Insights from Experts
Talking Points
Talking Points offers insights from experts on the topics we know are important to organizations working to strengthen communities, including organizational development, childcare, and housing stabilization. Our writers share their knowledge, research, and practical strategies for building the structures and systems you need to promote excellence in service delivery.
Talking Points is published a minimum of monthly. Subscribing also gives you access to our Monthly Round Up, where we highlight blog posts, upcoming events, and newsworthy research and reflections.
Balancing Data in Your Head Start Community Assessment Annual Review
When the Head Start Program Performance Standards were revised last year, there were changes to community assessment requirements about when a full update to the report is necessary. Programs must complete a comprehensive community assessment once during the five-year grant period, and an update is only required if significant changes are identified during an annual review. How can a program determine if there are significant changes, particularly if only a few data points must be examined in the annual review? Here, we explore this question and provide strategies for how to leverage the annual review as a meaningful planning tool.
Getting Ready for a Focus Area 2 Review: Protocol, Policies, and Process
Focus Area 2 monitoring reviews are an opportunity for programs to demonstrate their effectiveness in implementing a high-quality program to promote positive outcomes and school readiness for children and their families. It includes discussions, data reviews, and observations. Taking time to prepare for a Focus Area 2 review, so that you can address any issues in advance, will help to ensure a successful review.
The Five Ws of Community Assessment Surveys, an Interview with My Linh Nguyen
My Linh Nguyen shares her insights on the value of stakeholder input in community needs assessments and how this data can be used to understand family, staff, and community needs. Ms. Nguyen is a consultant with Foundations for Families, specializing in community needs assessments, data research, and grant writing.
Changes to Community Assessment in the 2024 HSPPS Final Rule
When the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) published a new rule making changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards (Performance Standards), the Office of Head Start (OHS) described these changes as serving three primary purposes: increasing compensation for Head Start staff, integrating mental health services, and effectively meeting the evolving needs of communities. Community assessment is foundational to program planning and meeting community needs. Here, we explore what’s the same and what’s different about community assessment in the new Performance Standards.
Community Assessments Reveal Widespread Affordable Housing Challenges, an Interview with Nicole Lessard
Nicole Lessard shares her insights on the value of community needs assessments and how data can be used for program planning and to meet families’ needs. Ms. Lessard is a consultant with Foundations for Families, specializing in community needs assessments, data research, and grant writing. She is experienced working with Head Start/Early Head Start programs across the country.