Dorcas was quick to get involved from the beginning, wanting a better understanding of the program. She shares that the NCCHS has not only educated her children but has also taught her to be a better parent. Dorcas Johnson has been a member of the Policy Council since 2021, where she served on the finance committee. A critical issue at the time was the minimum wage increase in Delaware. She took her committee knowledge to her workplace and successfully secured a raise.
“The benefits and support of Head Start for children and families extend well beyond the classroom. Everyone learns and grows through the program,” comments Dorcas, a fervent advocate for NCCHS who spreads information about the program to her friends and colleagues.
Dorcas benefited from free parent training. She took her learnings from the Stand by Me financial literacy program and increased her credit score by over 200 points. Additionally, she has completed the TECE I & II program and is currently working on her Child Development Advocate (CDA) credential. Dorcas sees the value of early education and wants to start a program like Head Start in her home country of Ghana.
