February 14, 2022 Request for Applications: 2022-23 PA Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) will use a competitive Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP) Request for Application (RFA) process for fiscal year 2022-23. The intent of HSSAP is to increase the number of low-income, Head Start-eligible children receiving high quality pre-kindergarten services in Pennsylvania. Governor Wolf’s proposed 2022-23 state budget expands HSSAP by $10 million. With this expansion funding, the state will be able to increase the number of children served in high-quality pre-kindergarten. About HSSAP funding is awarded competitively on a five-year grant cycle. Fiscal year 2022-23 begins a new five-year cycle. All current HSSAP grantees, as well as any new, eligible applicants must apply during this competitive RFA process. This RFA is intended to support providers in preparing to serve and enroll children by September 2022. The RFA is being released February 2022 to give providers time to conduct outreach to families; recruit, hire and train staff; and plan for implementing the program, pending grant approval. Applicants may submit funding proposals aligned with the program models outlined in the Head Start Program Performance Standards 1302 Part B. The ceiling or limit on the potential number of slots that may be awarded to any applicant will depend upon a county’s unmet need percentages and the amount of funding available. Funding is contingent upon approval by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. HSSAP grants are funded via state dollars and, therefore, carryover funds are not permitted. All grant dollars identified in this FY 2021-22 application must be encumbered or spent by June 30, 2022. Eligibility Eligible entities include: Head Start grantees; and Early Head Start grantees. Successful applicants MUST demonstrate: Current federal funding for Head Start or Early Head Start as a grantee or delegate; and No uncorrected deficiencies from the most current federal Monitoring Review. Applicants must also have the following in place to complete an application: REQUIRED Letter of Intent (information below); Vendor number (SAP #); Administrative unit number (AUN); Master provider index number (MPI); and Federal ID number or tax ID number. How to Apply All information relevant to the application process is available in the HSSAP Application Guidance. HSSAP applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) using the template posted online. The LOI represents the applicant’s intent to apply for HSSAP funding and includes preliminary information about requested funding, program model, provider type, and area to be served. Information submitted in the LOI may be modified in the final eGrants application. Eligible applicants who apply for HSSAP funding must provide assurance that they operate in full compliance with the federal Head Start Performance Standards as reported on their Integrated Monitoring Report. They also must assure they will provide updates to OCDEL and the Head Start Collaboration Office director when changes in their compliance occur. Failure to report changes may jeopardize current or future grant funding. Programs interested in applying must submit a fully completed LOI by 3 p.m. on February 25, 2022 to RA-PAPreKCounts@pa.gov. Programs that do not submit the LOI will not be able to access or submit a funding application in the eGrants system. Late submissions will not be accepted. Agencies submitting a fully complete LOI by the due date will be notified when the HSSAP application is open in eGrants. More Information A pre-application webinar will be held virtually on February 23, 2022 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. To register for the webinar, visit the HSSAP Virtual Bidders Conference registration page. The recording will be posted at HSSAP How to Apply shortly after to assist interested applicants in the completion of the application. The Bidder’s Conference will include information on the application process and program requirements and participation is highly encouraged. In addition to the Bidder’s Conference, applicants are encouraged to view the asynchronous Grant Writing 101 course found in the Professional Development (PD) Registry. This course provides general tips on how to approach grant writing. A PD Registry login is required to access this course. For questions, contact PDE by sending an email to RA-PAPreKCounts@pa.gov.
February 11, 2022 PA Homeowner Assistance Fund Now Accepting Applications The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) is now accepting applications for the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF), which supports statewide homeowners who are facing financial hardships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. PHFA was allocated $350 million under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to develop the PAHAF program. The program will provide financial assistance to homeowners for qualified mortgage and housing-related expenses to avoid delinquency, default, foreclosure, or displacement. Eligibility The program will accept applications from eligible, Pennsylvania homeowners who meet the following criteria: Homeowner owns and occupies the property as their primary residence Property is located in Pennsylvania Homeowner has experienced a financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic after January 21, 2020 (this includes a hardship that began before January 21, 2020 and continued after that date) Household income is equal to or less than 150% area median income (AMI) Homeowner’s first mortgage is a conforming loan and meets the federal limits for the year in which the loan was taken Homeowner cannot receive the same assistance for mortgage payment, mortgage reinstatement, property charges, and/or utility payment from another federal, state, local, nonprofit, or tribal source Apply Eligible homeowners will be able to apply online for PAHAF and see a list of organizations that can assist them on the program website. For help with the registration or application, contact the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund Customer Support Center at (888) 987-2423, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Customer Support Specialists will be able to help you complete your registration and/or application over the phone. Anyone who does not have an email address can contact partners at the Housing Counseling Agencies. Here is a full list. More Information More program information, eligibility details, and answers to frequently-asked-questions, are available on the PAHAF website.
