July 15, 2019 Cliff Effect Public Service Announcement Seeks Focus Group Circles Greater Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Child Development are seeking individuals who are willing to be interviewed and recorded for a Public Service Announcement that will raise awareness on the Cliff Effect. Participants selected will be compensated. About The Cliff Effect impacts individuals who are: working, but still eligible for certain subsidies such as Section 8 or public housing, Child Care Assistance, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and more at risk of losing benefits because of an increase in income faced with choosing between a raise/increased income or receiving benefits Available Sessions There are two available session dates: Thursday, July 18, 6 – 8 p.m. Carnegie Library East Liberty | 130 S. Whitfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Saturday, July 20, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Gallery on Penn | 5937 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Registration To register for the Cliff Effect groups, complete this form. Share this flyer with your network.
July 9, 2019 DHS Licensed Providers: Plan of Correction Notice The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is offering training for all DHS licensed providers on completing a Plan of Correction (POC). About This free, live webinar training will focus on the elements needed for the foundation of an acceptable POC. It is strongly recommended that all facility staff involved in completing POCs attend one webinar session. Each scheduled webinar will last approximately one hour. Only one webinar should be attended, as the material covered will be the same in each session. Webinar Dates The dates for the webinars are as follows: Tuesday, July 16, 9:30 – 10: 30 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, 10:30 – 11: 30 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, 10:30 – 11: 30 a.m. Wednesday, July 24, 1:30 – 2: 30 p.m. Thursday, July 25, 9:30 – 10: 30 a.m. Registration To register for a training session, visit the registration web page. Space is limited and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. After registering, you will receive a link to connect you to the webinar training. Unable to Attend? If you are unable to attend one of these webinar sessions, DHS will be offering a similar training in a self-paced format in late July 2019. Additional information will be shared on how to access the self-paced training in the future. *Information provided by the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning
New Clearance Required for Child Care Providers Due to a federal requirement under the reauthorization of the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), child care providers are required to complete a new clearance—the National Crime Information Center/National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR). About The NSOR clearance will verify that a check of the National Sex Offenders Registry was conducted and if the individual can or cannot work for a regulated child care provider. This clearance is required in addition to a Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check for Employment or Volunteers, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Fingerprinting. There is no fee for the NSOR clearance. Requirements The following individuals must complete the NSOR verification certificate by July 1, 2020: any individual 18 years or older residing in the child care facility; all individuals working for Regulated Child Care Providers; any individual with an ownership interest (corporate or non-corporate) in a Regulated Child Care Provider and who participates in the organization and management of the operation. Application Process By late summer/early fall 2019, there will be a paper application process for the NSOR clearance, and in late fall there will be an electronic process in place at keepkidssafe.pa.gov. Learn More For more information on required clearances, visit the Keep Kids Safe website. Share this handout with your network. *Information provided by the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning
July 8, 2019 10 Questions to Ask: Child Care Emergency Plan In a recent article, Child Care Aware of America reported out that 38 percent of parents were unsure of their child care provider’s emergency plan, with another 7 percent stating that their program doesn’t have one. To ensure your child’s safety, Child Care Aware recommends that caregivers be proactive by asking their child care provider these 10 questions. Recommended Questions Do you have an emergency preparedness plan for disasters that are likely to occur in our area? How will you safely evacuate my child to a safe, predetermined location? How and when will I be notified if a disaster occurs when my child is in child care? If I can’t get to my child during or after a disaster, how will you continue to care for my child? Have you and your staff received training on how to respond to my child’s physical and emotional needs during and after a disaster; for example, are all staff first aid and CPR-certified? Will you teach my older child what to do in an emergency? Do you have a disaster/supply kit with enough items to meet my child’s needs for at least 72 hours? Do the state and local emergency management agencies and responders know about your child care program and where it is located? How may I help you during and after a disaster? After a disaster occurs, how will I be notified about your plan to reopen? More Information For more information, visit www.childcareprepare.org. *Information provided by Child Care Aware of America
