Feldesman Senior Counsel Phillip A. Escoriaza will present during the Region 2 Head Start Association Conference in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands from October 28 – 31, 2024. During the annual meeting, Mr. Escoriaza will lead three sessions offering compliance tips, best practices, and tools for Head Start agencies to stay within the bounds of the terms and conditions of their federal awards.

Mr. Escoriaza will be featured in the following sessions:

Monday, October 28

Head Start Grant Management 101

In this introductory-level session, Mr. Escoriaza will offer a comprehensive overview of essential grant management requirements for Head Start awards. This presentation will cover key topics such as procurement, contracts, cost principles, conflicts of interest, and internal investigations, providing valuable insights for effectively managing federal funding.

Tuesday, October 29

Prior Approvals, Waiver Requests and Other Dealings: How to Best Interact with the Office of Head Start

Throughout this discussion, Mr. Escoriaza will explore the necessary steps for managing changes after a Head Start grant has been approved. He will cover when prior approval from the Office of Head Start is required for budget adjustments, program design tweaks, leadership changes, and other situations. Attendees will also learn strategies for effective communication with the Office of Head Start to achieve favorable and timely results.

Wednesday, October 30

Fundamentals of Head Start Human Resources

Staffing shortages and recent changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards have brought new attention to the human resources challenges within Head Start agencies. In this session, Mr. Escoriaza will address essential human resources rules specific to Head Start programs, including governance, background checks, compensation, and data management.

For more information on these sessions and the Region 2 Head Start Association Conference 2024, click here.