Training and Technical Assistance Services in Region IX

In ACF Region IX, headquartered in San Francisco, California, STGi's Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) Specialists help promote the economic independence and social well-being of Head Start and Early Head Start children and families.

Since 2003, STGi has supported thousands of children and their families through 102 Head Start and Early Head Start grantees in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 64 of which received funding through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

In addition to helping the Region IX Program Office promote regional interests among the Department of Health and Human Services and other Federal agencies, STGi provides each of the Region's states with a team of Content Specialists for collaborative, statewide efforts aimed at professional development and improved services for children and families, as well as numerous OHS national initiatives, such as the orientation for Region IX's Early Head Start Expansion grantees in February, 2010. STGi has also established a teaming partnership with PATCH Hawaii to support staffing solutions for the Hawaii State-Based TTA team with TTA expertise in infant/toddler development.

Frequently partnering with Head Start State Associations, the Region IX Head Start State Association, Head Start State Collaboration Offices, and a vast number of statewide early childhood entities, our notable initiatives include:

• Coordinating with the Hawaii Head Start State Collaboration Office on the Hawaii Careers with Young Children (HCYC) State Early Childhood Professional Development committee
• Working on an advisory group to bring the Family Service Worker Credential to Arizona Head Start grantees
• Establishing the Statewide Professional Development Workgroup in collaboration with the California Head Start State Collaboration Office
• Providing training for all Nevada state education managers on Dual Language Learners in July, 2009

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 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.

The Region IX GPSS team will also serve as volunteers to pilot the Office of Head Start's Monitoring TTA follow-up reporting.

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