February 8, 2021 Victory Innovations Recalls Electrostatic Sprayers The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported a recall for Victory Innovations and Protexus Electrostatic Sprayers with Lithium-ion Battery Packs. This recall was issued due to fire and explosion risks. About On February 3, 2021, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall on Victory Innovations and Protexus Electrostatic Sprayers. This recall was issued due to reports of the sprayer’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack overheating and melting, which poses fire and explosion risks. Thus far, no injuries have been reported. However, property damage has been reported. Individuals who have purchased this sprayer should stop using it, remove the battery pack, and dispose of the battery pack in accordance with local laws. After removing and disposing of the battery, contact Victory Innovations for a free replacement battery pack. More Information For more information, contact Victory Innovations at 888.674.2482, ES-Sprayerbatteryrecall@stericycle.com, or by visiting their website. If you plan on contacting them through their website, click on Battery Recall to request more information.
February 6, 2021 Maternal Wellness Study Seeking Mothers to Participate Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University are conducting a Maternal Wellness Journal Study to learn about the mental health of moms. About Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University are seeking mothers to participate in their Maternal Wellness Journal Study. The goal of the study is to improve the mental health resources available to pregnant and postpartum people. The study involves 10 to 30 minutes of writing and answering questions each week for a total of five weeks. Study participants will receive $50 in Amazon gift cards as compensation for their full participation. Join the Study If you are interested in participating, complete the online questionnaire.
February 5, 2021 Early Childhood Professionals: Advance Your Career Are you looking to advance your career? Check out these professional development resources and opportunities in Pennsylvania. Apprenticeship Program Apprenticeship combines on-the-job learning with related technical instruction to build skills and create pathways to earning a CDA Credential, Associate’s Degree, or Bachelor’s Degree through partners at Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) and Carlow University. Apply: Apprenticeship is accepting new apprentices for the 2021 Spring and Summer semesters. To learn more, contact Lindsey Vicoria at lindseyv@tryingtogether.org. Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential A Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential is the most widely recognized credential in the early childhood field and is a key stepping stone on the path to career advancement. Trying Together offers three CDA programs that include individualized support for professionals in Pennsylvania: CDA Credential Preparation Program CDA Community of Practice Program CDA Renewal Program Apply: To learn more and apply, visit our CDA Credential page. ECE Professional Development Organization The Professional Development Organization (PDO) is a grant-funded educational collaboration among four universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and numerous partner universities, colleges, and community programs across the state to advance the career pathways of the early childhood workforce. Benefits: PDO funding covers tuition, expenses, and other supports to help eligible early childhood educators earn credit-bearing credentials and degrees. Eligibility: Tuition-free courses are available for early childhood professionals who: are Pennsylvania residents, work in a Keystone STARS program, and work a minimum average of 25 hours per week over an entire work year (during non-COVID times). Apply: To determine your eligibility, complete the online application. Once your eligibility is confirmed, a PDO Liaison from your region will contact you to discuss your options. PA Professional Development Registry The Pennsylvania Professional Development (PD) Registry is an online system that: offers a consolidated list of professional development opportunities, tracks completed courses and PQAS credit hours, and collects data about the early childhood workforce to advocate for better education opportunities and higher wages. Learn More: Learn the full benefits of the PD Registry. Professional Growth Opportunities Trying Together delivers professional growth services that: connect with high-quality early childhood practices; are instructed by a certified PQAS instructor and are ACT 48 approved; and align with the Pennsylvania Core Knowledge Competencies, NAEYC Standards, Danielson Framework, and Keystone STARS performance standards. Receive PD Updates: Sign up to receive our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Receive Personalized Updates: Update your Professional Development Interests and Preferences to receive personalized updates. More Information For questions about Trying Together’s professional development opportunities, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org. For questions about the PDO, contact Mimi Loughead at mimi@tryingtogether.org.
