February 28, 2022 February Recalls on Children’s Products Parents and caregivers should be aware of several child-related product recalls. About Here is a list of February recalls collected from the major federal agencies: the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Kelly Wynne Recalls Children’s Handbags Due to Violation of Federal Lead Content Ban Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022 E-Tron GT vehicles because the center seat belt buckle wiring harness may obstruct access to the right rear seat lower child seat anchors, preventing a child seat from being properly secured. Bebe au Lait Recalls Wooden Teethers Due to Choking Hazard Lovevery Recalls Drinking Cup With Handle in The Inspector Play Kits Due to Choking Hazard Zeno Recalls Infant Walkers Due to Fall and Entrapment Hazards H&M Recalls Children’s Sleepwear Sets Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standards and Burn Hazard Valco Baby Recalls Snap Duo Trend Strollers Due to Fall Hazard Esme Recalls Children’s Sleepwear Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standards and Burn Hazard Stack Em’ Up Books Recalls Children’s Stackable Toys Due to Violation of the Federal Lead Paint Ban and Lead Poisoning Hazard Children’s Nightgowns Recalled by AllMeInGeld Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standards and Burn Hazard; Sold Exclusively on Amazon.com Games Workshop Recalls Koyo Bounca The Squig Plush Toys Due to Choking Hazard Children’s Robes Recalled Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standards and Burn Hazard; Imported by BAOPTEIL; Sold Exclusively on Amazon.com Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered infant formula due to Cronobacter and Salmonella bacteria More Information For recall details, visit the links above or review the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration websites.
February 25, 2022 March is National Reading Month March is National Reading Month. The month kicks off with National Read Across America Day on March 2, where children, teachers, parents/caregivers, and community members around the nation come together to read books and celebrate the joy of reading. About National Reading Month The National Education Association (NEA) has been leading the Read Across America initiative since 1998. Read Across America Day calls upon everyone to read and engage with children to make reading a more fun and interactive experience. Libraries, schools, book clubs, and communities organize events to celebrate and promote reading. Reading Activity Ideas Review the NEA’s recommended book titles on the Read Across America calendar. Choose from ideas for sharing books and all kinds of ways to celebrate with stories in classrooms. Join Literacy Pittsburgh on March 2 for virtual story times throughout the day on Facebook Live to celebrate Read Across America Day. View the full schedule. Join Reading Is Fundamental on March 2 starting at 9 a.m. (and available on demand until March 31, 2022) for their celebration webcast “Reading Inspires!” A downloadable viewing kit includes an activity for each of the three read-aloud books that will be featured during the event. Attend one of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s events throughout the region for children and adults. Visit their events page for details. Donate a book to the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s book drive. You and your family can help put exciting and diverse books into the hands of young readers and promote literacy in our region. This year’s books have been hand-selected to focus on social diversity, including but not limited to various ethnicities, classes, genders, physical abilities/qualities, race, and work statuses. Fill out this form to register and receive the list of books they are accepting.
February 24, 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 featured jobs for this week. Child Care Positions in Pittsburgh Early Childhood Teachers Tender Care Learning Centers has open teacher positions, assistant teacher positions, and floater positions for both full-time and part-time schedules. Apply: Interested individuals should apply online. 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.
All Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Locations Are Now Fine Free Materials checked out at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) will no longer accrue overdue fines. Learn More All CLP locations are now fine free, meaning items (books, movies, and other materials) will no longer accrue overdue fines. What this means: Any library material checked out from any CLP locations will not accrue overdue fines (even if you return it somewhere else). All library materials returned to any CLP location will not accrue overdue fines (even if you checked it out from another library). Books checked out from any library in Allegheny County can be returned to any CLP location and not have any fines. Items that are not returned will be billed, but patrons will receive many reminder notices before that happens. According to an announcement made by CLP, overdue fines can keep people away from the library and inequitably restrict access to library resources, so going fine free will remove barriers and allow more people to enjoy the library. Questions? Reach out to info@carnegielibrary.org for more information.
