The Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) mission is to foster health and well-being for children and families by providing federal leadership, partnership, and resources for the compassionate and effective delivery of human services. Our success is contingent on our ability to collaborate with human services providers, grantees, scientific researchers, clinicians, advocates, and other key non-government partners. These conferences and other meetings significantly contribute to our mission and play a vital role in carrying out these efforts.
This report is required by an Office of Management and Budget Memorandum on Promoting Efficient Spending to Support Agency Operations (M-12-12), dated May 11, 2012, requiring agencies to report publicly on all agency-sponsored conferences where expenses exceed $100,000.
ACF Summary of Costs
- Total Number of Conferences: 9
- Total Cost: $1,716,441
- Total Attendees: 2179
- Average Cost per Attendee: $788
Administration for Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Grantee Conference
Dates: 5/30-6/1/18
Venue, City, State or Country: Marriott Marquis, Washington, DC
How the Conference Advanced the Mission of the Agency: The purpose of the conference was to provide a forum for grantees funded by the Family and Youth Services Bureau’s (FYSB) Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (APP) Program to increase their capacity to implement evidence-based and effective adolescent pregnancy prevention and sexual risk avoidance education programs. The conference provided opportunities for on-site training and technical assistance, dissemination of research and information regarding effective programs, and sharing of resources. The conference directly supported and advanced the mission of ACF and FYSB by providing training and technical assistance to grantees to promote high quality programming for youth. In addition, the conference provided a unique opportunity for networking among grantees to form collaborations and partnerships that support the improvement and expansion of services to the most vulnerable populations of youth.
- Total Estimated Cost: $479,239
- Total Attendees on Travel: 25
- Total Number of Attendees: 642
Office of Child Care
Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance System (ECTTAS) All-Hands Meeting 2018
Dates: 1/23-25/2018
Venue, City, State or Country: Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA
How the Conference Advanced the Mission of the Agency: Provided updated guidance and engaged in a dialogue with technical assistance (TA) partners about ways to maximize and coordinate TA that helps all grantees meet their goals related to early childhood quality improvement.
- Total Estimated Cost: $146,287
- Total Attendees on Travel: 6
- Total Number of Attendees: 216
Infant/Toddler & School-Age Child Care Institute 2018 (ITSACC Institute)
Dates: 5/23-24/2018
Venue, City, State or Country: Embassy Suites, Baltimore, MD
How the Conference Advanced the Mission of the Agency: Provided state infant/toddler & afterschool leaders guidance and peer-to-peer discussion related to infant/toddler funding initiatives, meeting requirements in school-age care settings, & balancing the two with the other requirements of the CCDBG Act and CCDF program. requirements in school-age care settings, and how to balance the two with the other requirements of the law and program.
- Total Estimated Cost: $178,939
- Total Attendees on Travel: 20
- Total Number of Attendees: 170
STAM 2018 (State and Territory Administrators Meeting 2018)
Meeting Dates: 8/7-9/2018
Venue, City, State or Country: Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA
How the Conference Advanced the Mission of the Agency: Conducted training for CCDF administrators to provide knowledge to function effectively within the requirements of the new Final Rule.
- Total Estimated Cost: $268,008
- Total Attendees on Travel: 24
- Total Number of Attendees: 373
Office of Head Start
Region XI AIAN 2018 Training Conference
Dates: 11/28-29/2018
Venue, City, State or Country: Hotel Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM
How the Conference Advanced the Mission of the Agency: The event was designed to provide AIAN Head Start directors, managers, and direct service staff in leadership development and content implementation. The meeting directly supported OHS’ mission by contributing to the ability of grantee staff to fully implement the HSPPS.
- Total Estimated Cost: $167,598
- Total Attendees on Travel: 28
- Total Number of Attendees: 336
Office of Family Assistance
Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) Annual Meeting
Dates: 8/1-2/1018
Venue, City, State or Country: Washington Court Hotel, Washington, DC
How the Conference Advanced the Mission of the Agency: There are thirty-two (32) HPOG grantees operating five-year demonstration programs to provide education and training to Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals for occupations in the health care field that pay well and are expected to either experience labor shortages or be in high demand. This annual grantees' meeting focused on the activities and technical assistance support needed by the grantees as they moved into the third year of their grants. The annual meeting provided hands on technical assistance related to grantee stated needs and priorities of HPOG/ OFA/ ACF such as employment assistance and case management. The in-person nature also built peer-to-peer relationships between grantee staff fostering learning/ sharing of information and promising practices from the field.
- Total Estimated Cost: $124,270
- Total Attendees on Travel: 12
- Total Number of Attendees: 129
I-IV East Coast Director's Meeting
Dates: 7/24-28/2018
Venue, City, State or Country: Westin Boston Waterfront, Boston, MA
How the Conference Advanced the Mission of the Agency: The meeting, entitled "Leveraging Partnerships to Help Families Achieve Economic Stability," brought together TANF administrators, stakeholders, and thought leaders from Regions I-IV to discuss innovative approaches and brainstorm strategies for developing partnerships that increase TANF participants’ access to employment and training opportunities. Attendees heard from researchers and field experts who shared promising approaches and implementation guidelines for improving TANF program outcomes. They also worked with other states to develop innovative practices and action plans during Team Work sessions.
- Total Estimated Cost: $148,288
- Total Attendees on Travel: 53
- Total Number of Attendees: 101
V-VIII State TANF Technical Assistance Meeting
Dates: 7/19-20/2018
Venue, City, State or Country: Mystic Lake, Prior, MN
How the Conference Advanced the Mission of the Agency: The meeting provided state TANF representatives from Regions V-VIII an opportunity to learn about promising practices, discuss challenges faced by TANF programs, and share ideas with peers regarding how to respond to the needs of low-income families. The meeting also included practitioners and researchers who shared information about their own work and looked to TANF representatives and federal partners for ideas for future research. Attendees shared updates about their own states during State Spotlight sessions.
- Total Estimated Cost: $102,557
- Total Attendees on Travel: 33
- Total Number of Attendees: 65
OFA Regions IV-VIII Tribal Technical Assistance
Meeting Dates: 7/17-18/2018
Venue, City, State or Country: Mystic Lake, Prior, MN
How the Conference Advanced the Mission of the Agency: The convening provided Tribal TANF and NEW representatives from Regions IV-VIII an opportunity to discuss promising strategies for serving low-income families, share challenges, and gather with peers. During the meeting, attendees participated in presentations from program administrators and experts, heard from practitioners who serve low-income populations, and learned about technical assistance opportunities. The agenda included regional discussions, peer-to-peer exchanges, and scheduled time for sharing job development resources.
- Total Estimated Cost: $101,256
- Total Attendees on Travel: 14
- Total Number of Attendees: 97