February 2, 2022 Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program Are you a homeowner or renter in Allegheny County? Do you live with a pregnant person or a child age six or younger? If so, you might qualify for free home repairs from the Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program to keep your family safe from lead paint. Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program Lead is most dangerous to children under age six because their brains and nervous systems still are developing. When they put their hands and other objects in their mouth, they can swallow lead-paint dust, which can be invisible to the naked eye. Children also can be exposed to lead by ingesting soil, food, or water containing it. Even low levels of lead can cause behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, and hearing problems. The Allegheny Lead Safe Homes program offers qualifying homeowners and renters in Allegheny County with free lead-paint testing throughout their homes and hires a certified lead abatement contractor to repair any lead hazards found up to $12,000. Examples of work include repair and repainting of chipping and peeling lead-painted surfaces, window and door repair or replacement, and enclosing exterior trim and components. Apply If you’re interested in participating, please call ACTION-Housing at 412-227-5700, email alleghenylead@actionhousing.org or fill out the online form. More Information More information, including eligibility, can be found on the information sheet and on the program’s website.
Deadline Extended: 2022 Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Awards Do you know an exceptional child care professional or are you one yourself? Apply for the 2022 Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Awards to nominate that person for a chance to win the Helene Marks Award, a $1,000 cash prize, and more! The application deadline has been extended to February 11, 2022, and First Up will be hosting informational sessions about the application process. About In collaboration with the Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation (TLLCCF), First Up is hosting the 2022 Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Awards to honor exceptional child care professionals. In 1987, Kay and Fred Lokoff formed the TLLCCF to honor the memory of their daughter. Terri was a passionate child care teacher who knew the incredible value of Early Childhood Education and was committed to making a difference by giving children a strong start in their lives. Applications for the 2022 Terri Lynne Lokoff Teacher Awards are now available. Child care teachers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and on U.S. Military bases and installations around the world are invited to apply. Fifty awards are presented each year. What Will Recipients Win? Every award recipient receives: a $1,000 cash prize, a trip to Philadelphia for the award ceremony (COVID permitting), and a chance to win the Helene Marks Award with the additional honor of being named the National Child Care Teacher of the Year. Application To apply, complete the online application. For those who would like to print and mail their completed application, a downloadable PDF version is available. Applications are due by February 11, 2022. Informational Sessions First Up staff will do a virtual walk through of the application and answer any questions. Registration is required: February 2 from 6 – 6:45 p.m. February 9 from 6 – 6:45 p.m. More Information For more information, please contact Jessica Feng at jessica.feng@firstup.org.
February 1, 2022 Register Now: 2022 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community The Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community is an annual fundraising walk that benefits local health and human service agencies. The primary goal of the walk is to help participating organizations raise money for their individual missions. Registration for the 2022 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community opens on February 1, 2022 and is free for all participants. Join Our Team If you’re interested in walking or donating, join Trying Together’s team! Registered virtual walkers will have the option to sign up as an individual, join a team, create a new team, or pull up team information from a previous event. Thanks to Highmark’s online platform, participants can donate and track donations made, send templated email reminders to your teammates, and more! Visit our registration page to sign up and learn more! Support Our Goal One hundred percent of the donations received will go directly to the participating organizations. Utilize our social media toolkit to share information about the Highmark Walk on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. All donations must be received no later than June 30, 2022. Learn more about how to donate on the Trying Together website. COVID-19 Information In an abundance of caution, and for the protection and safety of our Walk participants and volunteers, the decision has been made to modify all seven 2022 Highmark Walks for a Healthy Community to an online only fundraiser and virtual walk for this year’s campaign. A virtual walk is a real walk, but allows for more flexibility! Whether on a treadmill or at the park, participants can choose their start and stop times, and then share photos and videos on social media to raise awareness! More Information For more information and answers to common questions, visit Highmark’s FAQ page.
2022-23 Kindergarten Registration Open Kindergarten registration has opened in Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Fayette, Greene, and Westmoreland counties for the 2022-2023 school year. Registering Your Child If your child is five, it’s time to register them for kindergarten. View details about Kindergarten registration in the Pittsburgh Region and find your district’s information in the following documents: Kindergarten Registration Information for the 2022-23 School Year: Allegheny County Kindergarten Registration Information for the 2022-23 School Year: Westmoreland, Fayette, Armstrong, Greene, and Butler Counties Hi5! is a kindergarten readiness and registration campaign coordinated by The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, and Trying Together. Early and on-time registration allows schools and districts to plan for classroom materials, resources, and staff as they prepare to welcome a new group of students. It also enables families to establish relationships with teachers and administrators that are so important for easing the stress and anxiety of children (and their families) as they begin elementary school. More Information For more information about the Hi5! project, transition teams, and activities, please email hi5@tryingtogether.org, or view the Hi5! overview (PDF) and the Kindergarten Transition Whitepaper (PDF). To receive the the Hi5! Kindergarten Transition newsletter, visit our sign up page! For more information about helping your child make the move to Kindergarten, visit the Kindergarten Transition: A Guide for Families resource.