February 23, 2022 Recall: Powdered Infant Formula Three brands of powdered infant formula were recalled on February 17, 2022, for possible Cronobacter contamination. (UPDATE: Abbott Nutrition’s baby formula recall has been expanded to include one lot of Similac PM 60/40 on February 28, 2022.) Recall Information The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating several consumer complaints about sick infants who were fed powdered formula. Recalled powdered infant formulas are Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare. Do not use these brands if they meet all three of these conditions: First two digits are 22 through 37 Code on the container contains “K8,” “SH,” or “Z2” Use-by date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later Abbott said in an update on February 28, 2022 that in addition to the other formula recalled it was recalling Lot # 27032K80 (can) / Lot # 27032K800 (case) of Similac PM 60/40. Do not feed infants recalled powdered formula. Throw it away or return it for a refund. Visit FDA’s website for more information. What is Cronobacter? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Cronobacter is a germ found naturally in the environment. The germs can live in dry foods, such as powdered infant formula, powdered milk, herbal teas, and starches. Cronobacter can cause diarrhea and urinary tract infections in people of all ages, but infection can be very serious in infants. For more information about Cronobacter, its effects on infants, and guidelines to protect them, visit the CDC website.
February 21, 2022 Provisional Hire Waivers No Longer Needed Effective February 17, 2022, Department of Human Services (DHS) certified child care providers are no longer required to submit a Provisional Hire Waiver Request for Child Care (CD 353) to allow child care employees to work in a certified child care facility on a 45-day provisional basis. About On February 17, 2022, Governor Tom Wolf signed HB 764 into law as Act 12 of 2022 (Act 12), which amends the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) to allow most employers to hire an applicant on a provisional basis for up to 45 days. For certified child care operators, to do so, all the following conditions must be met: The applicant has received the results of the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) and out of state clearances, if applicable, and submitted the results to the employer. The employer, administrator, supervisor, or other person responsible for employment decisions received the result of the applicant’s PA Child Abuse History Clearance and either the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check or the FBI Criminal History Background Check before the start of employment. The applicant must have applied for the outstanding check (Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check or the FBI Criminal History Background Check) and submit proof of application to the employer, administrator, supervisor, or other person responsible for employment decisions. The employer, administrator, supervisor, or other person responsible for employment decisions requires that the applicant not be permitted to work alone with children and that the applicant work in the immediate vicinity of a permanent employee. The employer must have no knowledge of information that would disqualify the applicant. The applicant must affirm in writing they are not disqualified from employment by reason of being listed on the abuse registry or being convicted of a disqualifying offense. If the results of the applicant’s background checks reveal that the applicant is disqualified from employment due to section 6344(c) (relating to grounds for denying employment or participation in program, activity, or service) of the CPSL, the applicant must be immediately dismissed by the employer, administrator, supervisor, or other person responsible for employment decisions. Questions? Comments and Questions should be directed to the child care provider’s Regional Office of Child Development and Early Learning: Central Region 800-222-2117 Northeast Region 800-222-2108 Southeast North and Southeast South Region 800-346-2929 Western Region 800-222-2149
February 18, 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 featured jobs for this week. Child Care Positions in Pittsburgh Early Childhood Educators Angels’ Place is seeking full-time teachers to join their team. Applicants must have a degree in Early Childhood Education or related field. Benefits and sign-on bonus are available. Apply: Submit resume and cover letter to angelsplacepittsburgh@gmail.com. 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.
