October 20, 2021 Child Care Career Openings in the Pittsburgh Area Are you looking for open child care positions? Early learning programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area are hiring! See this week’s featured jobs. Child Care Positions in Pittsburgh Pre-K Counts Lead Teacher Heritage Community Initiatives is seeking a Pre-K Counts Lead Teacher to provide high quality programming within their assigned classroom of 3-5 year old children. All lesson plans must be based on each individual child’s goals that come from the GOLD assessments and daily observations. The Pre-K Counts Lead Teacher must also be consistent and intentional with helping children learn and develop through play. Apply: To apply, email your resume to nhill@heritageserves.org Pre-K Counts Assistant Teacher Heritage Community Initiatives is seeking a Pre-K Counts Lead Teacher to provide high quality programming within their assigned classroom of 3-5 year old children. All lesson plans must be based on each individual child’s goals that come from the GOLD assessments and daily observations. Apply: To apply, email your resume to nhill@heritageserves.org Director – University of Pittsburgh Child Development Center The University of Pittsburgh is seeking a Director of the Child Development Center. The position will plan, organize, and direct quality early childhood education programs for up to 100 children and their families. The successful candidate will respond to the University’s academic needs by providing laboratory, research, and practicum experiences to University students, faculty. Apply: To apply, please visit the University of Pittsburgh employment website. Submit a Job Each week, Trying Together highlights employer-submitted jobs on our website, social media, and in our newsletter. Submit a Job: To make it into next week’s post, submit the Child Care Provider Job Post Submission Form. All jobs submitted after Tuesday each week will be published in the following week’s news post. Publication dates may vary due to state and federal holidays. Unrelated jobs will not be included. For questions, contact Kara Bayer at kara@tryingtogether.org. Other Jobs in Early Childhood ECE Hire Visit the ECE Hire website to view early childhood education job listings and helpful tips on interviewing, resumes, and more. Submit a Job to PACCA Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) offers a Job Board for its members to post jobs for free and sends out submitted jobs via their Facebook page and e-newsletter. PACCA members can submit jobs online after signing into their membership account. For questions, contact Maureen Murphy at maureen.murphy@pacca.org. Receive Jobs in Your Inbox To receive the latest job opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook.
October 13, 2021 Pre-K Counts and Head Start Operations Report The Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts (PKC) and Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP) Operations Report for FY 2020-2021 from the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is now available. About the Report The Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts pre-kindergarten program makes quality pre-kindergarten opportunities available to children and families across the commonwealth. Head Start programs provide comprehensive services for income eligible children from birth to entry into kindergarten, and are designed to address developmental goals for children, employment and self-sufficiency goals for adults, and support for parents in their work and child-caring roles. The operations report is provided to the Pennsylvania General Assembly annually and shares information about program operations in FY 2020-2021. Highlights include: In the 2020-21fiscal year (FY), Pennsylvania PKC assisted 20,038 students from families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level. HSSAP served 5,487 children from families earning up to 100% of the federal poverty level. FY 2020-21 was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Pennsylvania PKC and HSSAP were allowed flexibility in how instruction during FY 2020-21 occurred. All providers used a blend of in-person, hybrid, and remote learning options throughout the school year, with models varying based on local and county-level COVID-19 levels, family needs, and staffing shortages. More Information For details, read the full report. Questions about the report can be directed to Deborah C. Wise at dewise@pa.gov.
October 12, 2021 New Resources for Parents and Caregivers New resources have been added to the Trying Together website for families and caregivers. These resources further Trying Together’s mission to supports high-quality care and education for young children by providing advocacy, community resources, and professional growth opportunities for the needs and rights of children, their families, and the individuals who interact with them. New Resources DAP Series Parts VII, VIII, and IX As an early childhood nonprofit, Trying Together recognizes that a child’s parent is their first and most important caregiver. That’s why we created the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting (DAP) Series to assist parents and caregivers in creating high-quality learning experiences at the earliest stages of their child’s life. The series features digital and print content that provides information on critical early childhood topics. New topics in the DAP Series include Part VII: Childhood Mental Health; Part VIII: Race and Equity; and Part IX: Transitions & Routines. Families and caregivers may also access previous parts of the DAP Series: Part I: Developmentally Appropriate Practice; Part II: Childhood Physical Health; Part III: Child Care; Part IV: Early Intervention and Inclusion; Part V: Safety and Emergencies; and Part VI: Social-Emotional Development. Resources will continue to be added through 2022 as additional Parts are finalized. Additionally, families and caregivers may now request a set of cards in the mail at no cost. These cards provide an overview of each part of the DAP series with a quick reference to local and regional organizations. Parenting Together Pathway The Parenting Together Pathway is a video-based learning series to provide high-quality information on early childhood development to parents and caregivers in Allegheny County and surrounding areas. Launched in April 2021, the Parenting Together Pathway provides families the opportunity to learn more about: brain development; play; interactions and relationships; technology; child care; and advocacy to better support their children’s healthy growth. Two additional videos have been added to the Parenting Together Pathway: Early Intervention and Safety and Emergencies.
