We deeply appreciate the many expressions of support and concern for the Episcopal Center for Children since our May announcement to suspend operations. Since then, ECC has been focused on assisting our students, their families, and our staff members to transition into new special education placements and employment opportunities.
Over the past 125 years, it has been necessary several times for the Center to update its mission and to re-focus its efforts to best serve children and families. In the late 1950s the Center actually closed for two years as it advanced from an orphanage to a residential treatment and education program.
We now find ourselves, again, reviewing our mission to determine how ECC can best serve children and families. The Center intends to continue helping children who are dealing with emotional challenges in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and we are determining now what our future work will look like.
The Board of Directors and remaining staff are pivoting their full attention to this new task of envisioning our future. While we look at our forthcoming options, ECC will continue to maintain its beautiful property and buildings at the Utah Avenue campus and will remain an integral part of the neighborhood.
We know there is widespread interest in our future plans and what the timetable for our re-visioning process will be. We expect this deliberate examination of options, collaboration opportunities and new directions may take some time. ECC appreciates your support and concern for the Center, as well as your patience, as we go through this process.
Board of Directors
Episcopal Center for Children
Washington, D.C.