January 17, 2022 Apply: Family Support Program Funds The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports, is seeking to award funds to qualified Applicants for the implementation or continuation of Family Support Programs, which consist of community-based, high-quality Evidence-Based Home Visiting (EBHV) services, as well as three categories of enhancements to these services: Evidence-Informed Programs, EBHV Model Enhancements, and Program Enhancements. About Family Support Programs help families access a broad array of supports and services, including formal supports (such as EBHV and parenting classes), informal supports (such as providing resources and connecting families to services in the communities), and a community system of services that promote the well-being of families and their children. Such services can take many different forms depending on the strengths and needs of the family, but their overarching goal is to help parents or caregivers enhance skills and resolve problems to promote optimal child development. For this Request for Applications, applicants must apply to implement at least one EBHV Model, and may apply to implement one or more Enhancements. To Apply Application details can be found on the eMarketplace website. Applications must be received no later than March 11, 2022. Questions Potential applicants can submit questions via email to RAPWRFAQUESTIONS@PA.GOV by January 25, 2022. Answers to questions will be posted to the Department of General Services’ website no later than February 8, 2022.
January 14, 2022 Pediatric First Aid and CPR Training Requirements for Child Care Providers All staff at child care programs must complete in-person pediatric first aid and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training within 90 days of hire or renew their certification before expiration. Until they do so, they can’t care for children unsupervised. About The reauthorized CCDBG Fund requires all staff in licensed child care programs to be certified in Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR. The training must be conducted by an approved Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) Instructor using an Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) recognized curriculum for compliance with certification regulations. It may be offered using face-to-face or blended/hybrid (online and face-to-face) models; however, a hands-on instructor led component must always be present for the practicum portions of the training. Requirements To be accepted by DHS Certification, all Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR trainings must: include hands-on session to be compliant with certification regulations; include “Pediatric” in the course title; and offer a training card or certificate that lists, at minimum, the participant’s name, full title of the offered course. The online-only course titled “Adult, Child, and Baby First Aid/CPR” certification will no longer be accepted to meet compliance with certification regulations. Note: Any staff that completed the online-only course prior to September 30, 2021, will not be cited for non-compliance with certification regulations. Approved Courses For a list of approved Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR providers and curriculums, view OCDEL’s full announcement and Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR Free Training flyer. Questions Child care providers can direct comments and questions regarding this announcement to their Regional Office of Child Development and Early Learning. The Western Region office number is 800-222-2149.
January 13, 2022 COVID-19 Isolation Guidance for ECE/Child Care Programs The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is reminding ECE and child care programs that they should continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 recommendations regarding child care and early learning settings — particularly around isolation. CDC Guidance The change in isolation guidance issued by the CDC to decrease to five days was focused on the “general population,” where a greater number of individuals have the ability to become vaccinated. However, the CDC’s guidance child care and early learning settings continues to advise the following: “The length of time the child should stay out of an ECE program depends on whether the child has COVID-19 or another illness. In most instances, those who have COVID-19 can be around others after 10 days since symptoms first appeared and 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving. Children who test positive for COVID-19 but do not have symptoms can be around others 10 days after their first positive COVID-19 test.” More Information The full current recommendations can be found on the CDC website.
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 Preschool Teacher Carriage House Children’s Center is seeking a full-time teacher for their Preschool program. Candidates with degrees in early childhood education, elementary education, or child development are preferred. Apply: To apply, please email resume to chcc@carriagehouse.org Infant/Toddler Room Teacher Carriage House Children’s Center is seeking an Infant/Toddler Room Teacher. Candidates with degrees in early childhood education, elementary education, or child development are preferred. Candidates without designated degrees should have a CDA credential or equivalent (12 credits in Early Childhood Education or a related field) and two years’ experience. Apply: To apply, please email resume to chcc@carriagehouse.org 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.
January 12, 2022 Apply: PA Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion Awards Applications and nominations are now being accepted for the Pennsylvania’s Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion Awards. The awards recognize individuals or programs that have demonstrated support to children and their families through: embracing diversity and full inclusion as strengths, upholding fundamental principles of fairness and justice, and/or working to eliminate structural inequities that limit equitable learning opportunities. About the Awards The awards bring awareness to and highlight the equity work being done within Pennsylvania’s early childhood education and afterschool settings, and by child care, evidence-based home visiting and early intervention professionals, as it aligns with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Equity and Inclusion Toolkit, and with the position statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education Position Statement. Eligibility The following are categories of eligible entities. All must be physically located and operating within Pennsylvania, and providing services to Pennsylvania’s children. Individuals: Individuals, employed at a Pennsylvania certified/licensed child care, afterschool, Early Intervention, or an Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) funded Family Support program. Individuals must be employed at the eligible program at the time of submission. Early Childhood Education/Child Care and Afterschool: Programs must be certified/licensed by Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), and in good standing with DHS at time of submission. In addition, a Federal Head Start/Early Head Start grantee that operates a program that is certified/licensed by DHS may submit a nomination for the DHS certified/licensed program. Nomination categories include: Child Care Center Group Child Care Home Family Child Care Home Afterschool Program Early Intervention: Programs providing Early Intervention services and supports are eligible to submit a nomination as it relates to early intervention services and equity. OCDEL funded Family Support programs Apply Submissions can be an application (apply on your own or a program/organization’s behalf), or nomination (submit another individual or program/organization) to be acknowledged for their work around equity in the early childhood education or afterschool setting. Self-applications are accepted. Applications/nominations and any supporting documentation will be submitted via electronic online submission process only. Applications may be submitted in English or in Spanish. All applications must be submitted by 5 pm, February 7, 2022. Each completed submission will receive an official signed and framed certificate of placement level (Gold, Silver, Bronze) from OCDEL, appropriate for display. Completed submissions will also receive electronic copy and supporting images for their own digital use on websites, social media, electronic communications, etc. Completed submissions will be promoted during April 2022 Month of the Young Child, with promotion by OCDEL. More Information Visit the Pennsylvania Key website for more information.
