News

February 25, 2021

Prenatal Mommy Care Community in Allegheny County

Is your due date in August or September 2021? Do you live in Allegheny County? If your answer to both of these questions was “Yes,” you are invited to join Healthy Start’s Centering Pregnancy Prenatal Care Support Group!

 

About

Healthy Start‘s Centering Pregnancy Prenatal Care Support Group provides participants with:

    • access to a Group Baby Shower,
    • group prenatal care with the same Primary Care Practioner up until birth,
    • opportunities to earn Baby Bucks toward big-ticket baby products,
    • opportunities to learn more about giving birth, including learning to take their blood pressure, measure for fundal height, and more,
    • additional maternity support like doulas and diapers through their Healthy Start registration,
    • a support group that includes mommies at the same gestational stage and healthcare practitioners,
    • and a holistic support network that also includes programming for fathers.

Join the Group

This support group is intended for expecting mothers in Allegheny County who have an August or September 2021 due date. If you are interested in enrolling, call 412.224.3083.

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News

Paycheck Protection Program Changes

From February 24 to March 10, 2021, the United States Small Business Administration will only offer Paycheck Protection Program loans to businesses with fewer than 20 employees and sole proprietors.

 

About

On February 24, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) established a 14-day, exclusive Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees. These changes were implemented to ensure equity and give lenders and community partners additional time to work with small businesses to submit their applications. Larger PPP-eligible businesses will still be able to submit their applications and receive support before the program expires on March 31, 2021.

Additional Changes

In addition to the exclusive loan application period, the following changes were made:

    • The SBA will allow sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals to receive more financial support by revising the PPP’s funding formula for these categories of applicants.
    • The SBA will eliminate the exclusionary restriction on PPP access for small business owners with prior non-fraud felony convictions.
    • The SBA will eliminate PPP access restrictions on small business owners who have struggled to make student loan payments by eliminating student loan debt delinquency as a disqualifier for participating in the PPP.
    • The SBA will ensure access for non-citizen small business owners who are lawful U.S. residents by clarifying that they may use their Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to apply.

Paycheck Protection Program

The Paycheck Protection Program provides businesses with funds to pay up to eight weeks of payroll costs (including benefits). Funds may also be used to pay mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, and other qualifying expenses. For more information, read this news post.

More Information

For more information about the 14-day, exclusive Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application period, visit the United States Small Business Administration website.

This information was provided by the United States Small Business Administration.

News

ECE Jobs: February 25 – March 3, 2021

Are you looking to start or transition your career in the early childhood field? You’re in luck! Early learning programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area are looking to fill positions. To view this week’s featured job descriptions, see the list below.

 


 

Featured Jobs

Assistant Teacher

Evangel Heights Children’s Center is looking to hire an Assistant Teacher. This professional will be expected to assist the Lead Teacher in the classroom with various activities. Candidates should have strong communication skills.

To apply, submit a resume to belinda@evangelheights.org.

Pre-Toddler Teacher

Mount Washington Children’s Center is looking to hire a Pre-Toddler Teacher. This professional will plan age-appropriate lessons using a curriculum supplied by the Center and provide a safe, warm, and healthy atmosphere for pre-toddlers transitioning to toddlers.

To apply, email your resume to mwcc15@yahoo.com.

Assistant Group Supervisor

The Red Balloon Early Learning Center is looking for kind, positive, and hard-working teachers who are ready to provide an exceptional educational experience. The Center requires their teachers to have previous experience in child care and to be aware of developmentally appropriate practices. This professional would be responsible for assisting the Lead Teachers with curriculum and lesson plans, keeping the classroom clean and organized, and nurturing and playing with the children.

To apply, email your resume to joannethralls@hotmail.com.

Infant/Toddler Room Assistant Teacher

Located in Squirrel Hill, Carriage House Children’s Center is dedicated to nurturing the lives of children and their families in an early learning environment that values exploration, problem-solving, and each child’s natural curiosity as the foundation for life-long learning. Assistant Teachers are responsible for assisting with the children’s daily activities under the guidance of a teacher. Candidates should have a minimum of a high school diploma and at least two years of documented experience working with children.

To apply, send a cover letter and resume to chcc@carriagehouse.org.

