CAAS Head Start: Using GoEngage to Strengthen Data Management & Family Services

For over 30 years, Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) has been committed to empowering children and families through high-quality early childhood education and comprehensive family support.

In the past, CAAS relied on a combination of paper-based records and earlier versions of GoEngage, which often led to inefficiencies, reporting delays, and missed opportunities for deeper data analysis. When Jessie Leonard became the Head Start Program Director in 2019, she recognized the need for a more integrated and data-driven approach. As a strong advocate for leveraging data to drive decisions, she saw the potential in GoEngage—formerly known as myHeadStart—and was eager to maximize its capabilities.

The real turning point came during the pandemic when CAAS had to transition to fully digital operations. This shift accelerated the team's adoption of GoEngage, transforming how they managed program data, tracked services, and streamlined communication. What started as a necessary adaptation became a powerful tool for engagement, efficiency, and informed decision-making across the agency.

A System That Works for Everyone

At CAAS, every team member—from program administrators to family advocates—plays a role in data management. Head Start Program Director, Jessie Leonard, emphasized how GoEngage has become an essential tool for the agency. “We couldn’t function without it at this point. It helps with everything from strategic planning to day-to-day decision-making.”

Whether it’s tracking attendance trends, monitoring child outcomes, or pulling reports for funding partners, GoEngage provides real-time insights that make operations smoother and more efficient. “The ability to pull PIR data at the click of a button has been a lifesaver,” said Jessie.

Empowering Staff with Data Access

Unlike traditional paper-based methods, GoEngage enables all CAAS staff to enter and access data directly, reducing inefficiencies and increasing accountability. Christina Espinola, Head Start Education Director, highlighted how she uses GoEngage daily to track staff training, professional development, and volunteer engagement.

By having a centralized system, CAAS ensures that crucial information—such as parent-teacher conference schedules, home visits, and volunteer hours—is easily accessible. This not only saves time but also enhances the overall effectiveness of the program.

Improving Communication & Collaboration

One of the standout features of GoEngage for CAAS is its communication tools, which allow staff to connect with families at the click of a button.

Jessie and her team are increasingly utilizing the email functionality, and its adoption is expanding across the organization. Center directors are now getting on board, becoming more familiar with the tool, and seeing its full potential. Instead of manually gathering email addresses and sending messages piecemeal, they can now efficiently communicate with entire classes or even the whole center at once.

The ability to attach documents has been particularly beneficial, streamlining communication with families and staff. Jessie also leverages the email feature to reach the entire program, ensuring important information is delivered quickly and effectively. Plus, the functionality for sending documents for signatures has proven to be extremely valuable, making administrative tasks more seamless and efficient.

“The ability to send emails and collect digital signatures has been huge for us,” Jessie noted. “We recently rolled out a new form mid-year, and GoEngage allowed us to distribute it quickly without disrupting operations.”

A More Efficient Approach to Data Tracking

Abby Perez, Family Services Director, uses the system to record training hours for her staff. “It’s quick, easy, and ensures we stay on top of our professional development goals,” she said. Abby Perez, who self-claimed not to be very tech savvy, emphasizes how much she enjoys using the system, stating, "I love using it, and I’m so glad we have it. It’s made such a difference for us!"

Additionally, the agency is making huge strides in using GoEngage for data-driven insights. Aleksandr, CAAS’ Data Manager, highlights how the Data Navigator in GoEngage is a powerful tool when it comes to retrieving and presenting data in a meaningful format—even beyond standard reports. If a specific report isn’t readily available, users can still access the raw data, explore it from different angles, and extract the insights they need. This flexibility ensures that all information entered into GoEngage remains accessible and actionable.

For Aleksandr and his team, GoEngage plays a crucial role in not just storing data but in empowering them to apply it to their daily tasks, improving decision-making and operational efficiency.

Addressing Challenges & Looking Forward

Despite its many benefits, CAAS staff acknowledged some issues and shared that all software systems have flaws. However, they expressed confidence that GoEngage’s team is working on system optimizations.

“We appreciate how responsive the GoEngage team has been,” Aleksandr noted. “They’re actively working on solutions that will make the system even better for us.”

Aleksandr emphasizes that while the system itself is great, what truly sets GoEngage apart is its outstanding support team. Too often, the people behind the technology go unrecognized, but in this case, their impact is undeniable.

The support team doesn’t just answer questions—they proactively provide the best solutions, helping users resolve issues efficiently and making their workflows smoother. Their dedication ensures that teams can fully leverage the system’s capabilities, making daily tasks easier and more efficient.

For Aleksandr, it’s not just about having a great system; it’s about having a team that genuinely cares, always ready to assist and guide users to get the most out of GoEngage.

A Leader Who Doesn’t Just Talk About Data—She Uses It

One of the things that stood out most in my conversations with CAAS was Jessie Leonard’s direct engagement with GoEngage. While many Head Start directors rely on their teams for data management tasks, Jessie takes a hands-on approach—jumping into the system to create Quick Forms, send emails, and review data or run reports herself.

Her comfort and fluency with the platform not only demonstrate her commitment to data-driven decision-making but also set a powerful example for her team. By actively using GoEngage, she reinforces the importance of leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, streamline communication, and ultimately improve services for children and families.

“Jessie is one of those leaders who doesn’t just talk about the value of data—she uses it every day,” said Stacy Lewis. “Hearing about her navigating the system with such ease, is not something you see often at the director level, and it speaks volumes about her dedication to ensuring the best outcomes for families.”

Jessie’s willingness to engage directly with GoEngage is a testament to her leadership style—one that is proactive, adaptable, and deeply invested in making technology work for her team. It’s no surprise that her approach has helped drive broader adoption of the platform at CAAS, encouraging others to embrace digital tools as an essential part of their work.

A Future of Continuous Improvement

For CAAS, GoEngage is not just a software platform—it’s a tool that empowers staff, enhances efficiency, and supports the agency’s mission.

Considering a Change? Let’s Talk!

If you’re exploring better data management solutions for your Head Start program, GoEngage is ready to help.

👉 Schedule a Demo

👉 Request More Information