Risk Mitigation
Find out how to mitigate your risk though self-assessment and regular program activities.
The Designation Renewal System (DRS) presents the greatest risk for any Head Start or Early Head Start Program.
- In our first session, Foundations for Families talks about customizing your agency’s self-assessment to identify and eliminate risk in your agency. Because the requirements of self-assessment are broad, you have the flexibility to design the process, data collection, and action items that meet the needs of your program.
- In the second session, we pull back our focus and look at all the components of program activities that can mitigate risk: Community Assessment, Policies and Procedures, Ongoing Monitoring, Self-Assessment and Federal Review Preparation.
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Self-Assessment as Risk Mitigation
Identify strategies to customize your self-assessment. Because the requirements of self-assessment are broad, you have the flexibility to design the process, data collection, and action items that meet the needs of your program.
Resources:
Session Handout: Develop an action plan to guide your next steps for Self-Assessment (PDF)
Self-Assessment: Your Annual Journey (ECLCK)
HSPPS 1302.102(b): Monitoring Program Performance (ECLCK)
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Reframing DRS: Risk Mitigation to Improve Quality and Prevent Competition
Learn how regular, ongoing program activities can be used to mitigate your risk for re-competition.
Resources:
Review a sample Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) from DRS Round 9
Monitoring Protocols (ECLKC)
Community Assessment Matrix (ECLKC)
Read our Talking Points blog series on risk mitigation:
1. Reframing DRS: Risk Mitigation to Improve Quality and Prevent Competition
2. Three Guiding Principles to Improve Community Assessment
3. How to Use Self-Assessment to Mitigate Risk in Head Start
4. Develop and Update Policies and Procedures for Compliance And Clarity
TALKING POINTS
Working with others, we learn more about what’s important. FFF believes that bringing more voices to the table makes for richer conversation.
Our blog brings expertise, academic credentials, up-to-date research and regulatory knowledge to you.
Preparing for a Successful Self-Assessment
By aligning self-assessment priorities with relevant source documents (e.g., monitoring protocol, DRS FOA), your program can resolve potential risks before they become issues. With a thoughtful, priority-driven design for self-assessment, your program will be better equipped with to gather useful data and information to support program quality.
Foundations for Families’ Consulting Services include self-assessment and federal review preparation. Our team of consultants is highly skilled at implementing services remotely and would be glad to assist your program in areas where you need support. Please contact us to learn more about our services.