February 17, 2022 CDC Updates Developmental Milestones for Young Children The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have revised developmental milestones for infants and young children in the Learn the Signs. Act Early. program, which helps parents identify autism and developmental delays in their children. Learn More According to a news release distributed by the CDC and the AAP, the previous developmental milestone checklists used 50th percentile, or average-age, milestones. Using this approach meant only half of children could be expected to achieve that milestone by that age. Thus, clinicians and families with concerns would at times choose a wait-and-see approach, leading to a delay in diagnosis. The revised developmental milestones identify the behaviors that 75% or more of children can be expected to exhibit at a certain age based on data, developmental resources, and clinician experience. Updates Changes to the guidance include: Adding checklists for ages 15 and 30 months; now there is a checklist for every well-child visit from two months to five years. Identifying additional social and emotional milestones (e.g., Smiles on their own to get your attention, age four months). Removing vague language like “may” or “begins” when referring to certain milestones. Removing duplicate milestones. Providing new, open-ended questions to use in discussion with families (e.g., Is there anything that your child does or does not do that concerns you?). Revising and expanding tips and activities for developmental promotion and early relational health. More Information The process behind the revised milestones is detailed in an article titled “Evidence-Informed Milestones for Developmental Surveillance Tools” published in Pediatrics. Full resources and checklists are available on the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. page.
February 16, 2022 National Children’s Dental Health Month February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. This national health observance, sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA), promotes the benefits of good oral health to children. About The 2022 theme is “Sealants Make Sense.” A sealant, and it is a thin, protective coating (made from plastic or other dental materials) that adheres to the chewing surface of your back teeth. They’re no substitute for brushing and flossing, but they can keep cavities from forming and may even stop early stages of decay from becoming a full-blown cavity. Learn more from the ADA. Early childhood educators can support children’s overall wellness by using classroom time to spread the word that healthy oral habits are an important part of keeping bodies healthy. There are plenty of resources available for families and educators. Resources The National Children’s Dental Health Month Program Planning Guide provides program coordinators, dental societies, teachers, and parents with resources to promote the benefits of good oral health to children. The guide includes easy-to-do activities, program planning timetable tips, and more. The Office of Head Start offers Brush Up on Oral Health tip sheets to provide information on current practices and practical strategies to promote good oral health for pregnant people, children, and their families. The Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Oral Health Program strives to reinforce the concept that you cannot be truly healthy without good oral health. The Program puts a special emphasis on populations that have limited access to dental preventive and treatment sources and information. Learn more. Video and handouts (language- free format) from The Campaign for Dental Health for those working with children and families with limited English proficiency.
February 15, 2022 Policy Brief: Essential Employees Working Non-Traditional Hours Can’t Find Child Care Trying Together has released a policy brief highlighting the growing need for high-quality non-traditional hour (NTH) child care in Pennsylvania. The Overview of Non-Traditional Hour Child Care Policy Brief outlines how critical it is to include NTH care in state policy solutions to strengthen our early care and learning infrastructure. About Prior to the pandemic, roughly one in three working families required child care during non-traditional hours, yet only one in four regulated providers offered this service, according to a 2019 Research for Action report. According to the policy brief, the gap in non-traditional care threatens the economic security of many working families and the overall economy as employers struggle to rehire their workforce. Prior to the pandemic, the Keystone Command Center for Economic Development and Workforce 2020 annual report noted the lack of accessible non-traditional child care as a barrier for both employees and employers recommending expanding the availability of licensed child care before 6 a.m. and after 6 p.m. (what is normally considered traditional hours) in order to give flexibility and security for working parents. In October 2021, Governor Tom Wolf’s administration allocated $16.8 million of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) discretionary child care funds for subsidy rate incentives for providers that offer at least two hours of child care during non-traditional hours. More Information Trying Together in partnership with the Start Strong PA Campaign are calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Governor Wolf to help further stabilize child care in the Commonwealth, including non-traditional care as part of budget negotiations. Failing to use state funds to help solve the child care crisis would be a missed opportunity that will negatively impact working families, Pennsylvania businesses and the economy. For details, read the full policy brief. Stay up-to-date on how to advocate for these issues by signing-up to support Trying Together’s public policy agenda.
