Ask for, review, and apply feedback.
Designing programs with families at the center is a best practice. This is true for both family engagement and organizational health literacy. Early childhood programs can use strategies that engage families and the community in designing, carrying out, and evaluating health information and services.
Use feedback effectively to inform your program’s health literacy practices. Feedback can also facilitate opportunities for families, staff, and community partners to share their experiences. You can also use the feedback to identify goals for improving program practices and develop plans for achieving those goals.
Regularly monitor success in achieving identified goals. Assess progress and identify areas for further improvement. This feedback loop provides an opportunity for continuous quality improvement.
Share with your participants how you:
- Plan to use their feedback
- Have adjusted your programs priorities and goals
- Will gather further input
- Will continue to evaluate progress
In Head Start programs, the Health Services Advisory Committee can serve as a partner. It supports your program as you seek feedback, identify solutions, and evaluate progress.
Skill Development
Read How to Test the Usability of Documents to find effective strategies for getting feedback on the health resources, materials, and messages shared in your program. There are three ways to test usability in the How Can I Test a Document section.
- “Tell me in your own words.” (Paraphrase testing)
- “Mark positives and negatives.” (Plus–minus testing)
- “Find an answer or do something.” (Task-based testing)
You can use each of these to ask for feedback from families, staff, and community partners. Review the feedback and discuss how your program will use the information gained to inform program policies, practices, and communications with staff and families.
Learning Activity
You can increase the effectiveness of your services when you give opportunities for stakeholders to review content and offer feedback. Find recommendations in Best Practices for Gathering Feedback.
Resources
Here is where you can find more information about evidence-based practices and interventions:
- Building Partnerships: Guide to Developing Relationships with Families
Explore the role that positive, goal-oriented relationships play in effective parent, family, and community engagement. - AHRQ: Tips for Getting Feedback on Materials
Feedback from your audience can tell you if they think the information is difficult to understand. You can also learn what you can improve. Read the tips for getting feedback on materials. These questions were written for medical settings, but you can use them with staff and families in your early childhood program. - Asking: A Way to Know if Others Understand
This resource gives examples of how to check for understanding.
Last Updated: May 22, 2024