What’s brewing in October?
Momentum building. Deadlines approaching.
Fall is here, and with it comes the shift from settling in to gearing up. GoEngage keeps your team ready for what’s ahead — from updated PIR requirements to everyday compliance — so nothing falls through the cracks.
Feature Spotlights
 | New 2025–2026 PIROHS has released updates for the 2025–2026 Program Information Report (PIR) — and GoEngage is already updated to keep you compliant. What’s new:
✔️ Use My PIR to assign questions across your team and lighten the reporting load. |
 | Create Follow-Up Reminders for Ongoing ServicesNever lose track of a family’s ongoing needs. Now, when you mark a service as “Service Ongoing” in GoEngage, the system will prompt you to set a follow-up reminder. This simple update helps your team:
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Using GoEngage? Need help with implementing these features? Contact us!
Not using GoEngage? Interested in learning more? Request a demo or contact us. (800) 473-4780 | Sales@GoEngage.app | |
October Awareness Highlights & How GoEngage can Help
October is full of observances that align with Head Start and Community Action missions. These awareness campaigns provide opportunities to strengthen family engagement, build staff capacity, and connect program activities to compliance requirements. With GoEngage, you can track, share, and document your impact seamlessly.
 | Head Start Awareness MonthCelebrating Head Start’s impact: lifting families, shaping futures Why it matters: Head Start has transformed millions of lives, preparing children for school and supporting families with health, nutrition, and parent engagement. This month is a chance to honor those stories and advocate for the program’s continued success. How GoEngage helps: Use dashboards and reports to highlight family outcomes, track engagement milestones, and share impact data with boards, funders, and community partners. Family Engagement Ideas: Host a Head Start celebration day, invite alumni families to share their stories, or share a social media series spotlighting your program’s impact. Resources: NHSA: Head Start Awareness Month |
National Learning & Development MonthLifelong learning starts here: supporting growth for children, parents, and staff Why it matters: Head Start fosters learning not just for children but also for families and staff. Continuous growth builds stronger communities and aligns with program goals for professional development and parent leadership. How GoEngage helps: Track children’s learning development, staff training hours, log professional development activities, and document parent participation in Policy Council or workshops. Family Engagement Ideas: Offer a parent workshop series, highlight family learning resources in newsletters, or showcase staff training initiatives. Resources: National Today: Learning & Development Month |  |
 | National Children’s Health MonthHealthy children = ready-to-learn children Why it matters: Nutrition, screenings, immunizations, and preventative care are critical to school readiness. Head Start programs play a central role in ensuring children’s health milestones are met. How GoEngage helps: Use health dashboards to track screenings, immunizations, and physicals, with flags and notifications for overdue services. Family Engagement Ideas: Share healthy snack recipes, host a family fitness challenge, or provide resources on preventive care. Resources: CDC: Children’s Health Resources |
Breast Cancer Awareness MonthStanding with families and staff impacted by breast cancer Why it matters: Breast cancer affects many caregivers, staff, and families. Awareness events provide solidarity, education, and access to community resources. How GoEngage helps: Document referrals, track participation in awareness events, and share educational resources with families through our communication tools. Family Engagement Ideas: Host a “Wear Pink” day, share screening information, or partner with local health organizations. Resources: National Breast Cancer Foundation |  |
 | Domestic Violence Awareness MonthCreating safe spaces for families and children Why it matters: Domestic violence can deeply affect children’s safety and development. Head Start programs are often a vital connector to local resources and supports. How GoEngage helps: Log confidential referrals, track follow-ups, and ensure families receive consistent, sensitive support. Family Engagement Ideas: Provide discreet info cards with hotline numbers, host staff training on trauma-informed care, or highlight local resources in newsletters. Resources: National Domestic Violence Hotline |
National Depression & Mental Health Screening MonthCaring for caregivers: supporting family well-being Why it matters: Caregiver well-being impacts child development. Depression and untreated mental health needs can create barriers to family stability. How GoEngage helps: Track screenings, referrals, and follow-ups; supervisors can use dashboards to ensure timely responses. Family Engagement Ideas: Share mental health resources, invite a community partner for a parent workshop, or distribute wellness tip sheets. Resources: Mental Health America Screening Tools |  |
 | Health Literacy MonthEmpowering families with knowledge Why it matters: Understanding medical instructions, nutrition labels, and prescriptions helps families make informed health decisions. Head Start programs can bridge health literacy gaps. How GoEngage helps: Track parent workshop participation, log family engagement activities, and connect literacy outcomes to family goals. Family Engagement Ideas: Share guides on reading nutrition labels, host a cooking demo, or distribute simple medical terminology glossaries. Resources: CDC Health Literacy |
