HSIPC: Head Start Bulletin--Head Start Highlights: Training and Technical Assistance Initiative

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Fall 1996

Vol. I, Issue No. 60

Training and Technical Assistance Initiative

By JoAn Knight Herren, Chief, and Gerry Farrell, Program Specialist, Training and Technical Assistance Branch, Head Start Bureau

Vision Statement

The Head Start T/TA system promotes excellence by supporting a continuos learning environment for Head Start staff. It fosters partnerships among Head Start programs, communities, and governments to allow children, parents, and staff to develop their full potential. The T/TA system cultivates a shared understanding of and commitment to the Head Start philosophy and celebrates the diversity of the Head Start community.

The Head Start National Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) team is made up of headquarters and Regional office staff, contractors, and grantees. Providing leadership and direction, they work together to create a coordinated and responsive service delivery system. This training team assists grantees in their ongoing management responsibility to ensure that Head Start staff have the critical skills and training they need to serve low-income children and their families comprehensively.

As a result of the report of the Advisory Committee on Head Start Quality and Expansion, Creating a 21st Century Head Start, the Advisory Committee specifically recommended that the Federal Government support excellence in the local Head Start programs. To achieve this goal it was suggested that the Bureau, "...reassess and design the Head Start training and technical assistance to support program quality and expansion."

The Head Start Bureau has conducted a review and assessment of the current T/TA system in order to develop a more flexible, responsive, accessible, and innovative T/TA strategy that will have as its base the existing expertise within the system.

Therefore, in September 1995, in keeping with the Head Start Bureau's goal of strengthening the T/TA system to support program quality and expansion, a contract was awarded to assist in assessing and reexamining the existing T/TA system, in considering new designs for the delivery of T/TA, and in obtaining input from a broad range of persons within as well as outside of the Head Start community. The accomplishments to date include:

Convening a series of 15 focus groups around the country to assess the current T/TA system;
Completing a literature search of various T/TA systems;
Conducting a series of interviews with managers in the private and public sectors on past and present "best practices;"
Convening the Technical Work Group to complete a draft report of recommendations for a new, revised system, and a proposal of several models of new systems for Head Start senior staff consideration;
Working with the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition in the awarding and renewing of the Child Development Associate (CDA) degree to include new elements for obtaining continuing education units (CEUs) and new procedures for the waiver process for those circumstances that prevent an individual from meeting all of the requirements for a CDA in a timely manner. (See Head Start Bulletin, No. 59 for more information on the new CDA renewal procedures); and
Planning an in-house work group to prepare a final report to the Head Start Bureau on the revised T/TA strategy, funding mechanisms, procurement planning, and the Federal role in monitoring and evaluating activities.

The Head Start Bureau envisions the role of the new T/TA system in Head Start to be a growth producing, comprehensive, coordinated system of support which is understandable, clear, and customer focused. The system will be dynamic, quality responsive, focused on best practices, flexible to address the diverse needs of grantees, Regional and national offices, and based on a sound system of accountability. It is expected that the new T/TA structure and system will be operational by September 1997.

Head Start Bulletin Issue No. 60 Contents

"Early Head Start: It's a Great Time to be a Baby!"

View other Head Start Bulletins

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