What Is Included in a Community Assessment?
Review what should be included in a community assessment.
Program Planning
Thoughtful planning is critical to programming. Explore these resources for guidance throughout the five-year Head Start grant cycle. Learn how to establish continuous cycles of improvement that involve key stakeholders in data-based decision-making. Find resources to help build on achievable program and school readiness goals and fiscal objectives. Discover materials that guide grantees in creating community and self-assessments, and achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
Program planning and service system design together make up one of the 12 management, planning, and oversight systems of the Management Systems Wheel.
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.
Community Assessment Matrix
The community assessment describes the context in which Head Start programs operate and is useful for ensuring that the correct services are provided to the appropriate population. This resource can assist program staff in coordinating their efforts to gather information required for a community assessment. The assessment paints a picture of the community and describes the different needs of families who may receive services. In addition, the community assessment covers the community's history, its economic and political scene, and its strengths and challenges.
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.