February 4, 2021 2021-22 Pennsylvania Budget Proposal Response On February 3, during his 2021-22 budget proposal address, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf put an emphasis on Pennsylvania families. As a member of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, Trying Together commends the governor’s continued commitment to growing state funding for pre-k. However, additional effort is needed to boost the availability of quality child care and home visiting services that are essential to Pennsylvania’s working families and our economic recovery. ELPA operates three issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, and Childhood Begins at Home. Governor Wolf’s state budget proposal included: Pre-k $25 million in additional funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program. $5 million in additional funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program. Together, this $30 million expansion would serve approximately 3,270 additional young children. Currently, more than 106,000 eligible three- and four-year-old children do not have access to high-quality publicly funded pre-k programs. In a press release, ELPA states, “During a difficult budget year, Governor Wolf deserves credit for his continued support of expanded access to publicly funded, high-quality pre-k in PA. The $30 million funding increase for these programs in the proposed 2021-22 PA budget ($25 million for Pre-K Counts; $5 million for Head Start State Supplemental Assistance Program) continues the tradition of expanding this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to thousands more three- and four-year-olds. “A new study by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill confirmed that the Commonwealth’s investment in pre-k is paying dividends for the children fortunate enough to access pre-k through Pennsylvania’s Pre-K Counts program. In language and math skills, the study showed that these kids outperformed their kindergarten peers who did not enjoy access – an advantage that equated to four to five months of learning gains, which is a substantial difference in development at that age and a meaningful advantage during the COVID-19 era.” Child Care $87 million in existing federal child care funds to increase child care base rates. Base rates for CCW reimbursements will be increased to the 40th percentile of the market rate for child care in the provider’s region, up from approximately the 25th percentile where most of Pennsylvania’s child care providers currently sit. This change brings Pennsylvania closer to the federal government’s recommendation of reimbursing at the 75th percentile. Trying Together and the ELPA campaigns commend the Wolf administration for this proposed change, however, the child care industry needs an additional boost. “Pennsylvania’s working families struggled to find and afford high-quality child care prior to the pandemic. Today’s economic downturn has only exacerbated this problem,” the ELPA press release states. “Start Strong PA urges Governor Wolf and the Pennsylvania General Assembly to address these child care needs by quickly utilizing federal funds to serve 3,000 additional eligible infants and toddlers in high-quality slots through contracts, which provides greater financial stability to providers.” Evidence-based Home Visiting Level funding for home visiting. The current public health crisis, isolation, stress, and unemployment have made home visiting more essential than ever. Trying Together and the ELPA campaigns hope to work collaboratively with the administration and legislature to expand evidence-based home visiting services to match that commitment with the resources to make it a reality. We will advocate for these investments as the budget process continues. Stay up-to-date on how to advocate for these issues by signing-up to support Trying Together’s public policy agenda.
ECE Jobs: February 4 – February 10, 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 Assistant Group Supervisor Providence Connections is looking to hire an Assistant Group Supervisor. This professional will: assist in the preparation and implementation of developmentally appropriate program activities for a group of children, adhering to the principles of child development, assist in maintaining and ensuring all daily, monthly, and yearly classroom job duties and routines are completed and meeting compliance of the DHS and STARS programs, prepare and maintain a safe classroom environment and provides supervision of the classroom in conjunction with and in the absence of the Group Supervisor, share in the personal care routines of children, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with children, families, and staff to include respect for culture, diversity, and ethnicity. Applicants must have a High School Diploma and at least two years of experience with young children. The pay range for this position is $10.25 to $12 per hour. To apply, submit a cover letter and resume to lwhite@providenceconnections.org. Early Childhood Educator Kinder Academy is hiring 12 full-time and part-time classroom positions at two locations in Robinson Township and at a new center opening soon in Moon Township. To apply for this position, email your resume to careers@kinderacademypgh.com. Interested applicants can also submit an employment application on the Kinder Academy website. Administrative Assistant Heritage Community Initiatives is looking to hire an Administrative Assistant for their Heritage 4 Kids Early Learning Center. The Administrative Assistant will be responsible for answering incoming calls and greeting customers at the door, supporting office management, and performing clerical duties such as typing, recording, filing, logging, data entry, ordering office supplies, etc. To learn more, view the position description. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to humanresources@heritageserves.org. Cook Heritage Community Initiatives is looking to hire a permanent, part-time Cook. Under the direct supervision of the Executive Chef, the Cook will assist with prepping meals for nearly 700 children on a daily basis. The duties performed by the Cook are broad, flexible, and entry-level. To learn more, view the position description. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to humanresources@heritageserves.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, February 9. 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 9 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.
