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.
Highlights from the 2025 National Head Start Conference
The National Head Start Conference, which took place May 19-22 in Columbus, Ohio, was an incredible gathering of experts and peers. Thank you to everyone who attended our session on wage comparability. It was wonderful seeing familiar faces and meeting new Head Start leaders!There were many sessions, luncheons, and events at the conference, and we were fortunate to participate as presenters and attendees. Here, we share some of the federal updates we learned from NHSA and other interesting information to support the Head Start community.
Wage Comparability Studies and the Staffing Crisis, An Interview with Jane Hanson
Jane Hanson shares her insights on the importance of wage comparability studies, requirements for Head Start/Early Head Start programs, and how data can be used to address the staffing crisis. Ms. Hanson is a Consultant with Foundations for Families, specializing in wage comparability studies and data research. She is experienced working with community agencies across the country, helping to provide programs with data to understand and meet staff, family, and community needs.
Funding Highlights from 2022 NHSA Fall Leadership Institute
The 2022 National Head Start Association (NHSA) Fall Leadership Institute took place September 19-22 in Washington, DC. It was a welcome opportunity to see colleagues in person, as the last couple years it has taken place virtually. One aspect of the conference that was particularly interesting from the funding perspective was Updates from the Office of Head Start. We learned about big picture and program-specific funding opportunities.