June 11, 2018 Pilot Begins for Professional Development Verification Program The PA Key and Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Certification are partnering to pilot verifying professional development currently coordinated by the Registry and are choosing several programs to test this process beginning July 1, 2018. To ensure one’s PD Registry profile is ready for the DHS Certification, the following steps should be taken: Directors/Administrators: Create an organization profile. If you already have an active profile, it will appear and allow you to update any information. Login and complete your profile. Your profile is a representation of your professional career. You can add your education and past work history. Add your employment. To add your employment, click the “Employment” tab on the top navigation bar. Your director will verify that you are employed by your current center. Locate your Professional Development Learning Record. Certificates are a thing of the past in the new PD Registry. Your Professional Development Learning Record will replace individual certificates and serves as one place for all your completed professional development to live. For tip sheets, visit the PA Key website.
Rates to Increase for Child Abuse Clearances Rates for the cost of child abuse clearances will increase next month. Beginning July 1, 2018, the cost of clearances will increase from $8 to $13. Fees for volunteers will still be waived once within a five-year period. In December 2014, individuals who require clearances expanded to include: volunteers, youth camp employees, coaches, youth mentors, Boy Scout and Girl Scout leaders, work study programs, internships, family-living home employees, and community-home employees for individuals with disabilities. In 2016, DHS received 951,414 child abuse clearance applications and identified 2,272 substantiated or alleged perpetrators of child abuse. For more information on clearance and background check requirements as required by the CPSL, please visit KeepKidsSafe.pa.gov.
Take Action for PA Children & Families Children and families need you to take action this June. Join Trying Together and local advocates on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 for a, “March on Market” and show the local community, employers, and policymakers how many of us depend upon reliable child care to maintain employment and peace-of-mind! Do you rely on child care to attend work? You can help by: Coming to Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh on June 12 between 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. for a large group photo at 12:15 p.m.; smaller group photos will take place on a rolling basis Learn more about March on Market and how you can help. Then on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, Trying Together is again inviting area advocates to contact their legislators for Action Day and remind them that we need their help to build bright futures for children. You can help by: Finding your local legislator and his/her contact info; making a “You Represent Me” card with the young children in your care; and sending it to PennAEYC by June 14 PennAEYC 415 Market Street, STE 206 Harrisburg, PA 17101 Then, on June 19: Wear blue and orange; take photos of the young children and/or your program facility; post to social media; and tag your local legislator Record or live stream a block tower building game/project/race from your program or household and post it with the hashtags #BuildBrightFutures and #FundChildCare Call your legislators on June 19 and ask them to support our children in the next budget. Sign-up for a text message reminder. Text “ECE KIDS” to 52886 to tell your legislators that we need to invest in our future Learn more about Action Day and download our toolkit for providers to participate.
June 8, 2018 Keep Families Together Since May 2018, approximately 658 children have been separated from their parents at the border. More than 540 organizations from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that represent well-recognized experts in the fields of child welfare, juvenile justice, and child health, development, and safety including Trying Together have shared collective concern about this practice in letters sent to the Department of Homeland Security. To learn more, view the letter sent to Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen or visit theyoungcenter.org. #KeepFamiliesTogether
Pennsylvania Voter Consensus on Importance of Early Education A recent poll confirms what Pre-K for PA partners have been hearing across the Commonwealth: Pennsylvanians are in lockstep when it comes to support for pre-k! Support for pre-k has swelled to near consensus, as 94% of likely voters now think that early education is important. Harrisburg-based Harper Polling conducted a poll on May 22-23, which indicates that three-quarters (75%) of likely voters support increasing funding to expand access to high-quality programs, and that support cuts across age, party, geographic and socioeconomic lines. Every single voting demographic in the state favors expanded access to pre-k by at least a two-to-one margin. And it doesn’t end there. It turns out that Pennsylvanians value pre-k education for its proven benefits to the child and the commonwealth, and they’re willing to dig a little deeper to support it. In fact, two-thirds of likely Pennsylvania voters polled said they would support a tax increase to expand pre-k access. The poll results speak for themselves. Now, it’s up to voters to ensure our legislators are listening. Last week, Pre-K for PA partners Harrisburg heard that the $40 million proposed for new pre-k funding is on the negotiating table and it’s getting cut! PLEASE, pick up the phone or send a quick email to tell legislators, “I am part of the pre-k majority!” It’s time for all PA children to have access to high-quality pre-k. No child should be missing out when nearly all PA residents agree.
June 7, 2018 The Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on Young Children A series of articles are highlighting the impact of the opioid epidemic on young children and families. These report on the growing number of families affected, and the work being done to combat the crisis. Additionally, parents and children share their experience living with addiction and recovery from it. “Schools that employ trauma-informed practices are giving childhood victims of the opioid epidemic a fighting chance.” (via PA Early Ed News) However, “Pennsylvania lags in developing a plan of protection for infants affected by drugs. An increasing number of adults with babies 14 days old or younger are being referred to the Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth and Families due to substance abuse concerns.” (via PublicSource) In a series called “The Fix”, PublicSource is exploring personal tales of those affected in Pittsburgh. “Jolted out of a drug haze with life-changing news: I went to sleep at 15 and woke up at 23, pregnant.” – Bree Swarmer “Teachers have dads in jail?” I spent the rest of our trip explaining that yes, lots of people have parents and family members who are incarcerated and that it wasn’t something to be ashamed of. Those were the words I had always wanted (and needed) to hear as a kid.” – Tiffini Simoneaux, Early Childhood Manager, Bureau of Neighborhood Empowerment in the Office of Mayor William Peduto
June 4, 2018 Summer Fun for The Whole Family It’s finally summer! Looking for something the whole family will enjoy that won’t break the bank? Look no further than the 2018 City of Pittsburgh Office of Special Events Summer Guide and CitiParks Summer 2018 Schedule. The City of Pittsburgh has a plethora of activities to keep young children and their caregivers entertained and playful this summer like the free Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park series. To learn more visit pittsburghpa.gov/events, check-out @PghEventsOffice on Facebook and Twitter, call 412-255-2493, or download the Guide. In addition to entertainment, Citiparks provides plenty of opportunities to stay active and healthy including 18 outdoor swimming pools, seven spray parks, the Summer Food Service Program, and more. To learn more visit citiparks.net, check-out @CitiparksPGH on Facebook, or download the Schedule.
