More About TSG

Background

SUNY Training Strategies Group (TSG) is the umbrella organization for projects within the Research Foundation of SUNY that are funded by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). All TSG projects focus on improving the knowledge and skills of those who work to support and strengthen families and children in New York. TSG's funding in 2005 will be $26.5 million and total anticipated staffing is projected at 100.

The first project in what was to become TSG was the Family Day Care Training Project (FDC Project) which began in 1992 with 5 employees and approximately $2 million in funding. The project focused on providing required training for family day care providers in upstate New York. In 1994, the program expanded its operations and funding to include meeting the needs of family day care providers in New York City. By 1996, the organization had added four additional projects - the Day Care Center Staff Training Project (DCCS Project), Day Care Licensing Staff Training Project, the Voucher Demonstration Project and the Early Childhood Video Production Project. We began to operate as the Early Childhood Education and Training Program (ECETP). The introduction of videoconference training (which combined the missions of the FDC, DCCS and Video Production Projects) and the creation of the Educational Incentive Program (EIP - the successor to the Voucher Demonstration Project) continued this evolution. By 1999, ECETP and EIP had expanded to the point that they began to operate under separate management. We also began work on the Parent Education Project.

In 2000, ECETP took on a new initiative and developed a 15-hour health and safety training course for new family and group family day care providers. It now supports a network of almost 200 approved trainers. Training of licensing staff has expanded dramatically and now includes a web-based training initiative. The video unit develops and produces 24 videoconference trainings and supports the work of several other TSG projects by producing long-form training videos.

In 2001, EIP was able to respond quickly to the needs created by the attack on the World Trade Center. Within 10 days, staff had created the 9/11 Grant Program. This program provided funding for day care providers in the New York City area who needed training, consultation or evaluation services for the children and families in their care. In 2003, EIP awarded over $10 million in scholarship funding to early childhood professionals. EIP also administers health and safety training grants.

The Distance Learning Program (DLP) began in 1993 as the Computer Based Training Demonstration Project. By 1998, it expanded its responsibilities to include development of videoconference training and added a staff of video production experts. DLP supports the training projects within OCFS by supplying supplemental videoconference training and development of video products. It also includes expertise in the development and delivery of web-based training. Over the past four years, we have increased our in-house production capability tremendously. The primary audience for this project is child welfare staff in voluntary agencies and local social service districts. DLP produces at least 50 videoconferences a year and supports the work of other OCFS training projects by developing long-form videos and video public service announcements. It is co-located in Rensselaer with our funding agency.

The Connections Training Program (CONNX) was added 1999. CONNX provides technical training to child welfare staff of local districts and voluntary agencies. Initially, the project was funded at $3.2 million and employed 12 staff members. There were only two courses delivered by training staff. In the first year, curriculum development included the creation of three additional courses and the support of on-line help. As OCFS expanded and improved the Connections (computer) System, the project's work has expanded tremendously in scope and complexity. There are now 17 courses available (and many more in development). We support the training database, maintain a network of mobile lab sites and will offer over 2000 days of training between April 1 and December 31, 2005. In addition to technical training, we will support all the programmatic and policy training related to Build 19 - the newest release of the Connections System. In 2005, this project will have 37 employees and be funded at almost $5 million.

The Medication Administration Training Program (MAT) is the newest addition to TSG. It began in 2003 as an activity within ECETP and acquired separate funding in January 2004. MAT is designed to assist early childhood practitioners in achieving the qualifications they will need to come into compliance with major regulatory changes related to the safe administration of medication in day care settings. In its first year, the project has developed an 8-hour curriculum (this includes video support). MAT has developed a statewide network of over 400 approved trainers and administers a $3 million grant fund.

The Administration and Finance Unit and the Information Technology Unit complete TSG's current structure. Both units support the needs of the programmatic staff. In the past year, we have improved or financial management systems, increased our office automation efforts and continued the expansion of our ability to conduct many of our business functions electronically. A newly created call center has streamlined the work of program staff and provided a higher degree of customer service. Automated support of videoconference testing/certificate generation is in place. The Administration and Finance Unit also includes a quality assurance function designed to assure the integrity of the EIP award process.