Head Start
Focusing on Fatherhood in the New School Year
In Head Start, engaging fathers (and men in general) can be challenging, as many agencies can attest. However, that doesn’t mean that our efforts aren’t important. The appropriate financial support and positive role model of a present father can sometimes make a big difference in the outcome for children. And since Head Start’s mission is…
Benefits of Head Start Program Governance Training
You may ask what the benefits are of familiarizing Staff and Policy Council with the Head Start Act 2007 and the Program Governance. First, the Performance Standards was published in 1974 and revised in 1996 and again in 2015, with the most recent proposed changes scheduled to take effect in school year 2017. The Performance…
10 Responsibilities of Individual Board Members
At The Gravely Group, we believe that there is a critical role that nonprofits play in communities across the nation. Thus it is imperative that a nonprofit Board function at a high level to ensure a clear and strategic organizational direction that supports the agency’s efforts to successfully navigate the challenges, responsibilities and opportunities of…
The Role of Advisory Committees in Head Start Program Governance
Recently, The Gravely Group received an question via email about how organizations can utilize Advisory Committees in their Program Governance Structure. According to the most recent Program Instruction document on Program Governance, Advisory Committees are allowed under the Head Start Act, “to the extent practicable and appropriate, at the discretion of the governing body, establishing…
Three Ways to Encourage Exercise in Toddlers
It’s important to give children lots of opportunities to be physically active, toddlers learn how their bodies work (and burn off energy) by running, jumping, climbing, and exploring their world. But you probably don’t need to take extra steps to make sure your toddler exercises. But do you know how to channel their endless energy…
A Personal Head Start Story: Marti Ridley
“Remember to honor your growth as much as you honor your beginnings.” – Marti Ridley I recently presented a training at the United Way Central Ohio on Parlimentary Procedure. At that session, I ran into a friend and colleague Marti Ridley. Marti has been a member of the policy council and long-time volunteer in her…
The Relationship between a Head Start Governing Body and Policy Council
The Head Start Act provides that Head Start agencies must “establish and maintain a formal structure for program governance, for the oversight of quality services for Head Start children and families and for making decisions related to program design and implementation.” This means the formation of both a Governing Body and a Policy Council. Governing…
Becoming a Parent… Again: Providing Support to Grandparents and Kinship Caregivers in Your Early Learning Program
When parents are absent or unable to raise their children, grandparents are often the ones who step in. Raising a second generation brings many rewards, including the fulfillment of giving grandchildren a sense of security, developing a deeper relationship, and keeping the family together. It also comes with many challenges. No matter how much love…
Using Texting as a Tool to Help Increase Parent Engagement
If you ever attended a training by any of the Consultants at The Gravely Group, we speak on parent participation being the key to a successful early learning program. So here is some great information that supports our theory that you have to reach out to parents with diverse methods of contact and learning. This…
What is Your Organization’s Employee Onboarding Practice?
Onboarding is the process by which new hires get adjusted to the social and performance aspects of their jobs quickly and smoothly, and learn the attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviors required to function effectively within an organization. As Head Start makes adjustments with new Grantees and Delegate agencies, Onboarding is the perfect concept to use…