Preschool Teachers

Located in Squirrel Hill, Carriage House Children’s Center is dedicated to nurturing the lives of children and their families in an early learning environment that values exploration, problem-solving, and each child’s natural curiosity as the foundation for life-long learning. The Center is seeking highly-motivated preschool teachers to grow and join their teaching teams. Candidates with Early Childhood Education or related degrees are preferred.

To apply, send a cover letter and resume to chcc@carriagehouse.org.

Teaching Assistant/Aide

Carriage House Children’s Center is seeking part-time casual Teaching Assistants/Aides for its Infant/Toddler and Preschool Programs. Carriage House is dedicated to nurturing the lives of children and their families in an early learning environment that values exploration, problem-solving, and each child’s natural curiosity as the foundation for life-long learning.

To apply, send a cover letter and resume to chcc@carriagehouse.org.

Assistant Group Supervisor

Precious Peewees Daycare is looking to hire an Assistant Group Supervisor. This professional would be responsible for implementing the daily curriculum, interacting with children on a daily basis, and cleaning and organizing toys each day.

To apply, submit your resume to preciouspeeweesdc@gmail.com.

Toddler Teacher

Ahead of the Curve is looking to hire a Toddler Teacher. This professional should be highly energetic, hard-working, flexible, caring, patient, and should love working with children. A minimum of two years of experience is required. To apply, call 724.212.7498 and ask for Sue.

Group Supervisor

Future Focus Childcare is looking to hire a Group Supervisor to lead and manage one of their classrooms. This professional would be responsible for creating goals and lesson plans to implement for their students. To apply, submit your resume to futurefocus5936@gmail.com.

Teacher Assistant/Aide

Riverview Children’s Center is searching for an energetic, positive, friendly, and team-oriented professional who loves little ones! The Center is looking for someone to immediately join their team and work in their newly renovated, NAEYC-accredited early learning program. This position is a closing shift, currently 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. but will be 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. when the pandemic is over.

To apply, email your resume to riverviewchildrenscenter@yahoo.com or contact Kelly Sebastian at 412.828.2585, Extension 30.

Child Caregiver

Franciscan Child Day Care Center is looking to hire a nurturing, dependable Child Caregiver for their toddler classrooms (18 months to three years old). This professional will be responsible for coordinating feedings, diaper changes, and naps; engaging children in age-appropriate activities; and maintaining an ongoing dialog with parents.

To apply, email your resume to smerlo@osfprov.org.

Group Supervisor

YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is hiring a Group Supervisor. This professional will ensure the coordination of quality programs (NAEYC and/or NAA requirements) for all age groups in the Children and Youth Development and Education Department.

To learn more, read the full job description. To apply, submit a resume and cover letter to Linda Broman, Human Resources Director at lbroman@ywcapgh.org.

Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is hiring a Pre-Kindergarten Teacher. This professional will ensure the coordination of quality programs (PA Pre-K Counts, NAEYC, and OCDEL requirements for accreditation) for three to five-year-old children in the Children and Youth Development and Education Department. This is a 10-month position.

To learn more, read the full job description. To apply, submit a resume and cover letter to Linda Broman, Human Resources Director at lbroman@ywcapgh.org.

Early Learning, Child Development, and Education Programs Director

YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is hiring an Early Learning, Child Development, and Education Programs Manager. This professional will assist in the administration and supervision of the Early Learning Child Care Center including preschool, pre-k, and school-age programs in accordance with YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Early Learning Child Development and Education Program policies, and in compliance with state and federal regulations.

To learn more, read the full job description. To apply, submit a resume and cover letter to Linda Broman, Human Resources Director at lbroman@ywcapgh.org.

 


 

Submit a Job Description

Each week, Trying Together publishes a news post that features employer-submitted job positions from early learning programs across Pennsylvania. Trying Together shares these posts online through our website, social media channels, and newsletter. To make it into next week’s post, please submit the Child Care Provider Job Post Submission Form no later than Tuesday, March 2.

This form is intended for positions in the early childhood field. Job descriptions not related to the early childhood field will not be included. All job descriptions submitted after March 2 will be published in the next week’s news post. Please note that publication dates may vary due to state and federal holidays. For questions, contact Lainey Yockey at lainey@tryingtogether.org.

