Why Conduct a Community Assessment?
Consider how the data gathered during a community assessment will be used to inform strategic planning, goal setting, and decision-making.
What Is Included in a Community Assessment?
Review what should be included in a community assessment.
Foundations for Excellence
Review a range of planning topics to support programs’ successful completion of the Head Start grant application, and to ensure programming is responsive to community needs throughout the five-year grant period.
Use Data and Evaluation to Inform Decision-Making
Learn how using data and evaluation enables programs to make data-informed decisions. Also, find out how data and evaluation informs each stage of the program planning cycle.
Support Ongoing Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
Ongoing monitoring helps Head Start programs better address goals and objectives. It also engages all stakeholders in the program planning process.
Make the Most of Program Planning and Service System Design
Learn how program planning and service system design guides Head Start programs through their five-year grant. This system design includes service plans that directly impact children and families.
Plan and Grow with an Annual Self-Assessment
A self-assessment each year helps Head Start programs plan and grow around their strengths and needs.
Build on a Responsive Community Assessment
The community assessment is a way to jumpstart the program planning process. Learn how the assessment helps Head Start programs provide key services to the children and families that need them.
Voices from the Field
Watch these video clips to see how data analysis and the planning cycle comes to life in Head Start programs.
Creating a Culture That Embraces Data
This interactive module is designed to help Head Start programs create an organizational culture that embraces the use of data to drive decisions.