January 11, 2022 January 2022 NAEYC Survey of the Field Available The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is conducting a new survey to gather current data from the field to inform federal and state actions on child care. About the Survey From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, NAEYC has been surveying child care programs to convey the challenges they are facing across states and settings. Early childhood educators can answer the questions regardless of whether their child care program is open, closed, or somewhere in between, and regardless of what kind of child care program they work in, or what role they have there. The survey will close on Monday, January 17, 2022. Child Care Survey in English Child Care Survey in Spanish
January 10, 2022 Share Your ECE Story with DHS The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is asking early childhood education professionals and child care providers for stories about their work in the field. About DHS is collecting stories from providers and caring professionals about why their work is essential and why they chose their careers. The goal is to highlight the stories of the broader human services system and how the child care industry makes an impact in all parts of the community. To Submit a Story Stories can be emailed to the DHS Press Office at ra-pwdhspressoffice@pa.gov. DHS is looking for: Why you chose an early childhood career How your career lets you help others A story about when you felt like you’ve made an impact A time you’ve felt proud in your work helping others Or any other story you’re willing to share Please include names, county/place of residence, and a picture (if possible). Stories might be used on social media, the DHS blog, or the DHS central human services job recruitment page.
January 7, 2022 Participate in the Child Care and Pre-K Voter Project With important upcoming elections in Pennsylvania, early childhood educators are invited to participate in a voter project to ensure that people running for office know and act on the issues that face everyone in early learning. About the Child Care and Pre-K Voter Project Through the Child Care and Pre-K Voter Project, early childhood educators will be provided with: Weekly online communication to help them educate their families and have them become part of a child care and pre-k voter online community Resources to learn more about how politicians and policies affect the child care and pre-k industry via brief, monthly Zoom webinars “Be a child care and Pre-K voter!” signage for their center/program (optional) T-shirts for families (one adult, one child size) who sign up for the campaign through their communication $100 incentive for providers’ participation Participate Help elevate issues facing early learning to the people running for political office in 2022 and sign up to participate in the Child Care and Pre-K Voter Project! More Information Want to learn more? Email Kyle McMillen at Children First for more details!
January 6, 2022 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 Part-Time Preschool Teacher The Village Preschool is seeking a part time passionate and experienced early childhood educator to join their teaching team. A Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education and a Pennsylvania teaching certificate are required. Apply: To apply, please email Rachael Troglio at r.troglio@laughlincenter.org Child Care Lead Teachers/Assistants Providence Connections, Inc. is hiring full-time and part-time early childhood staff at their location on the Northside. Apply: To apply, please email your resume to lwhite@providenceconnections.org Community Engagement Manager The National Council of Jewish Women Pittsburgh Section is seeking a Community Engagement Manager to connect with a diverse community of working moms to create and execute programs that provide support, services, and connections to improve and enhance their lives. Apply: To apply, please visit the application 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.
January 5, 2022 Bilingual Assistance Offered for ARPA Stabilization Grant Applications The Pennsylvania Key will host recurring office hours for Spanish speaking early childhood education providers interested in applying for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stabilization grant. About All types of child care settings–center, group, and home-based–are invited to participate in this effort, geared to support Spanish speaking owners, directors and administrators. During the office hours, a bilingual (Spanish/English) representative will be available to translate on the call, as well as a Registry Specialist who can answer questions and provide demonstrations relating to the PA PD Registry and the ARPA Stabilization Grant. How to Participate The first series is Assistance with APRA Grant applications in the PD Registry. Registration is not needed to participate. Thursday, January 6, 2022, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 966 3255 8093 Thursday, January 20, 2022, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 981 6408 0605 The ARPA Stabilization Grant application will be available in the PD Registry until January 31, 2022. In February 2022, monthly office hours will continue to occur in Spanish to help with Career Pathway level processing, financial aid for the CDA, and additional topics that meet the need of the Spanish speaking early childhood professionals in Pennsylvania. Questions? For more information, please email Alejoh@pakeys.org (English) or Reblam@pakeys.org (Spanish).
