National New Head Start Directors Conference

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-95-31	2. Issuance Date: 08/31/95
	3. Originating Office: Head Start Bureau
	4. Key Word: New Head Start Directors Conference

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

TO: All Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: National New Head Start Directors Conference

INFORMATION:

The Administration on Children, Youth and Families' Head Start Bureau is pleased to invite new Head Start directors to a training conference that is being held for them on October 30 through November 2, 1995 in Washington, DC.

The purpose of the conference will be to orient new directors to Head Start and to their role as the leader and manager of their Head Start program. The target audience is Head Start grantee and delegate agency directors who are new to their positions since the summer of 1994.

It is our expectation that the conference will provide new directors with the opportunity to:

Review the history, philosophy, values and quality standards of Head Start as a context for mastering the leadership, management and administrative skills necessary to function in their Head Start director role.
Design a professional development plan which is unique to their needs, the needs of their program and the resources available in the State and Region.
Network with other Head Start directors from throughout the country to establish connections in the Head Start community that can continue into the future.

Attached is a registration form for attending the New Head Start Directors Conference. The cost is $150 plus travel and lodging expenses. Funds from your program's current Head Start grant - either earmarked training and technical funds or funds from the basic Head Start grant - can be used to pay the costs associated with attending the conference. Registration forms are to be sent to Aspen Systems Corporation, the contractor organizing the conference, by October 2, 1995. The Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Capitol Hill in Washington and is planned to begin at 9:00 AM on Monday, October 30 and close at 4:30 PM on Thursday, November 2, 1995.

The leadership provided by the Head Start Director is critical to the overall quality of services provided by Head Start programs. According to the recent final report of the Advisory Committee on Head Start Quality and Expansion, Creating a 21st Century Head Start:

The challenges faced by local Head Start programs have multiplied in size, scope, and complexity in recent years. HHS and local grantees must ensure that the managers of local Head Start programs have what they need to lead programs effectively in a changing world: knowledge, skills, commitment not only to children and families but: to the complex tasks of management and leadership, and the support and infrastructure they need to manage effectively.

It is particularly important that new Head Start directors receive the guidance and support they need to be successful in their new role. We believe that this conference is one step towards that end. I encourage all new directors to attend this conference.

/S/
Helen H. Taylor
Associate Commissioner
Head Start Bureau

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