 


 

Search Additional Jobs

Are you interested in starting or shifting your career in early childhood care and education? Visit the ECE Hire website or sign up for their weekly newsletter for current job listings and helpful tips on interviewing, resumes, and more. To stay up to date on our featured positions and more, follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter.

News

February 24, 2021

Landforce Crew Applications Open

Are you interested in becoming employed to restore Pittsburgh’s environment? Applications are now being accepted for 2021 Landforce Crew Members! Paid training will be included.

 

About

Landforce Crew Members receive training and support to overcome barriers to a permanent job that provides family-sustaining wages. This training will include professional development opportunities that will further participant’s knowledge about environmental stewardship, community development, and workforce skills. Crew Members will also work with Landforce staff to:

    • identify long-term career goals,
    • establish a plan for employment,
    • develop an effective resume,
    • build appropriate job search and interview skills, and
    • identify employment opportunities to apply for.

Crew Members in training will earn $10 per hour for 35 hours per week. Employed Crew Members can earn up to $15 per hour for 35 hours per week. View the full job description.

What To Expect

Landforce Crew Members will assist Landforce with land stewardship contracts on a seasonal basis. Projects may include constructing trails, restoring habitats, installing gardens, managing vacant lots, maintaining green infrastructure, planting and caring for trees, and other land stewardship projects.

Mandatory seven-week training for this position will start on April 12, 2021. Individuals who successfully complete the training will be hired in early June as Landforce Crew Members. Please note that this is a seasonal temporary position with significant workforce development benefits.

Timeline

    • February 7, 2021 – Application Opens
    • March 11, 2021 – Application Closes
    • March 8 – 23, 2021 – Interviews
    • March 24 – April 1, 2021 – Working Interviews
    • April 12, 2021 – Training Starts

Submit An Application

To apply, complete the online application. All applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2021. Candidates will be reviewed and interviewed as their applications are received. Applications with incomplete answers will be penalized.

Selected individuals will also need to complete an online or in-person interview process. Hiring decisions will be made by the week of April 5, 2021. To learn more, visit the application webpage.

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News

February 23, 2021

2021-2022 Kindergarten Registration Open

Kindergarten registration has opened in Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Fayette, Greene, and Westmoreland Counties for the 2021-2022 school year.

 

Registering Your Child

If your child is five, it’s time to register them for kindergarten. Hi5!, a kindergarten readiness and registration campaign coordinated by The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, and Trying Together.

View details about Kindergarten registration in the Pittsburgh Region and find your district’s information in the following documents:

Early and on-time registration allows schools and districts to plan for classroom materials, resources, and staff as they prepare to welcome a new group of students. It also enables families to establish relationships with teachers and administrators that are so important for easing the stress and anxiety of children (and their families) as they begin elementary school.

Learn More

For more information about helping your child make the move to Kindergarten, visit the Kindergarten Transition page on the Trying Together website.

To receive the the Hi5! Kindergarten Transition newsletter, visit our sign up page!

 

News

February 18, 2021

ECE Jobs: February 18 – February 24, 2021

Are you looking to start or transition your career in the early childhood field? You’re in luck! Early learning programs in Pennsylvania are currently looking to fill positions. To view this week’s featured job descriptions, see the list below.

 


 

Featured Jobs

 

Preschool Teacher

A. S. Wee Care Learning Center is looking to hire a Preschool Teacher. This professional will be expected to create lesson plans that are age-appropriate for the learning and development of the group supervised. They must also manage classroom activities and transitions including free play, meals, restroom breaks, and nap time, in addition to developing and maintaining positive relationships with children and parents.

To apply, please visit A. S. Wee Care Learning Center in person to receive all needed application paperwork. For more information, call 412.761.6482 or email a.s.wckelly@gmail.com.

 


 

Submit a Job Description

Each week, Trying Together publishes a news post that features employer-submitted job positions from early learning programs across Pennsylvania. Trying Together shares these posts online through our website, social media channels, and newsletter. To make it into next week’s post, please submit the Child Care Provider Job Post Submission Form no later than Tuesday, February 23.

