Reflecting on the 2018 Head Start Workforce Catalyst
by Frank Nolan, Staff Writer, NHSA
In one of our last Medium posts, we said that: “The Workforce Catalyst will not only give Head Start practitioners a chance to implement bold new ideas as soon as they return from the conference, but will also lay the groundwork for comprehensive solutions for the entire national Head Start community in the future.”
After reflecting on the experience and achievements at the Catalyst, we feel on track to achieve this vision!
The Catalyst brought together some of Head Start’s most innovative practitioners and outside workforce experts with a range of experience in business, philanthropy, and nonprofit organizations. Our goal with the two-day design-thinking workshop was to spark and accelerate immediate change in the Head Start workforce.
Addressing Pain Points
First, we divided into teams to focus on four common challenges facing the Head Start workforce: talent recruitment, mission fit, talent development, and employee experience. These pain points were sourced from feedback NHSA has collected from the Head Start community through surveys and other means.
The teams were then tasked with diving deep into their respective issues, analyzing their topic through the lens of who the customer is, what problems are causing the issue, and why it’s important to solve.
Developing Solutions
By the conclusion of the workshop, the Catalyst participants had developed an array of potential solutions. Some of the fantastic recommendations include:
- Creating a Head Start High School Ambassadors program to recruit students interested in pursuing careers in early childhood development.
- Creating Peer-to-Peer mentorship programs to empower staff to explore new ways to set and accomplish goals.
- Engaging community stakeholders to invest in non-traditional benefits for Head Start staff, such as restaurant benefits, financial consulting, family meals, on site health/exercise classes.
- Surveying staff to test and implement solutions to support better work/life balance for teachers.
Continuing Commitments
At the conclusion of the Workforce Catalyst, participants made individual commitments to take the ideas developed back to their programs, and continue the conversation with their staff. NHSA pledged to facilitate both implementation and the next round of discussions on supporting the Head Start workforce at the Manager and Director Academy, an annual professional development training in July.
Each participant in the Workforce Catalyst was invited for a reason: they are committed to the goal of making a tangible difference for the Head Start workforce. As these recommendations show, change does not have to be dramatic or prohibitively costly to make a impact.
The Workforce Catalyst is reflective of the values of Head Start: innovation, collaboration, and a relentless commitment to continuous improvement. The outcome as we move forward will be a stronger Head Start for America’s most vulnerable children and families.
