Developing a Head Start Training Plan

ACYF Administration on Children, Youth and Families	U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families
	1. Log No. ACYF-IM-HS-95-02	2. Issuance Date: 01/11/95
	3. Originating Office: Head Start Bureau
	4. Key Word: Training; Staff Development; Planning

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

TO: All Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: Developing a Head Start Training Plan

INFORMATION:

Attached is a copy of a new Head Start publication, Developing a Head Start Training Plan. This is a Handbook for the Head Start management team to use in developing and carrying out a training plan for staff, members of the Policy Council, parents, volunteers and others, involved in the operation of the Head Start program.

Developing and carrying out an effective training program is an important responsibility of the Head Start grantee. There are a variety of training resources available to help the grantee from the Head Start Bureau, the State, the local community, non-profit organizations and other sources. This Handbook is to help grantees understand what is available and how it can be used to develop a comprehensive training plan that meets their needs.

In this Handbook, learning is addressed in the context of ongoing staff development, recognizing that learning opportunities take place over time in a variety of settings, formal and informal. To be successful, training and staff development must provide opportunities (1) to learn both skills and the accompanying knowledge needed to carry out the skills; and (2) to practice new skills and receive constructive feedback which integrates into new learning.

The Handbook outlines a flexible planning process consisting of ten steps, along with worksheets and activities that address the important questions about the planning of training. Head Start programs of varying size and complexity can modify the process to design a training program that fits their special needs.

The ten step process includes the following:

determining needs of the program and organization;
describing expected outcomes of training;
setting training priorities;
identifying training options, available resources and cost estimates;
preparing a training budget and allocating funds;
preparing the final training plan;
implementing the training plan;
evaluating the staff development event;
providing follow up; and
evaluating the training plan.

Developing a Head Start Training Plan was reviewed by a number of Head Start grantees, training and technical assistance providers and Regional offices. Comments from these sources were incorporated into the final handbook.

This document is available to all Head Start Programs in multiple copies, without charge, from:

Head Start Publications Center
P.O. Box 26417
Alexandria, Virginia 22313-0417
FAX: (703) 683-5769

Single copies of materials are available to non-Head Start organizations by writing to:

Head Start Bureau
P.O. Box 1182
Washington, D.C. 20013

We hope that this guide is useful to your program.

/S/
Helen H. Taylor
Associate commissioner
Head Start Bureau Administration on Children, Youth
and Families