Bullying Prevention MonthBuilding respect and empathy early Why it matters: Teaching empathy, respect, and positive peer interactions in early childhood prevents future bullying and fosters safe learning environments. How GoEngage helps: Document social-emotional learning goals, track classroom incidents, and monitor action plans. Family Engagement Ideas: Host a “Kindness Week,” share SEL activities for home, or recognize acts of kindness in classrooms. Resources: StopBullying.gov |  |
 | Energy Awareness MonthSaving energy, saving money, supporting families Why it matters: Energy conservation lowers household costs and teaches environmental responsibility — important skills for families Head Start serves. How GoEngage helps: Document family literacy events on energy savings, track internal referrals to your CAP side for energy assistance, weatherization, or housing support, and log community partnerships that help families access vital resources. Family Engagement Ideas: Host a family “energy savings challenge,” provide tip sheets, or connect families with local assistance programs. Resources: Energy.gov: Energy Saver Guide |
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month (Oct 15)Acknowledging grief, honoring families Why it matters: Many families in our programs have experienced loss. Recognizing this observance shows compassion and builds trust with grieving parents. How GoEngage helps: Document supportive conversations, track referrals to counseling, mental health assessments, and ensure follow-up services are in place. Family Engagement Ideas: Create a remembrance wall or garden, share supportive resources with parents, or hold a moment of silence on Oct. 15. Resources: Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support |  |
With GoEngage, Awareness Leads to Action Each of these observances is an opportunity to engage families, strengthen program compliance, and enrich your monthly activities. With GoEngage, you can streamline communication, document efforts, and ensure these awareness campaigns make a lasting impact. Want to see how other agencies are bringing awareness into action? Schedule a demo or email us at sales@GoEngage.app. ✅ Tip: Programs can highlight these observances in monthly newsletters to families, social media posts, and classroom activities. | |
Don’t Just Get By — Get Ahead with GoEngage Training
Your staff are the heart of your program. But even the most dedicated teams can feel overwhelmed by compliance demands, shifting protocols, and new expectations. The question isn’t if your program needs training — it’s what kind will set you up for success.
That’s where GoEngage training comes in. Our affordable options are built to meet you where you are and move your program forward:
 | GoEngage Connect – Immersive, In-Person Learning3 days of collaboration, strategies, and inspiration. You’ll leave with practical tools and a stronger network of peers. |
GoEngage Academy – Always-On TrainingRole-based, self-paced modules keep your staff sharp all year long. Perfect for onboarding, refreshers, or preparing for reviews. 📰 Check out our blog: Empower Your Staff, Improve Your Program: The GoEngage Academy Advantage |  |
 | Focused Workshops – Targeted ResultsFrom PIR to In-Kind, our two-day workshops are designed to tackle high-stakes areas with depth and clarity. |
Custom Training – Your Program, Your WayVirtual or on-site, we’ll design a plan tailored to your staff, your systems, and your compliance needs. |  |
🎯 Don’t wait for a review notice to discover your team isn’t ready. Training today means confidence tomorrow. | |
Explore more customer stories: See how agencies like yours are thriving with GoEngage
Thank you to all the incredible users who share their stories with us. Want to be featured? Drop us a note—we'd love to hear how GoEngage is helping your team thrive.
Check out the latest on our Blog
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How Head Start Programs Benefit from GoEngage’s Automatic Data Sync between Head Start & CAP
Head Start Federal Reviews: How GoEngage Helps Agencies Stay Ready
Not Using GoEngage? Take the next step!
Stronger communication, clearer data, and easier workflows — GoEngage brings it all together so families feel supported and staff stay focused on impact.
Simpler reporting, stronger family engagement, and better compliance tracking — GoEngage keeps your program ready for what’s next while giving staff the tools they need to thrive.
💌 Have a topic you'd like us to feature in next newsletter? Let us know at sales@GoEngage.app.
Until next time,
The GoEngage Team
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By
Stacy Lewis: Senior Director of Business Development at Cleverex Systems
Stacy Lewis is the Senior Director of Business Development at Cleverex Systems, the creator of GoEngage. A trusted leader in the Head Start software space since 2001, Stacy brings over 24 years of experience, including key roles at ChildPlus, KinderSystems (COPA and California subsidy products), and Learning Genie, before joining GoEngage.
Throughout her career, Stacy has helped countless agencies optimize operations, enhance family engagement, and achieve compliance with federal and state standards. Her extensive industry knowledge and commitment to innovation continue to drive transformative solutions that empower Head Start programs to better serve children and families.
