The Early Head Start National Resource Center

By Mary Shiffer

The Early Head Start National Resource Center (EHS NRC) was created in 1995 by the Head Start Bureau to provide support to Early Head Start programs throughout the country. The EHS NRC works in partnership with the Regional Offices and the Infant/Toddler Specialists at the Quality Improvement Centers (QICs) and QICs for Disability Services.

What Services Are Available?

The EHS NRC provides training and technical assistance in the following ways:

Leadership
The EHS NRC supports the Head Start Bureau and T/TA system in providing national leadership by:

• Convening and facilitating twice annual meetings of an expert Technical Work Group (TWG);
  
• Synthesizing TWG discussions and offering recommendations to the HSB;
  
• Conducting leaders' seminars twice annually for regional staff working with EHS programs; and
  
• Organizing and maintaining a Resource/Network database of national experts.

Access to Information
The EHS NRC provides EHS programs with access to information by:

• Developing a compendium of quality training resources;
  
• Identifying and sharing information on model program strategies;
  
• Conducting presentations on "best practices" at national and regional conferences;
  
• Creating Technical Assistance Papers on select topics; and
  
• Disseminating of resources via our Web site (ehsnrc.rd.net).

Training Events and Technical Assistance Services
The EHS NRC plans and conducts training events for EHS program staff, including:

• National Orientation Conferences for newly funded EHS programs;
  
• Annual Institutes for EHS programs;
  
• Program for Infant/Toddler Caregivers (PITC) Intensives and certification process for EHS programs.
  
• Teleconferences;
  
• TV programming; and
  
• Listservs on select topics for EHS programs.

Partnership/Linkages
The EHS NRC fosters partnerships and creates linkages among EHS programs and the broader Head Start T/TA system by:

• Maintaining regular contact with Infant/Toddler Specialists in regional QICs and QICs for Disability Services;
  
• Conducting Training of Trainer events for the broader T/TA system;
  
• Creating Technical Assistance tools for the T/TA network; and
  
• Hosting listservs for the Infant/ Family Network and expanded EHS community.

For more information, contact the EHS NRC at 202-638-0851, or visit the Web site at http://www.ehsnrc.org. Mary Shiffer is a Program Specialist in Region III, T: 215-861-4043.