Getting Started
As discussed in Topic 1, strategic planning is a systematic process that organizations use to envision a desired future. Then, they translate this vision into program goals with measurable objectives and an action plan with a series of action steps. The program planning cycle is Head Start's approach to five-year planning. The HSPPS do not require you to adopt any specific type of planning process. Instead, HSPPS give you the flexibility to choose how to go about planning based on what works best for your program and community. However you choose to proceed, be mindful that whatever you do should be aligned to your five-year plan.
The following describes the values driving Head Start's approach to five-year planning.
Learning Objectives
Programs consider how the planning cycle emphasizes a solutions-oriented mindset with honest dialogue and an examination of challenges and barriers. Programs will become familiar with a range of tools and techniques to advance strategic planning, such as “appreciative inquiry” and ‘The 5 Whys.’
Read more:
Resource Type: Article
National Centers: Program Management and Fiscal Operations
Audience: Directors and Managers
Last Updated: August 8, 2023