Training and Technical Assistance Services in Region II

In ACF Region II, headquartered in New York, New York, STGi's Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) Specialists help deliver the resources that enable Head Start and Early Head Start programs to measurably benefit children, families, and communities.

In New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands—and for seven Federally-recognized Tribes—STGi supports more than 100,000 children, infants, toddlers, pregnant women, and families through 162 Head Start and Early Head Start grantees, 56 of which received Early Head Start expansion through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

In addition to helping the Region II Program Office promote regional interests among the Department of Health and Human Services and other Federal agencies, STGi provides the state of New York with a team of Content Specialists for collaborative, statewide efforts aimed at professional development and improved services for children and families. STGi has also established a teaming partnership with Pat Hall & Associates to support staffing solutions for the New York State-Based TTA team and Grantee Performance Support Specialist for the State Grouping TTA system in Region II.

Frequently partnering with the New York Head Start State Association, the Region II Head Start State Association, and the New York Head Start State Collaboration Office—when conducting state needs assessments and identifying common goals—STGi has already helped the ACF staff implement numerous OHS national initiatives, including:

• Statewide CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) training for New York State grantees in New York City, Albany, and Rochester, NY
• Improving Access to Head Start for Homeless Children sessions at the annual McKinney-Vento workshops in Rochester, Albany and New York City
• HEADS UP, an e-mail bulletin published periodically on Head Start and Early Head Start topics of interest, including auditory screenings, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, oral health resources, and H1N1 flu
• The New York State Department of Health Infant Oral Health Project

STGi also provides the ACF Regional Office with a cadre of Grantee Performance Support Specialists (GPSS). In partnership with OHS Program Specialists and Fiscal Operation Specialists, STGi's highly skilled T/TA professionals operate as joint problem solvers, observers, and technical assistance consultants—helping individual Head Start and Early Head Start grantees meet all laws and standards, while enhancing collaboration with other early childhood entities at the state and local levels.

STGi's GPSS Program Manager lends management support to the Regional Office, directs the GPSS staff, and coordinates Training and Technical Assistance collaboration with other state-based offices located in New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Recent collaborations include workshops and roundtable discussions at the 2009 Region II Head Start Association Conference and the 2010 ACF Region II Early Head Start Expansion Conference in New York.

Additionally, STGi's GPSS staff contributes to diverse regional initiatives, such as strategic planning with the Region II Family Strengthening Work Group, and Emergency Preparedness planning with grantees and the Regional Office staff.

In fact, given our unwavering commitment, one might say that "Support to Grantees" is the STG in STGi.