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Goal Setting

Head Start staff meeting with a parent.Family goal setting is essential to the work of Head Start programs. It relies on the information that program staff gather through assessments and ongoing communication, such as the families’ strengths, passions, and challenges. As relationships are built and strong partnerships formed, Head Start staff help families set goals and work together to make progress toward those goals. 

Successful goal setting is done in seven steps in the context of the Family Partnership Process. Explore these resources to learn more about goal setting with families.

Goal-setting with Families Course

Explore this three-module course to learn about the knowledge, skills, and practices family services professionals need to engage in the family partnership process and goal setting with families.

Education and Career

Learn to support families’ goals around career pathways, finding a new job, getting a GED or high school diploma, accessing job training, pursuing and paying for college and higher education, or starting a business.

Debt and Credit

Learn to support families’ goals around accessing and reviewing credit reports and scores, building credit, managing debt and student loan debt, and avoiding predatory loans and identity theft.

Savings and Assets

Learn how to support families’ goals around building savings, buying a car, buying a home, saving for education, and saving for retirement.

Income and Spending

Learn to support families' goals around choosing financial products, making and using a budget, accessing public benefits, paying bills, filing taxes, and accessing tax credits.