Since the conclusion of the second cohort of the TELI in 2017, many tribal leaders have expressed interest in continued TELI opportunities as part of nation-to-nation consultation. In 2022, ACF offered a new TELI opportunity to tribal communities through the Tribal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program. ACF issued policy guidance outlining how CCDF resources, including COVID supplemental funds, could be used to support TELI system-building activities. In addition, tribes had the opportunity to apply to use their CCDF funds for TELI purposes through an appendix to their CCDF plan, and to apply to participate in a technical assistance (TA) opportunity by indicating an interest in the TELI Network, a broad-based learning community or the more intensive TELI Collaborative. Forty-nine tribes submitted applications to use their CCDF funds for TELI activities, and 8 indicated interest in participating in the TELI Collaborative.
The 8 tribes in the TELI Collaborative receive individualized and collective technical assistance as part of a peer learning network over a 3-year period. This includes direct support from TA providers, federal staff, and decision makers across ACF tribal early childhood programs, including CCDF, Head Start, and Tribal Home Visiting. ACF plans to conduct site visits to each TELI Collaborative tribe. The site visit team includes ACF staff from the relevant programs, along with TA providers. The team will explore opportunities for collaboration and identify and address barriers to coordination and systems building. Support for the TELI Collaborative will be provided through the Office of Child Care’s Tribal Child Care Capacity Building Center (TCBC).