Updates from the Collab Office - January 2026

“There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day.” – Walt Disney

In a continued time of great uncertainty, I wanted to bring a few impactful and uplifting updates. 

We are excited to announce that the California Head Start Collaboration Office (CHSCO) website is in the process of being updated to better serve the needs of Head Start programs in California. At the request of Head Start staff members we have met in the field, a new “CHSCO Resources” tab has been added. This tab will include links to all upcoming webinars as well as links to past webinars hosted by our office. If you have suggestions or feedback as we move through this process, please reach out—we would love to hear from you and your staff.

Upcoming Webinars: 

On January 16, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., the CHSCO, in partnership with SchoolHouse Connection and the Department of Education, will be hosting a webinar on Early Childhood and Homeless Education. SchoolHouse Connection will share an overview of the impacts of homelessness on young children, data on the prevalence of homelessness among young children across the nation, in California and the federal requirements under the McKinney-Vento Act. The California Department of Education’s Homeless Education Program will share state requirements of homeless education and implementation of McKinney-Vento at the local level, county offices of education and districts, through local homeless liaisons. Register now.  

In addition, on February 19, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., the CHSCO will be partnering with the California Oral Health Technical Assistance Center (COHTAC) and connect Head Start Programs with Local Oral Health Programs (LOHPs). This webinar will work with LOHPs in their communities to improve oral health through education, prevention, community-clinical linkages, and surveillance. In this Share & Learn session, we will provide an overview of both programs, identify opportunities for collaboration (including supporting the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment), and share resources. You will hear practical examples of how Head Start programs and LOHPs have partnered together to strengthen their impact. Our goal for this session is to foster and enhance collaboration across programs, leading to improved oral health outcomes for children and families. Learn more.

We hope to see you and your team at one or both of these virtual learning opportunities!

With my deepest appreciation and thanks,  

Ristyn Woolley