Sharing Knowledge and Fostering Collaboration at STAM 2026

The State and Territory CCDF Administrators Meeting (STAM) brings together Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Lead Agencies from across the country to connect with peers, hear updates from Office of Child Care (OCC) leadership, and learn from technical assistance specialists and their colleagues in other Lead Agencies. The annual event provides an important opportunity to share promising practices, strengthen partnerships, and advance strategies that support high-quality child care systems.

Hosted by OCC, STAM 2026 took place July 21–23 in Reston, Virginia. Throughout the conference, TriMetrix staff working on the National Center on Subsidy Innovation and Accountability (NCSIA) connected with Head Start colleagues, CCDF Lead Agencies, and fellow Child Care Technical Assistance Network centers also in attendance.

One of the highlights of the conference was the opportunity for NCSIA staff to meet face-to-face with the CCDF Lead Agencies they support throughout the year. These in-person conversations provided valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, discuss emerging challenges, and identify innovative approaches to strengthening child care subsidy programs. NCSIA also had a strong presence throughout the conference, delivering 16 sessions on a wide range of priority topics, including:

The breadth of NCSIA’s presentations reflected the center’s deep expertise and closely aligned with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and OCC’s priorities for supporting states and territories. By sharing practical tools, innovative strategies, and lessons learned, the NCSIA team helped equip attendees with resources they can apply in their programs.

Following a successful STAM 2026, the NCSIA team returned energized and inspired by the collaboration, knowledge sharing, and commitment demonstrated throughout the conference. The team looks forward to continuing its work alongside CCDF Lead Agencies.