As we celebrate 61 years of the Head Start program, hear from new OHS Director Lizbeth Casco White as she reflects on its impact on children and families and shares her vision for what’s ahead.
Hi, I’m Lizbeth Casco White, and I’m honored to introduce myself as the new Director of the Office of Head Start.
It is a privilege to join this community as we honor the remarkable 61-year legacy of the Head Start program.
For decades, the Head Start program has helped children be healthy, feel safe, and build the skills they need to start kindergarten strong and ready to learn.
But at Head Start, we don’t just enroll a child; we embrace a family. Over the years, you have helped parents and caregivers access early care and education, health services, and provided the support needed — to empower parents to lead their families. Head Start has made it possible for them to go to work and school and ultimately build a better future in our communities.
This is what makes the Head Start program so powerful.
We invest in children — and we equip families to grow stronger together and build a foundation for lifelong success. And when families get the right support, it gives everyone a fresh start. It makes the impossible possible.
This is what we are celebrating today.
We are celebrating Head Start’s legacy of empowering families to change their story — and change the trajectory of their children’s future.
To the parents, staff, partners, and Head Start centers across the country — thank you. You are what makes this program so powerful.
As we celebrate, we’re also looking ahead — because the future of the Head Start program should be just as bold as its past.
From my early days as a Head Start parent to my time as a grantee, I have seen firsthand how strong systems change lives. Now, as Director, I am committed to strengthening the systems that serve our families. My goal is to ensure that the same support that helped my family succeed is accessible, sustainable, and powerful enough to help every family we serve break barriers and pursue their dreams. Because when we support families, children thrive. When children thrive, communities grow stronger. And when communities grow stronger, we create a legacy of opportunity for the next generation.
Building on a 61-year legacy, we will keep strengthening the core of what works while innovating for the families of tomorrow. I am honored to lead this next chapter with you. Happy Birthday, Head Start — together, we are turning “impossible” into reality every single day!