February 3, 2021 UnConference Workshop Recordings Available Are you interested in learning how to create an inclusive, diverse early learning environment that meets the needs of all students? Workshop recordings are available from our free Virtual UnConference: Exceptional Care with a Team Approach to Inclusion. About In January 2021, Trying Together hosted our free Virtual UnConference: Exceptional Care with a Team Approach to Inclusion to explore the importance of working together—with a collaboration between teachers, intervention specialists, and parents/caregivers—to provide a supportive, inclusive environment for children to learn and grow. Presenters explored the following topics: Keynote: Exceptional Care with a Team Approach to Inclusion Presented by: Trying Together and Children’s Institute | Keynote Speaker: Wendy Pardee Transition and Educational Support in the Early Childhood Environment Presented by: Kristina Berg and Loreleigh Elders, DART Creating and Building Inclusive Support Teams for Children Presented by: Serena Washington, Trying Together How to Assess Your Students Needs: Using the ASQ through the Lens of Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Program Presented by: Gloria Rodriguez-Ransom, The Pennsylvania Keys Overview of Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Services in Allegheny County Referral Through Transitioning Out of 0-3 Services Presented by: Gloria Rodriguez-Ransom, The Pennsylvania Keys Catering to The Whole Classroom: Lesson Development and Implementation That Speaks to Every Child Presented by: Daile Fordoski, Lyasha Bishop, LaRae D. Cullens, The Learning Loft Workshop Recordings Recordings of the keynote and all workshop sessions are available. To learn more about creating a supportive, inclusive early learning environment for all children, watch the videos below. <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span> More Information To view upcoming professional development opportunities, visit our Courses page. Individuals may also request a customized offering through our Request for Professional Services Form. To learn more about our courses and associated fees, visit our Professional Development Course Catalog page.
February 2, 2021 Family Engagement Toolkit Now Available When adults come together to support children, profound changes can happen. To reinforce parents, caregivers, and early learning professionals in their work to create strong partnerships, Trying Together created the Family Engagement Toolkit. About When early learning programs implement family engagement practices, they invite parents, caregivers, and other important adults to learn the best ways to connect, build trust, and join in true partnership for the wellbeing of their child. In fact, research shows that active family engagement leads to better outcomes for children and builds stronger learning communities. In an effort to support caregivers in bolstering their family engagement practice, Trying Together created the Family Engagement Toolkit, an online toolkit of printable resources that enable families and early childhood educators to: access strategies that strengthen the relationships that nourish a child’s growth and sense of belonging, find ideas and resources to enrich relationships in their learning community, learn ways to increase equity and access for all involved, and take the opportunity to reflect on the family engagement practices in their home or program. The Toolkit is best suited for families and child care providers of children ages birth to nine years old. The Toolkit provides information and resources on family engagement practices in a variety of settings, including: child care centers, family child care homes, group child care homes, and relative provider locations. For more information, visit our About the Family Engagement Toolkit page. Featured Resources Trying Together’s Family Engagement Toolkit includes resources for families and child care providers. Continue reading below to view some of our featured resources. Resources for Families Each family brings its own unique talents, customs, and vibrancies to their child’s child care program. Because of this, it is essential that each family offers its own knowledge, lived experiences, and partnership to best support their child. To assist in this process, Trying Together developed the following resources: Create an Engagement Plan for your family. Fill out this questionnaire to help your provider learn more about your family. Learn about your rights as a parent or caregiver. Access a curated list of family resources on topics such as Choosing a Child Care Provider, Preparing for Transition, Anti-Racism Tools, Child Behavioral and Mental Health Support, Child Development Milestones, English as a Second Language Support, Food Assistance, and more. Resources for Providers Family engagement is a process in which educators and families build