Safe Travels: Keeping Children Safe from the Heat Traveling with children in the car isn’t always easy, especially if there has been a change in a parent’s routine or schedule. When caregivers feel tired or distracted, they may put their child or other children at risk due to unsafe vehicle behaviors. Overview Even if the outside temperature feels cool, leaving a child in the car, intentionally or unintentionally, is dangerous. While outside temperatures may be in the mid-60s, the temperature inside a vehicle can quickly rise above 110°F, rising almost 20°F within the first 10 minutes. However, the risk of leaving a young child in the car is completely preventable. Preventative Measures Read these tips from Where’s Baby? Look Before You Lock! to learn how to keep your child safe: Never leave a child alone in a motor vehicle. Leaving a child alone in a car can lead to serious injury or death from heatstroke. It takes only minutes for a vehicle to heat up and become deadly. Young children are particularly at risk, as their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s. Make a habit of checking your back seat. Place your purse, cell phone, briefcase, backpack or other items you typically carry in the backseat when you enter the vehicle. Put the diaper bag in the front seat with you as a reminder that your child is still in the vehicle. Open the back door to check the back seat when you exit your vehicle. If you see a child unattended in a vehicle, call 911. Immediately call 911 if you see a child unattended in a vehicle. Provide the 911 operator with as much information as you can–type and color of vehicle, location in the parking lot, etc. Stay with the vehicle–don’t go into a store or office and assume the police are on their way. Check to see if the vehicle doors are unlocked. After parking your car, lock it. Children who get inside an unlocked vehicle can become trapped. A vehicle may be a tempting hiding spot for playing children. Lock your vehicle to prevent children from getting inside. *Information provided by PA Promise for Children
July 5, 2019 General Assistance Program Ending August 1, 2019 As required by Act 12 of 2019, which amended 62 P.S. § 403.2(a), the General Assistance program will end on August 1, 2019. No General Assistance cash assistance will be dispersed after July 31, 2019. Additional Benefits Information Current General Assistance recipients were notified of this change via mail. If they are currently receiving other benefits like Medical Assistance or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), those benefits will continue. The Department of Human Services (DHS) will notify clients before making changes to other benefits for any reason. This change will likely result in an additional need for resources from charitable and social service organizations around the commonwealth. DHS is working closely with their partners to identify potential resources for people affected by this change. Receiving Benefits If you, someone you know, or someone you work with currently receives or thinks they qualify for General Assistance, they may qualify for other benefits. Individuals can contact their local County Assistance Office or apply online via COMPASS at www.compass.state.pa.us. More Information For more information, contact the DHS Helpline at 1-800-692-7462. TDD Services are available at 1-800-451-5886. *Information provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
July 3, 2019 Paid Opportunity: Baby Brain Emotion Study Are you the mother/caregiver of an infant age 0-3 months? If so, you and your baby may be able to participate in a Pitt+Me research study to help learn more about the ways in which infants’ emotions are connected to areas of the brain and how parenting behaviors might affect these connections. About The purpose of this study is to help researchers learn more about the ways in which infants’ emotions are connected to areas of the brain and how parenting behaviors might affect these connections. Researchers hope their findings will lead to a better understanding of emotional challenges in children in the future. Compensation provided. Study Eligibility Infant aged 0-3 months old Infant was born full-term (at least 37 weeks) Infant’s birth weight was more than 5.5 pounds Infant has not been in the hospital for any physical health issues, including neurological Infant does not have any metal in their body Mother/Caregiver did not use illicit substances during pregnancy and is not using them now Mother/Caregiver spends at least 2 hours per day caring for the infant Learn More For more information and to participate, visit the study webpage. *Information provided by Pitt+Me
Adjusted WIC Income Guidelines Effective Starting July 1 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that starting July 1, 2019, adjusted income eligibility guidelines will be used to determine the income eligibility of persons applying to participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). About Income Guidelines Income eligibility for the WIC Program is determined using income standards as prescribed under section 9(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The income limit is 185 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines, as adjusted. Section 9(b) also requires that these guidelines be revised annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. The annual revision for 2019 was published by the Department of Health and Human Services on February 1, 2019. In accordance with the established income guidance, the revised WIC income eligibility guidelines are to be used in conjunction with WIC regulations. See the Revised Guidelines Click here to view the revised WIC Income Guidelines. More Information To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania WIC website or call 412.350.5801. *Information provided by the USDA
