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.

1/29/24 1/29/24

Annual Self-Assessment is a Key Consideration for Program Planning

1/4/24 1/4/24

Focus and Flexibility to Support Program Planning in 2024

Throughout 2023, we heard from programs that are juggling multiple moving pieces in program planning and operations. Programs are navigating action planning for the Full Enrollment Initiative, competing in DRS, or considering a change in scope request. Other programs are getting ready for federal monitoring review or preparing a baseline or continuation application; and for some, these timelines are changing.

2/17/22 2/17/22

Program Planning: Sequencing Activities to Maximize Time and Enhance Usefulness

In Head Start/Early Head Start, a coordinated approach to program planning and management supports the provision of high-quality services for children and families. Each year, programs implement a variety of required activities to guide programmatic and fiscal operations. The timing of these activities, and how they build upon each other, can impact their effectiveness and value they bring to the program.

5/6/21 5/6/21

Risk Mitigation Recap: Continuous Improvement for Head Start and Early Head Start

During the past six months, we’ve introduced concepts in the Talking Points blog about how Head Start/Early Head Start programs can take a planned and systematic approach to minimize the risk of being identified for participation in the Designation Renewal System (DRS) and improve program services. Today, we bring it full circle with this risk mitigation recap.

4/6/21 4/6/21

Make Ongoing Monitoring Central to an Effective Management System

Make ongoing monitoring a core part of your management system with clear roles, usable tools, and routines that drive follow-through and results.

1/19/21 1/19/21

How to Use Self-Assessment to Mitigate Risk in Head Start

11/5/20 11/5/20

Reframing DRS: Risk Mitigation to Improve Quality and Prevent Competition

3/19/20 3/19/20

Five Ways to Refocus Energy During Program Closures