March 31, 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 Summer Youth Development Professional The Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania is seeking a Youth Development Professional to be hands on with the youth to implement educational curriculum and programming on a day to day basis. This role is responsible for the supervision and safety of all program participants as well as relationship building. Other responsibilities include the promotion of Clubhouse membership through outreach; conducting youth evaluations per DHS requirements; and providing an environment that promotes creativity and exploration through learning, among other things. Apply: View the full job description and apply by sending a resume to hr@bgcwpa.org. Assistant Group Supervisor Absolutely Loving Hands is seeking an Assistant Group Supervisor to coordinate and assist in the implementation of daily activities. Applicants should have a high school diploma or accredited college or university certificate. Apply: Apply by sending a resume to harborway2@verizon.net. 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 Heidi Winkler at heidi@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.
DAP Series Parts X, XI, and XII Now Available Trying Together is excited to announce Parts X, XI, and XII of the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting (DAP) Series. Through these Parts, caregivers will receive information and resources on Gender and Gender Identity; Family Dynamics; and Caring for the Caregiver. About 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. As of April 2022, 12 Parts have been published, including: 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; Part VI: Social-Emotional Development; Part VII: Childhood Mental Health; Part VIII: Race and Equity; and Part IX: Transitions & Routines. Featured Resources The Series features many helpful resources for families. To help you get started, Trying Together compiled a short list of featured resources for each new Part. Part X: Gender and Gender Identity Family Guide: Gender, Gender Identity, LGBTQ+ Inclusion Gender Identity Development in Early Childhood Non-Gendered Play in Early Childhood Part XI: Family Dynamics Family Dynamics: A Family Guide Types of Family Structures Navigating Sibling Relationships Part XII: Caring for the Caregiver A Guide to Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others How to Ask and Receive Help Support Resources for Parents and Caregivers Navigating the Series The Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series features a search bar and filtering options to connect parents and caregivers to content that is relevant to them. Caregivers can filter available content by Topic, Age Group, Relationship to Child, Resource Type, and Geographic Location. To test it out, visit the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series page. More Information To learn more and access the full list of resources, visit the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series webpage.
March 30, 2022 March Recalls on Children’s Products Parents and caregivers should be aware of several child-related product recalls. About Here is a list of March recalls collected from the major federal agencies: the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Boxine U.S. Recalls tonies Blocks Due to Magnet Ingestion Hazard Commencal Recalls Ramones 14-Inch Kids Bicycles Due to Crash Hazard (Recall Alert) Segway Recalls Ninebot Children’s Bicycle Helmets Due to Risk of Head Injury HD Premier Recalls DigitDots Magnetic Balls Due to Ingestion Hazard B. toys Walk ‘n’ Learn Wooden Activity Toddler Walkers Recalled Due to Choking Hazard ALDI Recalls Bee Happy 12 Days of Craft Advent Calendars Due to Violation of the Federal Lead Paint Ban and Lead Poisoning Hazard 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.
March 29, 2022 FAQs: Health and Safety Training Certification Requirements The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), Bureau of Early Learning Policy and Professional Development, and Bureau of Certification have released answers to frequently-asked-questions about updated health and safety training requirements for child care providers. About The Health & Safety FAQs address various questions relating to the OCDEL announcements below: C-22-01 Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training Requirements and Access to Free Training through Early Childhood Education Professional Development Organizations (ECE PDOs), C-22-02 Updates to Health and Safety Training and Professional Development Requirements and C-22-03 Updates to Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome, Abusive Head Trauma, and Child Maltreatment Requirements. The FAQ document provides detail relating to professional development, compliance with new certification requirements, cost of trainings, and more.
March 28, 2022 ARPA Stabilization Grant Spending Report Available Child care providers who applied for and received an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stabilization Grant are required to report on the use of funds and child care capacity as a condition of receiving funds. Any grant recipient that wishes to begin reporting can access the Spending Report and begin to enter their spending amounts. About Grant reporting will be completed in the Professional Development (PD) Registry. Directors, owners, administrators and/or designated fiscal staff members can now access the reporting tool for their program under the Keystone STARS/Grants tab in their organization’s profile. Recipients will be able to log in and out of the Spending Report to update their spending amounts, but they will not be able to finalize and submit their Spending Report until eight months after the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) submitted their grant for payment. Providers are encouraged to preview the Spending Report to prepare for the simplified reporting requirements. Use this step-by-step tip sheet on how to access and complete the Spending Report. Grant recipients should contact registry@pakeys.org to problem solve issues with accessing their Spending Report.
