Greetings!   

  

We've been preparing a resource called Preparing for a Federal Monitoring Review since 2007. Every year we update the content based on how the Office of Head Start changes the protocol and the process. Two years ago, we decided to do something different. We turned this into an active project.

  

See the tip below to learn a bit more about Preparing for a Federal Monitoring Review -- and review a sample assignment that you can use in your program with your staff.

  

  

Sincerely,

 

Sharon Cochran, Co-Developer
Training Without Travel

  

Let's take a look at how Preparing for a Federal Monitoring Review works:

  

Participants view a short PowerPoint that explains the monitoring process.

  

There are seven assignments. These handouts are based on the 7 sections of the 2013 protocol. There are 3 parts to each assignment:

1. The Protocol Self-Study: This is a "protocol at a glance" for each of the 7 sections. There is a place for participants to rate your program with an "S" for satisfactory or an "I" for needs improvement.
2. The Study Guide - This provides reflections and questions to answer about how your program implements each section of the protocol;
3. Summary of Systems and Services: This is an opportunity to tell and write how the systems of Head Start work throughout your program. You write out how you do planning, ongoing monitoring, record keeping and reporting, communications, and human resources for each of the seven sections. Then for each section there is a place to identify strengths.

So, this is a homework assignment. It could be done by one person on the computer or small groups of people working together.

 

Here is a sample section for Child Development and Education for 2013.

• PFMR - Protocol Self Study
• PFMR - Study Guide
• PFMR - Summary of Systems and Services

If you decide to have staff do this homework, you will receive handouts to download for each of the seven sections of the protocol. (Program Governance, Management Systems, Fiscal Integrity, ERSEA, Child Health and Safety, Family and Community Engagement, and Child Development and Education)

 

Why not use these materials to teach about the monitoring protocol, the systems and services of Head Start, and then how you do it at your place.

 

You can work on these whether you're having a review this year or not. Work them into staff meetings and staff trainings. Click here to learn more about Preparing for a Montitoring Review on-demand training.