Allegheny County Community Health Assessment Survey The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and its advisory coalition are developing the next Community Health Assessment (CHA). As part of this process, they have created a survey for residents to help identify the priority health issues impacting their communities. About the Survey This survey has a particular focus on health equity and will be used to design a new Community Health Improvement Plan, which will outline goals and strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of all Allegheny County residents. By taking the survey, you are helping ACHD identify the key needs of Allegheny County communities. The survey will be available from June 26 through October 4, 2019. This survey is open to all residents of Allegheny County over 18 years of age. ACHD is also working with various organizations to make paper versions of the survey available to residents. Both versions are identical – if you take the online version, there is no need to complete a paper version. All answers are private and anonymous. Take the Online Survey If you’re interested in sharing your voice, complete the survey today! Spanish Survey La encuesta de salud de la comunidad del condado de Allegheny está disponible en español. Haz click aquí para realizar la encuesta. Partner Organizations ACHD is looking for partner organizations to help distribute the CHA survey to populations that they serve. Partners are encouraged to distribute and collect these surveys to community residents. Strategies for distribution include bringing paper surveys to events, making surveys available at their locations, and seeking other opportunities for Allegheny County residents to complete the survey. If you are a local organization that is interested in helping with this effort, please contact Alaina Conner via the ACHD website or by calling 412-578-8364. *Information provided by the Allegheny County Health Department
July 1, 2019 Fred Rogers Educators’ Neighborhood to Launch Reflecting on a piece she wrote in December 2018, Melissa Butler identifies long-term benefits observed with the same group of children five months after the initial observation. Additionally, the Fred Rogers Center announced that they will be launching “Educators’ Neighborhood: Learning and Growing Together” in support of early childhood teachers. Overview In December 2018, Melissa Butler wrote a blog article named, “Beechwood Kindergarteners Learn with Mister Rogers,” observing LeeAnne Kreuger’s kindergarten classroom as they gathered every Friday morning to watch an episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Labeled “Mister Rogers Friday,” teachers selected an episode each week for their students based on key themes, needs, or interests expressed in the classroom. What they observed from April through June 2018 was that by the end of the school year, the children were actively singing along, naming characters, and making fun connections throughout the school day. In addition to this, teachers noticed benefits as well, having significant learning opportunities to reflect on child development, cultural relevancy, and ways to weave Fred Rogers’ lessons into the school day. Five months after, this same group of children continues to watch a new episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” every week. By doing so, they’re still observing significant impacts and benefits. Benefits for Children Butler highlights that this group of children: talk with each other during and after each Picture-Picture video because they have so many questions and connections; know the difference between real and make-believe; sing songs with confidence; answer Mister Rogers’ questions with eager attention; allow for the silence and slowness of episode moments; and have come to trust in the learning and joy each episode bring during and in the classroom. Benefits for Educators Teachers have also displayed key benefits, including: more trust in their instincts; more collaboration with each other; more sharing of personal stories with students; more confidence with developmentally appropriate practice; more improvisation with what they choose to do after each episode; and an overall approach that trusts in the larger picture of what they do as teachers. Conclusion Needless to say, the benefits of incorporating meaningful videos, especially those of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” are substantial. When educators and students are allotted a period to slow down, reflect, and talk with one another about influential topics, all parties benefit in and out of the classroom. For more, read Butler’s full blog piece. About Educators’ Neighborhood Educators’ Neighborhood: Learning and Growing Together is a place for educators to learn more and with each other, inspired by the life and work of Fred Rogers. Fred Rogers Center will grow an expanded community of educators to study episodes of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” read from the Fred Rogers Center Archive, and generate new ideas together connected with their daily practice with young children. If you’re interested in joining, sign up for news, register for Educators’ Neighborhood Online, or apply to be part of the local Educators’ Neighborhood Learning Community. More Information For more information, read Butler’s full blog piece. Share this flyer with your network.
