Transition Works Supporting Successful Transitions for the Office of Head Start
Community Development Institute (CDI) operates Transition Works as part of the Office of Head Start (OHS) Interim Management Contract to minimize the disruption to Head Start services in communities experiencing a transition of Head Start provider agencies.
Transition Works team members support OHS Regional Office Specialists in leading service area transitions through the Designated Renewal System (DRS) or other events. Transition resources and support are designed to ensure that Regional Office Specialists have the needed knowledge, skills, and resources for leading successful transitions.
Proven Tools, Resources, and Services
Transition Works services, tools, and resources help Regional Offices plan and manage the transitions between Grant Recipient agencies that ensure a continuation of Head Start and Early Head Start services.
The well-designed and informed supports and services are based on years of CDI experience managing transitions related to Interim Management and have successfully informed Regional Offices about the critical components of transitions that can cause a potential disruption of services.
Transition Works services generate essential information for Regional Offices, from preparation for service area grant competitions, such as analysis and assessments of the condition of facilities used for child services and community studies, to post-award orientations for Grant Recipients and coordination of activities that occur between Grant Recipients.
What We Do
Provide Resources for Transition Planning: Transition Works has developed a Toolkit for Successful Transitions with guidance for Regional Offices and Grant Recipients that supports Transition action planning and monitoring progress toward a successful transition. Other valuable resources such as templates, presentations, and checklists assist in preparing, identifying, and overcoming barriers to a timely start of services.
Conduct Facility Research Studies: Transition Works team members conduct research studies of facilities in use for child services by reviewing center enrollment and licensing trends, public records, and information from Federal reports to inform the Regional Office about irregularities or missing information that may impede property transfers. Regional Offices often use facility research studies to determine the need for Onsite Facility Assessments.
Onsite Facility Assessments: Under the direction of the Regional Offices, Transition Works deploys experienced facility experts to visually inspect classrooms, playgrounds, and other structures used for providing services to children. Onsite assessments are coordinated with the local program and result in reports to the Regional Office with photos, inspection details, and recommended repairs that identify health and safety before transition.
Analyze Agency and Community Information: Transition Works team members provide Regional Offices with an analysis of current and proposed approaches to providing Head Start services to identify possible disruption for children and local staff. Regional Offices may also request support from Transition Work in analyzing community demographic data to determine needs and trends that may impact proposed enrollment levels.
Coordinate and Plan Communication: Transition Work supports Regional Offices with activities that support meetings with and between grant recipients. Supports include meeting logistics, agenda planning, introductory and orientation presentations, and other resources to support initial and ongoing communication and coordination.
Facilitate Inventory and Equipment Transfers: Transition Works helps the Regional Office consider the complexities of inventory transfers related to a single service area with multiple Grant Recipients and managing excess inventory due to service reductions. Transition Works team members can provide impartial assistance and in-person support to transfer inventory and equipment.
Map Communities with Existing and Proposed Services: Mapping the transitioning service area provides Regional Offices with a deeper understanding of the locations of Early Childhood agencies and services that may impact proposed location changes. Maps can include existing and proposed enrollments and distances between centers and locations of other early childhood service providers that can be useful in identifying over or under-service saturation and overall community impact.
The Team
A team of technical experts assigned to specific Regional Offices provides the services and support to our Federal partners. Members of the Transition Works team have expertise and experience in facility assessments, Head Start program regulations, data collection, and analysis.
CDI’s deep experience operating the Head Start program as interim providers has given the Transition Works team unique and valuable experience in managing the complexities of transferring operational and administrative responsibilities between Grant Recipients. The Transition Works team consists of staff who have worked in various roles managing CDI’s interim programs and have diverse backgrounds and experiences. Team members live in different parts of the U.S., including bi-lingual staff skilled in training, relationship building, and program experience that contribute to a responsive approach to meeting transition needs for every Head Start community.
