Mountain States Early Head Start
Infant to Toddler Program of the Mountain States Group, Inc.

ASSURING QUALITY

There are several processes in place for Head Start and Early Head Start programs to use to determine if the services they provide are meeting the needs of enrolled families and meeting the federal regulations and standards used as guides for the program.

The Improving Head Start for School Success Act of 2007

This piece of legislation passed by Congress authorizes Head Start and sets out regulations that programs must follow. You can read the entire Act at http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc

The Head Start Performance Standards

These are a set of standards that define Head Start and Early Head Start by providing a framework for services. They cover areas such as child development, health and safety, parent involvement and governance, community partnerships, disability services, communication, recordkeeping, monitoring, human resources and fiscal management. You can read the entire set of Standards at http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc

The Annual Program Self Assessment

Each year staff, parents, Policy Council and Board members, and community partners work together to determine how well the program is doing in meeting program goals and Performance Standards and to discuss ideas and formulate goals for the future. There is not a required method for the self assessment, so the program can determine what works well for them and may target their evaluation to certain parts of the program in various years. The program may use focus groups, surveys, observations or checklists to gather information.

Monitoring for Continuous Improvement

MSHES strives to be responsive to the changing needs of the families enrolled and the community it serves. Comments are heard, surveys taken and information sought to make changes as needed as we provide various services. Program staff appreciate parent, staff and community suggestions about what we do. However, while many will be, not every suggestion can be implemented.

MSEHS has systems for monitoring how individual staff are meeting job responsibilities as well as regularly looking at how the program is doing as a whole – for example, what percentage of children are up to date on well child health exams or what percentage have completed their developmental screenings. This may tell us that more training is needed, that we need to modify a process or that we are doing just fine.

Triennial Federal Review

Once every three years a team of trained reviewers visit the program to do an in-depth review of MSEHS. The purpose of this process it to ensure that programs provide high quality, comprehensive services to children and families they serve, have good management systems in place and are using funds correctly. After the review program staff, the Regional Office staff and training and technical assistance consultants will plan ways to improve program operations and services as needed. During the review a few parents are asked to share opinions with the reviewers or let them observe a home visit. The team will also attend a Policy Council meeting and review fiscal and other program records.

Support from the Regional Office of Head Start staff

Each Head Start and Early Head Start program is assigned federal staff to assist with grant management and program implementation. The Program Specialist for MSEHS is located in the Regional office in Seattle and is just one of a team of knowledgeable, dedicated staff who help programs be successful in their work with children and families.

Support from the Training and Technical Assistance Team

Another group of specialized support staff at the state and regional level are the members of the Training and Technical Assistance Team. They have expertise in various types of EHS services, such as health, child development and family and community partnerships.