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.
Head Start Updates from This Fall’s Regional Conferences
The start to fall has been a busy time for Head Start regional conferences. As we’ve been out and about, we’ve heard from experts and professionals from across the field who have offered updates and insights into the current status and future of Head Start. Here, we share some of the highlights we learned. We hope you’ll find them useful!
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.