February 10, 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 Pre-K Counts Lead Teacher YMCA Greater Pittsburgh is seeking a Pre-K Counts lead teacher 1to work 10 months (mid-August to mid-June) as part of a team to ensure the coordination of a high-quality Pre-Kindergarten program for at-risk 3- to 4-year-old children Apply: Those interested can apply online. Pre-K Counts Teacher Hosanna House, Inc. is looking to hire a Certified Pre-K Counts Teacher. The applicant must have a Certification in Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Family Studies, Early Childhood, or Elementary Education. Level 1 Teaching Certification is required. Apply: Those interested can apply online. Child Care Teachers Carriage House Children’s Center is seeking infant, toddler, and pre-school teachers to join their teaching teams. Candidates with degrees in early childhood education, elementary education, or child development are preferred. Apply: To apply, please email resume to chcc@carriagehouse.org Child Care Teacher Assistants and Aides Carriage House Children’s Center is seeking infant, toddler, and pre-school teacher assistants and aides to join their teaching teams. High school diplomas or a GED with child care experience is required. Full- and part-time positions are available. 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. Receive Jobs in Your Inbox To receive the latest job opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook.
2022-23 Pennsylvania Budget Proposal Response On February 8, 2022, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf released the 2022-23 state budget proposal. The principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, are pleased with proposed investments in pre-k, evidence-based home visiting, and perinatal and child health. However, the proposal fails to adequately invest in child care. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home, and Thriving PA. Governor Wolf’s state budget proposal included: Pre-k $60 million in additional funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program. $10 million in additional funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program. Together, this $70 million expansion could serve approximately 2,300 additional young children. In a press release, ELPA states, “This funding continues the Commonwealth’s tradition and Governor Wolf’s unwavering commitment of expanding access to high-quality pre-k. This $70 million proposed expansion could provide this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to more than 2,300 additional young learners. “Research shows that high-quality pre-k benefits children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development and confirms the Commonwealth’s investment in pre-k pays dividends for the children fortunate enough to access it. This investment is not only essential for our children, but high-quality early education supports labor force participation, healthy families, and a globally competitive workforce of the future. By increasing pre-k access and opening the door to more families, our economic recovery reaps the benefits.” Child Care Level funding for the state Child Care Assistance and Child Care Services line items. $77.7 million in federal funding to sustain child care subsidy base rates. $44.3 million in federal funding to sustain the reduction in out-of-pocket family co-payments. $6.1 million in federal child care funding to sustain the incentive for providing non-traditional hour care. $30 million in state funding to provide state employees with increased access to and affordability of child care through the Department of General Services. “The Wolf Administration’s budget proposal is an inadequate response to the current child care crisis and misses an important opportunity to help working families in search of affordable high-quality care,” ELPA representatives stated. “Furthermore, failure to fully stabilize the child care sector jeopardizes the efforts of Pennsylvania businesses trying to rehire their labor force. Child care programs are closing classrooms and entire facilities due to teacher and staff shortages. Child care staff are overworked and underpaid with the average child care teacher making less than $11 per hour.” While the budget proposal does utilize federal funds, ELPA believes it is not sufficient in light of flat funding for Pennsylvania’s Child Care Services and Child Care Assistance line items for the third consecutive year. Start Strong PA is urging state policymakers to allocate a portion of the projected year-end surplus of $2.8 billion to address staff recruitment and retention, and increase access to quality care for working families, specifically for infants and toddlers. Home Visiting $15 million in additional funding for evidence-based home visiting in the Community-Based Family Center line item (this will serve an additional 3,800 pregnant women, children, and families), as well as $8 million in one-time federal stimulus funds specified for home visiting. “Following two years of level funding, the [Childhood Begins at Home] campaign is pleased to see Governor Wolf’s proposed investment restarts his commitment to increasing service levels beyond the 5% of Pennsylvania families currently served,” ELPA stated. Perinatal and Child Health Funding allocated for postpartum coverage extension for women in Medicaid from 60 days to 12 months. $11.5 million in increased funding for the Early Intervention Part C (infant and toddler) program through DHS, with $1.2 million allocated for children eligible for tracking when their mothers have a positive screen for postpartum depression or anxiety. Level-funding for the Part B Early Intervention program (age three to five) offered through PDE. ELPA stated, “Medicaid is a significant source of insurance for Pennsylvania women and birthing individuals— especially for women of color— so expanding coverage to a full year postpartum is a vital step towards closing racial and health disparities. “Additionally, we must ensure all children from birth through age five with developmental delays are identified, referred to, and accepted for the services they need to reach their fullest potential.” More Information Read ELPA’s full budget response statement for details. The Pittsburgh-based early childhood nonprofit Trying Together and other partners of ELPA will continue to 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.
February 9, 2022 Project Offers Free Internet Access for Wilkinsburg Families The Wilkinsburg Digital Inclusion Project provides an internet device with a year’s worth of internet access to qualifying participants in Wilkinsburg for free. About The Wilkinsburg Digital Inclusion Project, made possible through a grant from the Eden Hall Foundation and managed by Computer Reach, seeks to positively impact the life of families in our community by helping them bridge the digital divide. Participation and Eligibility To qualify, participants must be a Wilkinsburg Borough resident and have a student living at home. Through the project, qualifying participants will receive all of the following at no cost to them: An internet device with a year’s worth of unlimited internet access In-person device setup and orientation Ongoing virtual, phone, or in-person device and digital literacy support To participate, fill out a registration form. Once your form is processed, you will receive a call from the Computer Reach team to schedule your device set up and orientation session at your residence. More Information For more information about the project and answers to frequently asked questions, visit the project’s website.
