Some Head Start health managers work alone without the support of peers. Health manager networks (HMNs) bring health professionals together to share information, support one another, and improve services for children and families. An HMN is a group of three or more managers and staff who work in health, nutrition, mental health, and oral health services. The members of the HMN interact regularly to improve services.

The seeds of an HMN are often planted and nurtured by one or two passionate people. If you're excited about your work and eager to create connection among your peers, you might be one of these people! This resource can help you create a successful HMN and keep it going.

Benefits of a Health Manager Network

HMNs have many benefits for their members and the programs they serve:

• Professional development — Regularly scheduled meetings and ongoing communication build skills and confidence.
• Knowledge sharing — Members exchange policies, forms, and best practices, which saves time and effort. Different members will have different areas of expertise, which means more support on specific health topics.
• Peer support — Networks can reduce isolation with a sense of community and shared purpose.
• Improved services — Working together leads to higher-quality health services and better results for families.
• Staff retention and leadership development — By recognizing talents and encouraging leadership, HMNs help keep staff engaged and growing. Because members control HMNs, they often feel empowered to make meaningful changes.

Getting Started

Below is a list of steps to help you get started. The order is flexible, and you may choose to do things differently, depending on what works best for you.

1. Build your team.

Once you have decided to build an HMN, invite others to join you. Share your vision and the benefits of networking. Your enthusiasm and advocacy can create interest and commitment, which a network needs as a first step.

Choosing Peer Leaders

Start by inviting passionate health service colleagues who can help form the network. Look for at least one other person to lead the HMN with you. 

Avoid making only one person responsible for creating and leading the HMN. Shared leadership helps spread out responsibilities and keep the project going. While reaching out to your peers, ask what they think would make an HMN successful. Listen for topics people are most interested in and what might prevent them from joining.

2. Connect with champions outside the group.

The peers run the HMNs, but support from outside the group is important. Outside champions can offer resources and advocate for your network. These supporters and community partners can also help make sure the network continues.

Head Start Stakeholders

Head Start regional training and technical assistance (TTA) staff, state associations, and collaboration offices can help support your goal. Leaders in the community, state, and your region can also help improve your services. Their resources and advocacy can help make projects happen and support your mission long-term.

Explore strategies that have worked for other HMNs:

• Partnering with regional health specialists and other regional TTA staff to contact health managers, plan a kickoff meeting, and launch a network.
• Getting access to mailing lists of programs or program leaders. For example, using the state’s Head Start Association email lists to reach all programs.
• Using regional needs assessments and other opportunities to invite peers to start an HMN. Arrange a meeting to discuss concerns and challenges that came up as part of the regional activity.
• Having regional and state staff help create communities of practice for staff in areas like health, mental health, and disabilities. These groups meet three times a year and leave each meeting with a plan, including how they will engage their directors to carry it out.
• Partnering with external champions to plan and promote events like an annual HMN conference.
• Asking stakeholders for help finding speakers for HMN meetings and events.
• Having the Head Start State Collaboration Office director facilitate HMN meetings.
• Using external champions’ space to host meetings and events.
• Partnering with regional health managers to host an HMN website and write newsletters.

Program Directors

Invite program directors early. They can be important allies. Directors can encourage other health managers to take part in and help build the network. Keep directors informed and let them know how a network can help them support and keep staff. Discuss whether attending network meetings can be used for staff professional development.

Discover what has worked for other HMNs:

• Having at least one director attend each HMN meeting from the start of the network. They can share the information with other program directors in the network. Having an HMN leader regularly attend administrators’ meetings to share information and get directors’ support for the HMN’s work has also worked.
• Scheduling a quarterly joint meeting for health managers and directors. The two groups spend part of the meeting together and then meet separately. This shows the value of the network for not only health managers, but also directors.
• Making sure all program directors have contact information for the HMN. Ask directors to encourage new health managers to connect with the network and attend meetings. This way, new health managers get support from experienced peers and their own director, and the network can keep its list of members up to date.

3. Define your purpose.

Work together as peer leaders to decide the network’s mission, scope, and membership. 
Each network decides its membership based on its needs. Some networks choose to include several health service areas (e.g., health, mental health, oral health, disabilities), and others define their network more narrowly (e.g., only health and nutrition).

