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The Child Care Partnership Project The HeadsUp! Network |
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Description Tune in and tool up! Today’s sophisticated media technology is helping early childhood professionals meet the professional development requirements of today and tomorrow. The HeadsUp! Network uses direct-broadcast satellite television to reach the early childhood education community where they work. Topics include health and safety, hiring and recruiting, and creating developmentally appropriate programs. HeadsUp! resulted from a partnership between the National Head Start Association (NHSA) and organizations in the satellite broadcast industry. According to NHSA CEO Sarah Greene, "The mission of the HeadsUp! Network is to provide a unified national training opportunity for Head Start staff, parents, and the broader child care community." Partners Partners use cutting-edge technology to provide training that is accessible and affordable to Head Start and child care centers. They include the following:
History and Development HeadsUp! premiered in September 1998, two years after the chair of the NHSA Corporate Advisory Board, Hal Kaplan, NHSA President, Ron Herndon, and Chief Executive Officer Sarah Greene proposed the visionary idea of using direct-broadcast satellite programming to train the Head Start community. With the support of NHSA, Kaplan began seeking partners. He first contacted video producers at FutureView, Inc., and Echo Star Communications Corporation. The two communication companies seized the opportunity to introduce the power of satellite television to the early care and education community, and to enhance their reputation as leaders in the field. The next step was finding a partner to develop the content of the information to provide through the Network and manage the programming schedule. NHSA and its partners turned to RISE, the nationally acclaimed nonprofit organization for interactive distance learning located in Cincinnati, Ohio. RISE had experience in developing early care and education programming, and embraced this opportunity to establish a formal connection with the national Head Start community. With the infrastructure and programming in place, the HeadsUp! Network needed funding to begin production. RISE discussed the value of the Network with then Ohio Governor George Voinivich, a champion of quality early care and education. He saw the nascent Heads Up! Network as a cost-effective way to improve the skills of providers and thus the quality of care for young children across Ohio, and allocated $1 million in state funds for 1,500 Head Start, preschool, and child care centers across the state to join the Network. The allocation covered the costs of satellite equipment and a 2-year Network subscription. This large subscription base provided the HeadsUp! Network with the stability and funding to produce the broadcasts. Current Activities "HeadsUp! helps us in our goal to provide the highest quality training to teachers and parents," says Shawna Pinckney of NHSA. Prior to the advent of the Network, NHSA depended upon its annual Head Start conferences to reach approximately 10% of Head Start professionals nationwide. Now, with over 1,700 Network sites reaching thousands of early care and education professionals every month, the numbers continue to grow. Monthly program calendars list 12 shows, and one program each month features live, interactive communication. Some programs target Head Start directors, others parents, and still others any early childhood professional. Topics have included health and safety, hiring and recruiting, creating developmentally appropriate programs, NHSA news, and effective parenting. Current programming provides continuing education credit, as well as credit toward the Child Development Associate (CDA). Future programming will provide courses that convey college credit. The partnership succeeds because of the complementary contributions of its member. RISE provides the programming, Kaplan’s responsibilities are the satellite dishes and installation, and FutureView manages the satellite link to broadcast the programming. Resources HeadsUp! does not receive any federal funds. Its operation depends entirely upon foundation grants, subscriptions, and equipment and services that are donated or provided at a reduced fee. The bulk of funding comes from the $50 monthly subscription fee each site pays to NHSA. In Ohio, the fee is state-paid for subscribers. The revenue from the fee supports the services provided by RISE, Future View, and Kaplan Companies for services provided. Several foundations also have contributed to the Network; for example, the Kaplan Foundation (created by company founders Leon and Renee Kaplan) provided substantial funding for the initial design of the Network. Carnegie Corporation and the A.L. Mailman Foundation have provided grants to develop new programming. Results Still in its infancy, the HeadsUp! Network now reaches thousands of parents and professionals through its 1,500 sites in Ohio and 200 other sites around the country. Like any new technology, it takes time for users to install and feel comfortable with direct satellite broadcasting, but partners are hopeful that early successes will increase demand. RISE is refining programming to respond to the training needs of users. Viewers are asked for, and submit, frequent feedback. In the future, NHSA will conduct a formal evaluation of the Network to determine, in part, the number of participants the Network is reaching nationwide. Currently, NHSA seeks feedback from Network sites on programming and technical matters through telephone surveys and evaluation forms. Early feedback has increased the technical assistance available to sites, and created programming that more accurately addresses the training needs of participants. Sustaining and Replicating "Our top priority is marketing the Network," says NHSA’s Pinckney. In order to expand the Network beyond Ohio’s borders, and to help directors feel confident using direct broadcast television as a training tool, NHSA has provided 30 Head Start state presidents with satellite dishes and access to the HeadsUp! Network. Since the technology of the Network can be intimidating, NHSA provides training videos for providers to experience the Network before joining, and has encouraged peer-to-peer exchange among new/potential subscribers and more experienced ones. In addition to marketing, the HeadsUp! partners are positioning the Network to help Head Start grantees meet future training requirements. In response to the 1998 reauthorization of Head Start that requires half of all teachers in each program to have at least an associate degree by 2003, future programming will include training that awards college credit to help teachers meet this goal. A grant from the Carnegie Corporation allows RISE to produce a literacy curriculum that offers college credit. Lessons Learned Don’t be afraid of technology. Many early childhood professionals do not have access to the latest technology, and may feel intimidated by broadcast satellite television. Provide the technical assistance and training to make users feel comfortable with the medium. Be patient; it generally takes longer than expected to bridge this gap. Build on the strengths of partners. The HeadsUp! Network cultivated partners who could bring their expertise to the partnership. Private- and public-sector entities have different partnership needs and expectations, and no industry has a faster pace than technology. If many partners step forward to complete a task, identify their expertise, and find ways to let them shine. Look in unexpected places. When Congress reauthorized Head Start and required higher credentials for staff, the HeadsUp! Network cultivated foundation grants to begin production on training sessions that will help Head Start teachers meet the requirements. Contact Information Shawa Pinckney |
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