News

July 18, 2018

Pilot Launches This Fall for Infant/Toddler Child Care

Beginning September 2018, OCDEL will use $2 million of the increased Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funding to pilot contracting for slots for infants and toddlers participating in Child Care Works (CCW).

OCDEL will leverage the PA Pre-K Counts model to pilot contracting with STAR 3 and STAR 4 programs to serve infants and toddlers in high-quality settings.

This pilot will improve access to, and continued enrollment of, children 0-36 months in high-quality early care and education programs and is supported by the results of Pennsylvania’s Infant/Toddler policy scan (a tool developed by Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Child Care).

Shared via The PA Key.

News

OCDEL Announces Child Care Reimbursement Changes

The PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) announced the Child Care Works (CCW) program will both lift the base rate freeze for STAR 1 and STAR 2 providers, as well as, apply a general Maximum Child Care Allowance (MCCA) base rate increase of 2.5% across all counties, provider types, STAR levels, and care levels effective August 1, 2018.

Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) will contact providers in July or August to both gather their program’s current private pay rates and to sign updated provider agreements. If a program serves children in Philadelphia or Allegheny County, they will receive this information through their Child Care Information Service Office. OCDEL is requesting that early learning providers be responsive to the ELRCs when they reachout around the provider agreements.

Shared via The PA Key.

News

July 17, 2018

CitiParks Opens Accessible Spray Parks

Cool off and have fun this summer with the City of Pittsburgh’s 7 Spray Parks.

Accessible for all (including toddlers and those using wheelchairs), Spray Parks offer a chance for everyone to beat the heat, no swimming skills required!

Let your imagination run wild, as sensors cause sprayers to magically turn on and off in this three-dimensional world of water. It’s guaranteed to bring back memories of running through sprinklers…but this time with a lot more fun, color and movement.

Locations:

  • Arlington – 1523 Fernleaf Street (15210)—Arlington Playground
  • Beechview – 1295 Orangewood Avenue (15216)—Vanucci Playground
  • Burgwin – 328 Mansion Street (15207)—Burgwin Playgroun/Burgwin Field
  • East Hills – 2300 Wilner Drive (15221)—East Hills Park
  • Shadyside – 6601 Fifth Avenue (15206) – Mellon Park
  • Troy Hill – 1200 Goettman Street (15212)—Cowley Playground Cowley Playground, Goettman Street
  • Warrington – 329 Warrington Avenue (15210)—Beltzhoover

For more information and directions to each location, visit CitiPark’s website.

News

Take the Survey: Carbon Monoxide Monitors in Child Care Centers

Share your thoughts on carbon monoxide monitors in child care centers.

The Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) and the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) released a survey to measure the impact of legislation on child care providers in PA.

“Senate Bill 439, PN 1759, would require carbon monoxide detectors/alarms in child care facilities if the facility uses a fossil fuel-burning heater, appliance, fireplace, or has an attached garage. If the building in which the child care facility is in operation has a security system, the carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed by hardwire connection to the security system. The bill passed the Senate on May 23 and was referred to the Health Committee in the House. The House does not convene again until September 12.”

PennAEYC and PACCA are surveying child care providers to understand how many may be impacted by this rule change if passed and to determine the potential fiscal impact on programs.

The survey will close Friday, August 3, 2018 at 5:00 PM.

Take the survey now! 

News

July 10, 2018

Resources for Inclusive Educators

Remake Learning recently released a list of resources to help educators to build inclusive opportunities in the classroom:

  • Universal Design for Learning
  • Science of the Individual
  • The PEAL Center Toolkits
  • Interpreter Services
  • PaTTAN
  • Autism Connection
  • ACHIEVA

Read the full article on Remake Learning’s website. 

News

Wightman Park Improvement Project

Set to begin this year, the much-anticipated rehabilitation of Wightman Park in Squirrel Hill will create a safer, cleaner, greener, and more accessible space. Through in-person meetings and online engagement, neighborhood residents, frequent park users, and the stakeholders helped to develop a vision to revitalize this community asset that has not received major investments in two decades. The Wightman Park Improvement Project is being carried out by the City of Pittsburgh, City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, Pashek+ MTR, and Ethos Collaborative.

Play areas throughout will include not only physical play spaces, but social & sensory experiences for children with differing abilities.

Additional neighborhood meetings and community pop-up events will be scheduled throughout 2018 during the design and construction phases.

via the Office of the Mayor.