Creating collaborative goals helps the work stay relevant and interesting. Set up measurable goals and track their impact. Plan your meeting agendas to keep working toward these goals.

4. Work on outreach and recruitment.

Develop a complete contact list and start outreach through emails or phone calls. Describe the value of the network to possible members.

Consider contacting Migrant and Seasonal grant recipients, and American Indian and Alaska Native grant recipients in your area. Use the Head Start Center Locator to find a Head Start program near you to get contact information for American Indian and Alaska Native and Migrant and Seasonal programs.

Create meaningful opportunities for new members to contribute and build connections with one another. Try using digital tools to record and share new members’ ideas so they can start talking with other members as soon as they join.

5. Host your first meeting.

The first meeting sets the foundation for your network. It is the first time the larger group comes together. Well-planned meetings often balance new information, networking, and time for sharing. Consider using a structure like PACT (pg. 72) for your meeting. Use this meeting to help organize the group. 

Discuss questions like:

• How often do you want to meet?
• What kinds of things will you want to discuss?
• What is the best way to contact people?
• Is everyone’s contact information right?
• Are there others who should be invited to the next meeting?

Keeping the Momentum

Planning for ongoing meetings, working together, and strong leadership will help keep the enthusiasm going.

Regularly Scheduled Meetings

The heart of the network is bringing members together regularly to learn, share, and connect. Most HMN meetings include networking, Q&A, and discussion. Because networks usually focus on peer support, it is important to allow time for members to ask one another questions and to share information. This can create a feeling of connection. It also helps new health managers learn about their jobs and gives experienced health managers the chance to share what they know and learn even more.

Scheduling Meetings

Schedule meetings so that most network members can attend. Many HMNs use a mix of in-person and virtual meetings.

Discover what has worked for other HMNs:

• Meeting at the same time as annual state or regional conferences. Scheduling an HMN meeting during or after other events allows the network to meet several times a year.
• In larger states with several regional networks, having HMN leaders bring these networks together at conferences or institutes.
• Rotating where they meet so it does not seem that one program or site runs the network.
• Meeting in free or donated space from a state agency, local library, or community organization to save on costs.
• Using virtual meeting platforms to connect with experts and guests who cannot come in person.

Content of Meetings

What you discuss in meetings is important. Interesting and relevant content will keep the network strong and engaged. Find out which topics members need information or professional development in. Most agenda items should end with a plan for who will do what after the meeting.

Discover what has worked for other HMNs:

• Having a small planning committee to choose topics, create agendas, and find speakers.
• Inviting a speaker to start the meeting, then a Q&A and time for networking. A speaker could be a member talking about a successful project or strategy.
• Inviting community partners and TTA providers to give information or training.
• Focusing on specific topics or federal and state requirements. Members ask questions and share successful strategies.

Staying Connected

Staying connected between meetings helps members feel connected all year. The network becomes a helpful part of daily life when members can ask questions and share challenges as they come up. Consider using an email list, newsletters, a website, or social media group to stay in touch. Tools like Constant Contact, Google Sites, Google Group, Mailchimp, or Survey Monkey can make it easy to share updates and keep up engagement. It can be helpful to create a central place to post resources, meeting notes, and event information. That way all members know exactly where to find up-to-date information.

Discover what has worked for other HMNs:

• Sending a monthly or quarterly newsletter to keep members, directors, and community partners aware of the HMN’s work.
• Co-creating agendas for HMN meetings. Members can use email or social media to suggest topics they want to discuss.
• Encouraging members to send questions, share successes, and ask for support by email or by posting on the network’s platform.
• Using the network website as a place for new members to sign up for communications.
• Asking the state’s Head Start association to post information about the HMN on its website.

Leadership and Succession Planning

Many networks do well because of the passion and commitment of one or two leaders. But, if this leader leaves, the network may falter without a succession plan. Set up clear leadership roles and plan for how to change leadership as people leave. This will help the work continue even when leaders change. For example, electing a chair and vice chair can create a succession of prepared leaders. Shared responsibilities among members can also help create smooth transitions.

Conclusion

A successful HMN needs dedication, strategic planning, and ongoing collaboration. By making sure to follow best practices, networks make health services in Head Start programs stronger, which then helps children and families. Start small, stay committed, and watch your network thrive!

Last Updated: July 16, 2025