Activity 4-1:
Developing Professionalism



Purpose: To reinforce professional practices throughout the family partnership agreement process.

Preparation: For this activity you will need:

• Handout 1: Clarifying Professional Terms
  
  
• Handout 2: Applying Head Start Policies and Procedures
  
  
• Program Policies and Procedures on Confidentiality, Child Abuse and Neglect, Record-Keeping. and Standards of Conduct
  
  
• Nine sheets of labeled newsprint: one labeled "Professionalism," four labeled "Consequences" and four labeled "Head Start Practices"
  
  
• Newsprint/Markers/Tape
  

1. Introduce the activity. Encourage group discussion by asking the questions listed below. Record responses on the sheet of newsprint labeled "Professionalism."
   
   
   • What does professionalism mean?
     
     
   • How do we practice professionalism in our work with families?
     
     
2. Provide an overview of professional practices. Review with participants the concept of professionalism, as presented in the module's background information. Explain that this activity focuses on: confidentiality, roles and boundaries, mandated reporting, and record-keeping.
   
   
3. Form small groups to define professional responsibilities. Divide the participants into four groups, giving each group a sheet of unlabeled newsprint. Instruct each group to appoint a recorder and a reporter. Assign each group one professional area: confidentiality, roles and boundaries. mandated reporting, or record-keeping. Give the assignment:
   
   

   "To begin, each member of your small group should share his/her personal definition of the assigned professional responsibility."
   

   "Next, the members of your small group should work together to develop a definition of the assigned professional responsibility. You should try to incorporate as much from your individual definitions as possible when developing the group definition. Record your completed definition on newsprint."
   
   

4. Debrief the small group activity. Reconvene the large group and have each small group display the definition it developed. Instruct the reporter for each group to read the group's definition. Distribute handout 1 and review the four definitions. Have the large group compare and contrast the definitions listed on handout 1 with the group-generated definitions listed on newsprint.
   
   
5. (a) Brainstorm consequences and practices. Hang two pieces of prepared newsprint next to each group-generated definition: one page labeled "Consequences" and the other "Head Start Practices."
   
   

   (b) Instruct the large group to brainstorm ideas about what might happen to families, themselves, or the program if they choose not to practice these professional 'responsibilities. Have the group address first one professional area, then another, until all areas are addressed. List responses on the sheets of newsprint labeled "Consequences."
   

   (c) Have the large group discuss ways in which each professional responsibility is practiced in the Head Start program. Have the group address first one professional responsibility, then another, until all areas are addressed. List responses on the sheets of newsprint labeled "Head Start Practices." Be sure that the responses include the following:
   
   

   • Confidentiality
     
     
     
     • Always obtaining family consent when sharing information;
       
       
     • Always obtaining family consent when inviting others to team meetings;
       
       
     • Keeping files secure;
       
       
     • Never gossiping or talking casually about a family; and
       
       
     • Respecting the confidences co-workers share with you.
       
       
   • Roles and Boundaries
     
     
     • Maintaining accurate job descriptions;
       
       
     • Knowing and adhering to program policies and procedures;
       
       
     • Not taking sides in family disputes;
       
       
     • Knowing how to say "no" assertively;
       
       
     • Knowing how to delegate;
       
       
     • Fulfilling the roles and responsibilities of your job; and
       
       
     • Respecting professional boundaries with co-workers.
       
       
   • Mandated Reporting
     
     
     • Knowing and practicing the agency policy on reporting suspected child abuse and neglect;
       
       
     • Knowing the indicators of child abuse and neglect;
       
       
     • Adhering to all state, local, and tribal child protection laws;
       
       
     • Knowing what child protection resources are available for families; and
       
       
     • Knowing what counseling resources are available for staff.
       
       
   • Record-Keeping
     
     
     • Keeping up-to-date on all reports;
       
       
     • Recording interactions with families; and
       
       
     • Writing purposeful entries that are clear, objective, accurate, and unbiased.
       
       
6. Form small groups to apply Head Start policies. Distribute handout 2, the program policies and procedures. Initiate a small group activity by dividing the large group into three small groups. Assign each group an "issue" to address. Instruct each group to make its recommendations for applying best practices.
   
   
7. Debrief the small group activity. Reconvene the large group and have the small groups share their conclusions. Invite the large group to comment or ask questions.
   
   
8. Close the activity. Reinforce that staff need to acquire and use the knowledge, skills, and values essential for working successfully with Head Start families. Ask staff:
   
   
   
   
   • How can the Head Start program support you in your commitment to professionalism?
     
     
     
   • What can you do to promote professional practices within the Head Start community?

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