Celebrate Annual Lights On Afterschool On October 28, celebrate Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families, and communities. About Lights On Afterschool The Afterschool Alliance organizes Lights On Afterschool to draw attention to the many ways afterschool programs support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things—such as science, community service, robotics, Tae Kwon Do and poetry—and discover new skills. The events emphasize that millions more kids need quality afterschool programs. This year, there will be two online events for people to participate in. River City Drumbeat Screening and Webinar GOOD DOCS is providing complimentary access to River City Drumbeat, a new documentary about the River City Drum Corp. afterschool program from October 24 to October 28. Go to GOOD DOCS sign up to receive a code to stream the film. On October 25 at 6 p.m., the Afterschool Alliance will host a conversation with River City Drum Corp. as participants watch short clips from the film and discuss aspects of the program and its impact. Register for the webinar. Youth Town Hall On October 28 at 6 p.m., youth from programs around the country will share reflections on the past year and a half and how their afterschool programs have impacted their lives, perspectives on what youth need to thrive, and hopes for the future. A special segment will be devoted to recognizing the powerful role of afterschool program staff and mentors in shaping the lives of young people. Register for the town hall. Find Other Events Communities nationwide, including many in western Pennsylvania, are celebrating. Find local events online. For more information and the toolkit, visit the Lights On Afterschool webpage.
October 11, 2021 IECMHC Offering Virtual Office Hours The Pennsylvania Key Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Program is offering a new service — Virtual Office Hours. About Virtual Office Hours IECMH Consultants are available by appointment to provide IECMHC Virtual Office Hours consultation via telephone or video conference. The virtual office hours visit is a short-term, collaborative, problem-solving conversation to help you find next steps for: child social-emotional concerns child behavioral or developmental concerns emotional well-being of teachers and caregivers partnering with families Who can request an appointment? Services are available at no cost to families, child care professionals and specialists supporting Keystone STARS child care programs such as”: teachers, directors, and staff in a center, family, and group-based child care program families with children attending child care programs early intervention professionals Keystone STARS quality coaches mental health/behavioral health agencies home visiting and family support programs How can IECMH Virtual Office Hours help? Consultations can help adults strengthen their relationships with young children and build their capacity to respond to their social-emotional needs. IECMHC can help: figure out what’s really going on when a child exhibits challenging behaviors. reflect and respond to problem behaviors with the power and impact of nurturing relationships. build partnerships with families. share community resources. Appointments are held on the first and third Fridays of the month, or other days/times by request. To schedule an appointment, register online.
October 8, 2021 City of Pittsburgh Council Supports ARPA Funding for Child Care On September 28, 2021, the City of Pittsburgh Council unanimously approved a Will of Council introduced by Councilwoman Deb Gross to support the stabilization of child care through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds. Will of Council Following the state’s announcement of the availability of the ARPA stabilization grants, the council applauded Governor Tom Wolf’s administration on the opening of the grant application to get money directly into the hands of the providers. The Will of Council further calls upon the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the administration of Governor Wolf to release details about the disbursement of the remaining $400+ million in ARPA discretionary child care funding, and to quickly release these funds. Doing so will support child care providers, and families who have been adversely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Both announcements follow the release of survey results from Start Strong PA, a statewide child care advocacy campaign. The results indicated a child care workforce staffing crisis from 92% of respondents, contributing to the decreased availability of more than 34,000 early learning slots for children. With ARPA, providers can use the stabilization grants to support personnel costs such as wages and recruitment/retention bonuses. Additionally, the Will of Council calls on the state to reinstate the Education and Retention Award with improvements to support equity. While the ARPA stabilization grants are a critical first step, child care providers need continued relief funds, as well as longer term solutions to solve the child care crisis. Read the full Will of Council online.
October 7, 2021 2022 Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program Eligibility The 2022 Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) participant Area Eligibility information is now available. About the Programs At the start of every fiscal year, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) releases a special tabulation of data provided by the Census Bureau for CACFP and SFSP that establishes area eligibility. This information is effective as of October 1, 2021. The FNS mapping tools have also been updated to reflect the new data. The map can be viewed online. The data set is also available for download on FNS open data site. Program operators caring and serving meals to children may be eligible to participate in CACFP and receive reimbursements for serving healthy meals and snacks to children. Eligible public or private nonprofit child care centers, outside-school-hours care centers, Head Start programs, and other institutions which are licensed or approved to provide child care services may participate in CACFP, independently or as sponsored centers. Learn more about CACFP.