intentional, authentic relationships toward the shared goal of supporting a child’s healthy growth and development. To assist providers in achieving this goal, Trying Together developed the following resources: Download the Family Engagement Toolkit to access family engagement ideas and resources. Use this questionnaire to get to know more about the families you serve. “My Day” documents can help communicate about the child’s day (infant and toddlers) (pre-k). Create a Family Engagement Plan. Create a Provider Family Engagement Plan. Create a Relative Provider Family Engagement Plan. Access a curated list of provider resources on topics such as Creating a Family EngagementPlan, Making the First Connection, Strengthening Existing Connections, Supporting Transition, Professional Development, and more. More Information Support, inspiration, and insight for the Family Engagement Toolkit were drawn from several sources, including Jefferson Regional Foundation. To view the full Toolkit, visit our Family Engagement Toolkit page. For assistance with creating a family engagement plan, contact Trying Together at 412.421.3889 or info@tryingtogether.org.
February 1, 2021 Base Rates for CCW Reimbursements to Increase March 1 On February 1, 2021, Governor Tom Wolf announced an increase to base rates paid to child care providers participating in Child Care Works (CCW), Pennsylvania’s subsidized child care program. About Effective March 1, 2021, base rates for CCW reimbursements will be increased to the 40th percentile of the market rate for child care in the provider’s region, up from approximately the 25th percentile where most of Pennsylvania’s child care providers currently sit. This change brings Pennsylvania closer to the federal government’s recommendation of reimbursing at the 75th percentile. This increase equates to an additional $28.8 million in federal funding for the 2020-21 fiscal year and $87.2 million in the 2021-22 fiscal year. This change will also regionalize rate calculation based on Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) regions rather than calculating rates by county for each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Pennsylvania is currently the only state that does not regionalize rates. Regionalization of rates creates a larger pool to more accurately represent rates across provider types licensed by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning in each region rather than calculating rates by county with limited sample sizes and provider type representation. No provider will see their rates decrease with this new structure. The average increase across all regions is $4.59. Every three years, a child care market rate survey is conducted to guide rate setting. The last Market Rate Survey was completed in 2019 and released in 2020. Why It Matters “Child care is essential for a functioning economy. Investments in this industry benefit us in two different ways. They support communities and the families that rely on care to join the workforce every day and nurture the growth and development of young minds as they prepare for grade school and later long-term success,” said Gov. Wolf. “Increasing base reimbursement rates is an investment in the dedicated professionals that do this work every day and for countless parents and children. We all seek to weather the challenges created by the pandemic and the recovery ahead.” According to the announcement, nearly two-thirds of children enrolled in CCW are in a lower-rated child care provider, and higher quality providers serve fewer CCW families. By providing increased base payments for care for children enrolled in CCW, more child care operators will increase operating margins allowing them to potentially retain more highly qualified staff and engage in enhanced quality activities. “Child Care Works makes quality, affordable child care accessible for working families across our commonwealth,” said Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller. “By investing in base rates, we invest in quality across our child care industry – an investment that will help providers grow, develop, and retain staff and continue to improve services and care for our youngest Pennsylvanians.” What is Child Care Works? Child Care Works is Pennsylvania’s subsidized child care program that helps low-income families pay their child care tuition and fees. To be eligible, families must earn 200 percent or less of the federal poverty guidelines at application and meet work or job training requirements. Eligible families are able to choose to enroll at any participating child care provider, which can be impacted by convenience, transportation, cost, and working hours. Families enrolled in CCW pay a co-pay, and providers that participate in CCW are reimbursed a set base rate per child from the state with the opportunity for add-on funding. More Information For more information, read Governor Wolf’s full announcement.