February 8, 2022 Pittsburgh Mayor Schedules Community Forums City of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s transition organization announced a series of community meetings, an online engagement portal, and a resident input message center that will allow residents to provide input to help guide the work and policy recommendations of the transition committees. One meeting will focus on education and workforce development. About According to a news release, the meetings, online portal, and message center aim to provide an opportunity to capture and empower the diverse voices of communities across the city. Residents will be able to weigh in on some of the city’s most pressing issues including equitable development, education and workforce development, infrastructure and environment, and community health and safety. Meetings Schedule The schedule of community meetings is as follows: Equitable Development – Monday, February 21, 2022 at 6 p.m. Education and Workforce Development – Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 6 p.m. Community Health and Safety – Monday, February 28, 2022 at 6 p.m. Infrastructure and Environment – Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 6 p.m. All of the community forums will take place virtually. All citizens interested in participating are asked to register through the online portal designed to accommodate multi-lingual residents. Residents who may not have access to technology to participate in online events are invited to call 412.267.7592 and leave a voice message in their primary language to share their ideas. Messages will be transcribed and shared with the transition committees. All community organizations and community advocacy groups are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas on these platforms and via community meetings. The portal also includes a survey that will be updated every two weeks, and an “idea wall” where residents will have the ability to submit ideas through March 15, 2022. More Information For more information, view the full news release or visit Mayor Gainey’s transition website.
February 7, 2022 Hotline Helps Families in Need of Support The Pittsburgh Learning Collaborative (PLC) Family Hotline is a available for families in the region who need help navigating the system or need general supports. About the Family Hotline Representatives from A+ Schools, ARYSE, Lawrenceville United, the Latino Community Center, and the Boys & Girls Club will be fielding calls to answer questions and offer support to families about: online learning and your child’s school tutoring or homework help getting access to technology or the internet youth workforce opportunities food and school supplies distributions other support for academic or personal needs Representatives will answer calls live during the following hours: Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Calls can be received 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If a representative doesn’t answer, callers can leave a voicemail and expect a call back within 48 hours on weekdays. For English, call 412.256.8536. For Spanish, call 412.335.7446. Share these flyers with your network (English) (Español).
February 4, 2022 ECE Lending Library Open House The Trying Together Early Childhood Education (ECE) Lending Library will host an open house for all early learning educators on Saturday, February 19. About the ECE Lending Library The ECE Lending Library, which is located at the Trying Together offices in Squirrel Hill, allows educators to borrow an array of materials — such as books, puppet sets, play kits, leadership resources, and interactive panels — for their programs. The items support and recognize learning abilities, cultural diversity, and health and safety. The open house will be held on Saturday, February 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Educators are welcome to learn about the available items, browse, and borrow items for their classrooms. Location Trying Together offices 5604 Solway Street (Second Floor), Room 204 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 More Information For details about how to access the library, how to check out items, and to view a full list of available items, visit the ECE Lending Library website or view this flyer. Share this open house flyer with your staff and networks.
February 3, 2022 Child Care Providers Needed for Keystone STARS Focus Groups Early childhood education providers working in Pennsylvania child care who have knowledge of, or experience with, the Keystone STARS system are invited to participate in an online focus group in February. About The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) wants to learn more about the experience of leaders of center-based, family child care, and group child care providers with the Keystone STARS quality rating and improvement system, what is working, what is not working and how the system could be improved. Register Focus groups will be held virtually through Zoom on the following days and times, and will last no more than two hours: For all providers: February 10, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. Register For family child care home providers: February 17, 2022 at 6 p.m. Register For all providers: February 19, 2022 at 1 p.m. Register Share this flyer with your networks..
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 Assistant Child Care Teacher The UPMC Mercy Child Development Center is seeking an assistant child care teacher to provide quality child care for enrolled children under the direction of a senior teacher or teacher. The full-time position offers benefits including health care, paid holidays, paid time off, and tuition reimbursement. Apply: To interested can apply online at careers.upmc.com. Assistant Child Care Teacher Elizabeth Seton Center is seeking an assistant child care teacher to support the child care teacher in the planning and implementation of programs. See the full job description. Apply: To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to careers@setoncenter.com. Child Care Teacher’s Aide Elizabeth Seton Center is seeking a child care teacher’s aide to support the child care teacher and assistant child care teacher with program activities. See the full job description. Apply: To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to careers@setoncenter.com. Director of Maintenance Elizabeth Seton Center is seeking a director of maintenance various tasks related to the proper operation of the facilities. This includes maintenance, repair, alteration, remodeling, painting, landscaping, grounds keeping, snow removal, waxing floors and heavy mopping, trash collecting, running errands, and other duties as assigned. Apply: To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to careers@setoncenter.com. Cleaning Person Elizabeth Seton Center is seeking a cleaning person to maintain the cleanliness and disinfection of facilities. Apply: To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to careers@setoncenter.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.