Pittsburgh Child Care Career Openings Are you looking for open child care positions? Early learning programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area are hiring! See this week’s featured jobs. Child Care Positions in Pittsburgh Early Childhood Educator Angels’ Place, Inc. is seeking a full-time Early Childhood Education Lead Teacher for their location in Swissvale. Angels’ Place is a non-profit family support organization serving single, full-time student and working parents and their children. The ideal candidate would have an associate’s degree or higher in ECE and experience working with at-risk families. Salary commensurate with education and experience. Apply: To apply, email your resume to angelsplacepittsburgh@gmail.com Early Childhood Assistant (EAIIA) Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Childhood Program is seeking an Early Childhood Assistant to support the classroom teacher in carrying out an educational program preparing children for school readiness. Candidates must hold an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree (any content area) or current Preschool CDA (Child Development Associate) Credential. Experience in working with early childhood (preschool) students is preferred. City of Pittsburgh residency required. Apply: To apply, visit the Pittsburgh Public Schools website, click “Apply Now,” and create an account. This position is listed under Central Office and School Based Support. Lead Pre-K Teachers Hilltop Community Children’s Center is looking for two Lead Pre-K Teachers. A Pre-K teaching certification is required. Apply: To apply, please contact adminA@hilltopccc.org or call 412.381.6750 Submit a Job Each week, Trying Together highlights employer-submitted jobs on our website, social media, and in our newsletter. Submit a Job: To make it into next week’s post, submit the Child Care Provider Job Post Submission Form. All jobs submitted after Tuesday each week will be published in the following week’s news post. Publication dates may vary due to state and federal holidays. Unrelated jobs will not be included. For questions, contact Kara Bayer at kara@tryingtogether.org. Other Jobs in Early Childhood ECE Hire Visit the ECE Hire website to view early childhood education job listings and helpful tips on interviewing, resumes, and more. Submit a Job to PACCA Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) offers a Job Board for its members to post jobs for free and sends out submitted jobs via their Facebook page and e-newsletter. PACCA members can submit jobs online after signing into their membership account. For questions, contact Maureen Murphy at maureen.murphy@pacca.org. Receive Jobs in Your Inbox To receive the latest job opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook.
Upcoming Neighborhood Electronic and Household Hazardous Waste Collection The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works Environmental Services Division will host four electronic waste and household hazardous waste neighborhood collection events on Saturdays this fall. Electronic waste and household hazardous waste includes hard to recycle materials like televisions, computers, paints, batteries, light bulbs, chemicals and more. Appointments are limited and registration is required. Fees apply to most items although the City subsidizes these fees to make them more affordable. Accepted materials and fees can be found here. Additional Information The events are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and advance registration is required. Registration for a five minute appointment can be done online by selecting the preferred event at ecsr.net/pittsburgh-recycling or by calling the City’s 311 line. The fall events follow four events that were held over the summer which were scheduled in coordination with City Councilmembers to identify locations for neighborhood events throughout regions of the city. The upcoming events are: October 16, 2021 in Shadyside at Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 October 23, 2021 in Arlington at New Academy Charter School, 2500 Jonquil Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15210 November 6, 2021 in Lawrenceville at Goodwill of Southwestern PA, 160 52nd Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 November 20, 2021 in Crafton Heights at Middletown Baptist Church, 2660 Middletown Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15204
October 6, 2021 COVID-19 CCW Payment Practices Extended The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has extended COVID-19 Child Care Works (CCW) payment practices until further notice. CCW Practices The suspension of various regulatory provisions under the state disaster emergency declaration that were set to expire on September 30, 2021, are now extended until further notice. Due to this extension, CCW payments to child care providers will continue to be based on their current enrollment with the following exceptions: Providers who have been closed by Certification due to a negative sanction will not be paid. Providers who have reported permanent closure will not be paid. Providers who temporarily closed more than 14 business days due to COVID-19 exposure. Eligible providers will continue to be paid based on their current enrollment for children who remain eligible for CCW through normal invoicing and payment methods. Providers must continue to track and report the attendance of children on invoices. Child care providers must mark COVID-19 related absences as “CA” (COVID absence) to distinguish it from a non-COVID related absence on a paper invoice or include a note on an online invoice. For more information, read OCDEL’s full announcement.
