Training and Technical Assistance Services in Region VI

In ACF Region VI, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, STGi's Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) Specialists help meet the needs of Head Start and Early Head Start children and families in a positive, productive environment—through visionary leadership, effective program integration, and responsible staffing.

In Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, STGi supports more than 113,000 children and their families—and more than 7,000 infants, toddlers, and pregnant women—through 190 Head Start and Early Head Start grantees, in addition to over 6,000 infants and children who received services through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

In addition to helping the Region VI Program Office promote regional interests among the Department of Health and Human Services and other Federal agencies, STGi provides the state of Louisiana 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 Excellence for Children to support staffing solutions for the Louisiana State-Based TTA team by providing TTA expertise in infant/toddler development.

Frequently partnering with the Louisiana Head Start State Collaboration Office when conducting state needs assessments and implementing OHS national initiatives, STGi has already helped launch multiple noteworthy programs, including the first ever audio conference on H1N1, and monthly radio hours on emergency preparedness, Early Head Start, professional development, and a host of other topics.

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.

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 in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. Recent collaborations include joint training sessions at the 2010 Region VI Head Start Directors' Summit held in Dallas, the 2009 Region VI Head Start Association Conference held in Albuquerque, a state-sponsored training on Homelessness, and other Head Start State Association conference activities.

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