This form is intended for positions in the early childhood field. Job descriptions not related to the early childhood field will not be included. All job descriptions submitted after February 23 will be published in the next week’s news post. Please note that publication dates may vary due to state and federal holidays. For questions, contact Lainey Yockey at lainey@tryingtogether.org.

 


 

Search Additional Jobs

Are you interested in starting or shifting your career in early childhood care and education? Visit the ECE Hire website or sign up for their weekly newsletter for current job listings and helpful tips on interviewing, resumes, and more. To stay up to date on our featured positions and more, follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter.

 

News

February 17, 2021

Celebrate Black History Month with Ms. Cynthia

This February, Trying Together Community Outreach Specialist Cynthia Battle is celebrating Black History Month through a series of Virtual Storytime sessions featuring books by African American authors! Join us in singing, dancing, and reading by watching the video series below! Videos will continue to be added after February.

 

 


 

Upcoming Live Sessions

Are you interested in watching a virtual storytime session live? Join Ms. Cynthia every Wednesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. for the Raising Readers Together Club! Wednesday sessions are intended for tweens and teens. Thursday sessions are intended for children ages birth to five years old.

 

Featured Books

Tweens and Teens

Birth to Age Five 

News

Child Care Providers and State Legislators Discuss Policy Changes

Trying Together and child care providers joined Pennsylvania state policymakers on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 to voice their concerns about recent state-level program and policy changes that have widely destabilized the child care sector.  

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, child care subsidy payments in Pennsylvania were modified so reimbursement was based on enrollment versus attendance. At the time, this measure was taken to ensure financial stability as child care providers were encountering complex challenges that exceeded the scope of their normal operations, including mandated closures. In September 2020, at Governor Tom Wolf’s direction, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) restored the original subsidy payment practices from enrollment-based back to attendance-based, which has had a devastating effect since many programs continue to be under-enrolled due to COVID-19.

“At this point we are at 66% of our pre-COVID enrollment. This loss of about 35% equates to more than $1.5 million in tuition. We are feeling it big time,” said Jason Kunzman, Chief Program Officer, Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. “We believe that the primary driver in not being able to admit more children into our programs is actually the difficulty we’ve experienced in trying to recruit qualified staff. It goes without saying that operating in a COVID environment, everything is harder. What used to take one person to do now takes three people…this has been a real hardship to the entire industry.  

“[We need] more sustainable, longer-lasting changes to the financial model that can make high-quality  care accessible to as many families as possible while allowing providers to pay their educators a livable wage.”

To compound these constraints, OCDEL repurposed the Education & Retention Award (ERA) for STAR 3 and STAR 4 high-quality educators to a Pandemic Relief Award (PRA) in December 2020, providing $600 to 33,000 child care employees across the state with many programs waitlisted due to a lack of funds. 

Currently in Pennsylvania, the average wage of a child care professional is $9.71 per hour with 50% of them receiving government benefits.

“Many of my staff are single moms or low-income who qualify for subsidies themselves… They returned to work during a pandemic, they risked their lives and their family’s lives for the greater good of the Pennsylvania economy, and the money was taken from them,” said Tracy O’Connell, Child Care Director, Catholic Youth Association. “To take away the only extra money these hardworking, dedicated teachers earn each year – during the year they deserve it the most – is heartless. There has to be a way to keep the ERA money for what it is designed to do, and that is to retain and reward degreed staff.”

Since the ERA typically awarded more funds than this to its recipients, the loss of the ERA further disincentivizes high-quality educators to remain in the field. Essentially, Pennsylvania doesn’t have the funds to meet the full needs of child care providers due to this change.

Senator Jay Costa, Senate Minority Leader (D-Allegheny), said child care providers are faced with a “catch-22” if the ERA is permanently taken away. 

STARS requires you to have degreed  folks but you don’t have money to retain them because [their money is being taken away],” Senator Costa said. “We shouldn’t tie your hands behind your back to try to have you meet standards that let people know the quality of service that you’re providing because here are criteria you have to meet. Both Democrats and Republicans are committed to working with you on this.” 

The Commonwealth will receive $302 million in federal dollars to support child care via the Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funds from the most recent COVID-19 relief package.

