Training Guides for the Head Start Learning Community:
Community Partnerships
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| Contents | Preface
| Introduction
| Module 1
| Module 2
| Module 3
| Module 4 | |
Continuing Professional Development
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Activities that Head Start programs may find useful for reinforcing and expanding staff training on Community Partnerships are presented below.
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Continuing Education
Encourage staff to enroll in institutions of higher education or conferences and seminars that are sponsored by a variety of organizations, agencies, and professional associations. Suggest courses related to collaboration, such as grant writing, board development, group dynamics, fund-raising, community organizing, organizational theory and management.
Keep current course catalogs from local community education programs, colleges and universities, and community organizations such as United Way, The Foundation Center, The Support Centers of America, United Jewish Appeal, Children's Defense Fund, etc. The information should include financial aid, scholarships, and other sources of tuition support.
Information Sharing
Promote staff attendance at community meetings that address outstanding community needs. Encourage staff to report the highlights of these meetings and information important to Head Start's work with families to their colleagues. In addition to providing community partnership opportunities, these meetings reinforce the staff's professional role as a child and family advocate within the community.
Peer Study Groups
Help staff organize a study group to focus on the opportunities and challenges of community partnerships. Members of this group can invite experts to speak on topics related to collaboration. Arrange to have community leaders or staff from community organizations conduct workshops or panel discussions for the Head Start staff. In making the arrangements for these sessions, have staff identify the types of information important to them and ask the experts to address those areas. Some possibilities include engaging collaborative partners, information sharing, partnerships with community-based programs, community assessment, and program evaluation.
Encourage staff to commit to personal and professional development by joining professional organizations and discussing publications that provide the latest information on community partnerships. Organizations, books, and journals to suggest are described in the Resource section of this guide.
Increasing Awareness of Community Partners
Have volunteers create a mural or display about community agencies and organizations that are currently collaborating with your Head Start program and are also available as a resource to families. Include program brochures or contact information sheets. Exhibit the mural or display in a prominent location.
Developing a Head Start Collaboration Resource
Form a team of staff, parents, and volunteers to be available as in-house collaboration consultants. When issues arise that could be addressed through a collaborative, have this team identify potential community partners, explore challenges and opportunities, and assess the resources needed for initiating the call for action.
Providing Education on Collaboration
Encourage staff, parents, and members of the community to pursue community partnerships by providing workshops. Possible workshop topics include: community success stories showing the value and benefits of collaboration, overcoming the challenges of collaboration, joint program funding opportunities, and strategic planning.
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