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Technical Assistance and Training

We deliver training and technical assistance to support our clients in transforming lives and uplifting communities. Our team is comprised of seasoned practitioners who understand the real-world challenges in managing grant programs. Through years of monitoring engagements across the nation, our multi-disciplinary team of full-time grant specialists provided boots-on-the-ground intelligence on front-line weaknesses. Multiple members on our team have monitored the provision of services they once provided themselves. This extensive experience has provided us with insights into not only improving compliance, but crucially effectiveness. We share these insights in the technical assistance and training that we provide. 

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Because we believe monitoring should be meaningful and mission-based, we adopt a supportive, non-punitive approach to oversight, except in cases of intentional and widespread misconduct. When called for, we deliver targeted technical assistance alongside our findings:

  • Grounded Findings: We ensure all compliance findings are grounded in statutory, regulatory, policy, or contractual requirements and supported by documented evidence, providing a clear reference point for subsequent technical assistance.

  • Contextual Technical Assistance: When a finding of non-compliance is cited, we provide important context, including factors beyond the agency’s control. This insight allows us to tailor technical assistance to the agency's specific situation.

  • Targeted Remediation and Training: We deliver direct technical assistance and training to explain compliance requirements (Federal, state, and local) and recommend specific remedies to immediately address deficiencies and avoid future findings.

  • Strategic Improvement Technical Assistance: We document both organizational strengths and weaknesses, share relevant best practices, and make recommendations to improve existing policies and procedures, providing a roadmap for long-term effectiveness.

We have developed a robust framework that directly informs the training and technical assistance we provide:

  • Standardized Methodologies: Carefully documented methodologies and best practices covering nearly every aspect of grants oversight, forming the basis for our procedure manuals and training curricula.

  • Legislative Expertise: An up-to-date understanding of the latest developments in all relevant legislation, ensuring our training and technical assistance reflects current compliance standards.

  • Extensive Resource Library: This resource bank provides the source material for our training sessions on critical topics, including:

    • Oversight Program Development

    • Fiscal and Programmatic Monitoring

    • Strategic Planning

    • Communications and Marketing

    • Technological Infrastructure

    • Applicable legislation

Case Study: Bureau of Indian Education

In an engagement with the Bureau of Indian Education we monitored 183 schools in 22 states for compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Our team provided technical assistance and training through several methods:

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1. Development of Tools and Resources

​We provided operational support and technical guidance by creating critical resources:

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  • Compliance and Monitoring Tools: Developed the initial school self-assessment tool, a monitoring tool, a standardized report format, and related materials for fiscal, Special Education, and other reviews.

  • Policies: Developed policies covering critical operational and safety areas, such as substance abuse, suicide prevention, sexual harassment, anti-bullying, and more.

  • Guides and Manuals: Created substantive resources, including a Best Practices Resource Guide for Educators, a 112-page manual on Safe Schools Planning, a Parents’ Guide to Mental Health, Student Health Guidelines, sample Memoranda of Understanding, Student Codes of Conduct, job descriptions, and nearly 20 standardized forms.

  • Means of Sharing Best Practices: During school site visits we collected a variety of sample documents that exhibited best practices and posted these on an internal website to facilitate peer learning and implementation.

  • Technological Infrastructure: Created multiple internal project websites, and a website that provided technical assistance to help schools become compliant.

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2. Targeted Training and Professional Development

We developed and delivered numerous training programs:

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  • Extensive Training: Developed training on key administrative and educational topics, including the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, School Board Roles and Responsibilities, Board Oversight, Ethics, Using School Data, Facilities, Roberts’ Rules of Order, Administrative Cost Grants, and Emergency Planning.

  • Specialized Review Training: Developed extensive training on conducting fiscal and educational reviews of schools.

  • Safety and Wellness Programs: Developed programs, including student-developed videos, to address alcohol abuse and suicides among Native American youth.

  • Symposium Organization: We organized a Safe Schools Symposium, which featured 29 speakers and attracted 288 participants.

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3. Site-Specific Corrective Guidance

Our compliance reviews served as a mechanism for site-specific technical assistance:

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  • After each school visit, our complex reports provided targeted guidance by detailing a school’s strengths and weaknesses, offering important insights on the causes of non-compliance, and identifying endemic problems to help the agency better support schools under its jurisdiction.

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