Events

Releasing February 15 is a four-part series on how to build an Early Head Start program that meets your expectations for excellence in education. The series will be accessible through EarlyChildhoodExcellence.org for a one-time fee of $699.  This fee includes three log-ins, access to the presenters to ask questions, and the opportunity to network with other Early Head Start centers around the country that are pursuing the same goals.  The printable PDF below can be filled out and faxed in or e-mailed to order or just click "Order now" to go to the order page online.
Module 1: Vision, Strategy, and Passion: Achieving Early Head Start Excellence
As you expand your current Early Head Start services, or create a whole new set of services, you have an opportunity to pursue excellence. This web-based resource enables you to define, envision, and pursue excellence in all of the decisions that you will make as you create your new services for pregnant mothers, infants, and toddlers. In this first segment, we will define excellence, provide tools that will support self reflection, and provide a framework for you to Invent Your Ideal Early Head Start Program. We’ll also address the critical role of leadership passion and spirit in shaping excellence in your Early Head Start work!
Module 2: Finding the Talent That You Need To Achieve Excellence
An excellent Early Head Start program is based upon the ability to attract, select, hire, orient, develop, and retain the best possible people. Without the talent, excellence becomes a motto — not a reality for the parents, infants, and toddlers being served. In this segment, we will explore the importance of finding the talent you need to achieve excellence. We will share what has worked well for us and others, and we will share our Performance Interviewing™ process, a great tool in assuring the best possible selection decisions. We’ll also address the unique challenges of hiring under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) realities.
Module 3: Designing Infant/Toddler Environments That Support Excellence
Excellence in design of your infant/toddler environment is vital to any high quality program for very young children.  During this “working session” we will address how to get started on setting up or further enhancing your center’s design within the five “zones” necessary for program excellence. After a review of applicable design principles, individual programs will apply these considerations to “landscape” their own individual spaces to optimize learning and promote positive relationships among staff, children, and their families. There is no single right answer to achieving excellence and we will support you in creating your own ideal environment for infants and toddlers.
Module 4: Successful Approaches for Early Head Start Programming
After a quick summary of what is required and allowed by the federal regulations, we will launch into a panel discussion of: Choosing a program option (Center-based, Home-based, Combination, Child-care partners); Training of Staff; Recruiting families; Forming relationships with families—strengths-based, Compassionate Partnerships, consistent with home culture; Working with pregnant women; Options for socialization; Building community partnerships; Using reflective supervision; and Transitioning children and families (as children age out and at  the end of the grant period).
Presenters
Dr. Tim Nolan
Connie Robers
Carol Rogers