Senator Lindsey Williams, Education – Minority Chair (D-Allegheny), said it’s important to invest in early childhood education.

It’s heartbreaking that we as a legislature haven’t found a way as of yet to take care of the child care workforce because that’s the only way we get our economy going,” she said. “You have my support to use existing federal dollars, hopefully future federal dollars and whatever state funding we can come up with to actually address these policy issues…so that it’s a big structural change on how we fund child care.” 

Senator Camera Bartolotta, Labor & Industry, Chair (R- Beaver, Greene, Washington) also stressed that the early childhood education workforce is essential to the state’s economic recovery.

“It is vital – it is imperative – that we get folks back to work. When we are opening our economy safely, these parents need their kids to be in a safe, healthy learning environment,” she said. “We’ve got to make sure that all of these institutions stay healthy economically as well as physically. That’s something that we have to prioritize. We are not going to open our economy if parents don’t have a safe place for their kids to go.”

The child care providers, families, and early learning advocates throughout the state like Trying Together look forward to the concerns discussed during yesterday’s call being addressed and resolved.

Read More

Child Care Worker Subsidy Replaced An Award That Providers Say Incentivized Staff Higher Education, 90.5 WESA

Child Care Facilities Call On Pennsylvania Lawmakers For Financial Assistance, KDKA-TV

Child care providers say Pa. policy shifts are causing financial strain, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Child care facilities struggling, PublicSource

News

February 16, 2021

One Lens: Share Your COVID-19 Experience

Pennsylvania First Lady Frances Wolf has invited Pennsylvanians to participate in the statewide virtual photo exhibit One Lens: Sharing Our Common Views. The exhibit seeks to document and celebrate the hard work and commitment of all Pennsylvanians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

About

As First Lady Frances Wolf said, “We are living through an extraordinary moment right now. How we live, how we communicate, and how we educate our children have changed drastically since last March, but we all still yearn for a sense of community because that is what reminds us of our own strength and tenacity.” To offer a place of community, the One Lens exhibit was created as an opportunity for Pennsylvanians to share their stories, inspire each other, and help each other heal while documenting the history of this time.

The exhibit highlights the importance of preserving history by encouraging Pennsylvanians to share their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic through photography. Submitted images will be displayed for public viewing and saved as visual documentation of the pandemic.

Exhibit Themes

The exhibit will cover the following themes:

    • Our Heroes, paying homage to the pandemic heroes who cannot stay home.
    • Our Lives, looking at how we spend our time when no one is watching.
    • Our Communities, showcasing Pennsylvanians uniting in the face of a global health crisis.

Submit A Photo

To submit a photo, visit the One Lens webpage. All photos must be submitted by March 9, 2021. The full exhibit will be released on Friday, March 19, 2021. Submission eligibility requirements apply.

News

February 11, 2021

Get Matched With A “Mama Mentor”

Parenting can be hard. If you are the mother of a newborn (or are expecting a baby soon), enroll in the Nurture Program to get paired with a volunteer “Mama Mentor.”  This program is intended for mothers living in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

 

About

The Nurture Program provides information and parenting support to new and expectant mothers through their network of mentors and text-based platform. Their network of mentors consists of women with parenting experience and is supported by a team of program supervisors with training in early childhood development and infant mental health. Depending on the needs of the mother, mentors may share helpful resources, words of encouragement, or referrals to medical, mental health, or developmental professionals. Mentors also provide mothers with a safe space to access emotional support during such a transformative time.

Available Services

Nurture Program Mentors provide a range of services, including:

    • answering general questions about parenting and infant care,
    • suggesting activities you can do with your child based on their developmental stage,
    • offering encouragement or providing a sounding board when you need it
    • sharing evidence-based information and recommending local resources that can help you meet any needs that arise,
    • and more.

Request A Mentor

The program is always free, confidential, and completely virtual through the Nurture Program’s text-based platform. This program is intended for new (or soon to be new) mothers in Southwestern Pennsylvania. To get matched with a mentor, complete the online signup form.

More Information

For answers to commonly asked questions, visit the Nurture Program FAQ page. Individuals can also reach out to the Nurture Program by emailing info@nurturepa.org.