When you were a student, “in-service” on the school year calendar likely meant little more to you than days off. Now, you know in-service programs for Head Staff are critical to staff professional development.

Well-qualified staff are the most important school-related factor in program complaince. Regular, structured opportunities for staff to learn about new pedagogies, practice new skills, share ideas, and receive support can lead to concrete changes in program operation—all of which make positive, long-lasting differences for Head Start students.

But in too many programs inservices have become “information dumps.” Presenters provide content on the latest research without practical strategies staff can readily use in the program.

HS University has identified effective in-service training, as active, collaborative, and focused on best practices. Engaging, immediately applicable training can spark and sustain meaningful changes in staff that improve and enhance program compliance and Head Start students’ experience.

Why Staff Need In-Service Training...

Staff In-Service training matters throughout the program.  But, it assumes special importance, even urgency, in Head Start.

If in-service training for staff doesn't fill this gap, program based professional development can aquire an unhelpful air of mystery.  Head Start staff can start thinking of it as an obscure process in which only managers have parts to play. At worst, staff unfamiliarity with regulations can leave them thinking it's a disruptive distraction from the "real work" of program operation.

Practical Considerations for In-Services Training...

Head Start experts can and should provide some training for staff, showing strategies in practice and explaining why they work.

But, because "in-depth discussions with each staff in each center is a costly event," Head Start administrators can save money and time by also holding In-service training about related service strategies.  Training dedicated to related services allow staff to focus on program solutions without being distracted by routine instructional responsibilities.

To keep in-service trainings manageable and productive, we recommend offering them by content area.  This scope allows each training to take content area culture and other contextual issues into account.

Three Areas for In-Service Training in Head Start

Head Start staff is a broad area, and there are many related services.  Where should you start when planning in-service training for staff?

You'll want to take stock of the most pressing family services issues facing the families they serve.  Here are three areas we see at or near the top of, programs' lists again and again:

• Promoting Goal Oriented Relationships - This training is designed to guild the capacity of Head Start staff to understand effective relationship-building practices with parents, children and professionals. The conference focuses on three components: 
  • Understanding the importance of working in partnership with families by sharing planning and decision making to support children's learning and development and family well-being.
  • Knowing the signs of depression, trauma, substance use, homelessness, domestic violence, child maltreatment, food insecurity, mental illness and other challenges to family well-being and
  • Working with families in a collaborative goal-setting process to identify their goals and available resources and to plan steps toward achieving their goals

• ERSEA: Addressing Vulnerability in ERSEA - This training addresses eligibility exceptions in ERSEA, such as joint custody, kinship care, income calculation forms and more. This training is a must if you need to understand the answers to the exception questions for income eligibility, such as SNAP benefits. During the training, you will learn about eligibility and what forms and files that need to be maintained for full enrollment.

• Health Services: Managing Health Services - This training is designed to help programs support and manage health services. This training will focus on the newest health services performance standards. This training will help address issues of health care systems, documentation and recordkeeping and maintaining health resources. Student will learn best practices to help you update health information, monitoring classroom for health and safety issues, find solutions to medical issues such as medication administration, short and long-term exclusion, incomplete physical examination, EPSDT schedules, designing policies and procedures, developing health care plans, as well as PIR and Protocol requirements