March 25, 2022 Early Childhood Toolkit: Young Kids & Screens Common Sense Education has developed an early childhood toolkit for providers to share with their families who have children ages zero to eight. About Early Childhood Toolkit: Young Kids & Screens Common Sense’s six turnkey workshops, available in English and Spanish, are all designed to for providers to help families nurture young children’s development in the digital age. The workshops, available in English and Spanish, are meant to facilitate meaningful conversations with parents and caregivers on the following six topics: Raising Healthy Kids in a Digital World Finding Balance with Media and Tech Use at Home Choosing High-Quality Media for Your Kids How to Make Meaningful Family Connections Using Media and Tech Introducing Online Safety to Young Kids How to Use Media and Tech to Build Life Skills in Young Kids The workshop activities are based on Common Sense’s in-depth analysis of the relationships between children’s use of high-quality media content and their screen time, and the development of executive functioning skills: Children, Executive Functioning, and Media: A Review 2020. Learn more about the toolkit and workshops on the Common Sense website.
March 24, 2022 Remake Learning Days 2022 With events beginning in April 2022, Remake Learning Days brings together a variety of organizations to provide youth and families with innovative learning experiences! About Remake Learning Days Remake Learning Days Across America (RLDAA) is a celebration of innovative experiences and opportunities for youth to develop their sense of creativity, perseverance, and curiosity. The celebration includes a festival of hands-on events designed for kids of all ages (pre-k through high school) at local libraries, schools, technology centers, museums, play spaces, and more. Families, caregivers, and educators are invited to join as well. A majority of the events are free and open to kids of all ages. Event Themes Events are organized around specific learning themes such as: Arts Maker Outdoor Learning Science Technology Youth Voice A calendar with Southwestern PA events is available on the Remake Learning Days website. Professional development sessions are also available for school, out-of-school, child care, and non-traditional educators. Families, youth, and professionals can search events by date, time, location, learning theme, age group, and more. More Information RLDAA is presented by Remake Learning and many nationwide partners and host organizations. For more information, visit the RLDAA website.
March 23, 2022 GrowMamaGrow Mentoring Program Brown Mamas is accepting applications for its GrowMamaGrow Mentoring Program. About the Mentoring Program With a focus on emotional and social wellness, resource connection and intergenerational cultural and social bridge-building, the GrowMamaGrow Mentoring Program seeks to help moms recognize their internal value, develop a set of parenting principles, and see their communities as resourceful over the course of 12 weeks. Eligibility The program is for mothers who: can commit to a 12-week program would like a mentor are working are between the ages of 30-45 have a goal they would like to accomplish During the 12-week program, Brown Mamas’ expects mentees to: Commit to weekly communication with their mentor Show up to group coaching sessions having completed their bi-weekly activity Attend monthly in-person meet-ups Be committed to meeting their goal and implementing the steps our mentors and resource providers will give them Fill out necessary assessments and feedback forms Be committed to the process of growth defined during the program Apply Applications will be accepted until April 1, 2022. For more information and to apply, visit the Brown Mamas website.
March 22, 2022 Celebrate Month of the Young Child in April First established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 1971, the Week of the Young Child is an opportunity to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. Over the years, with growing interest and focus, Trying Together designated the entire month of April as the Month of the Young Child (MOYC). MOYC is a time to plan how we will better meet the needs of all young children, families, caregivers, and early care and education professionals. Celebrate Early Childhood The Month of the Young Child is a time when the dedicated work of early educators can be promoted for the essential role that it plays in our society. The events of the last few years have demonstrated just how important it is to fund, support, and elevate the work of child care. Trying Together has assembled a month full of opportunities to share the importance of early care with the audiences that need to hear it most. Trying Together is offering child care programs in Allegheny County the opportunity to receive Month of the Young Child materials and experiences including: Posters to display at their program or to give to local businesses to advertise the importance of child care in the community Buttons for staff and families to wear during the month of April Printed materials and resources from Trying Together and ELRC Region 5 A copy of this year’s PA One Book, “Saturday” by Oge Mora (will be mailed separately) Applications for the MOYC materials are now closed. Materials will be shipped at the end of March, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. In addition to requesting free materials from Trying Together, programs were also able to apply to receive a mini-grant of $500 or $2,500 to show appreciation to staff or host an event during April to strengthen the relationship between families and staff. Applications for the mini-grants are now closed. Recipients will be selected based on the strength of ideas for utilizing the funds; geographic diversity throughout Allegheny County; and a needs-based assessment. Mini-grants are limited, and awardees will be notified by the end of March. Celebrate from Home To celebrate the Month of the Young Child in a virtual space, Trying Together has developed several opportunities for community members to participate from home, including the following: Social Media Activities Use the Month of the Young Child Social Media Toolkit to access customizable social media templates, graphics, and more. Consider the following post ideas: Give a “shoutout to an early care and educational (ECE) professional or program Share your personal story as a parent or caregiver using the #MyStory and #MOYC2022 hashtags Advocate for ECE professionals by using the #EssentialCaregiver hashtag Virtual Events Check out the Trying Together Events page to discover all of the Month of the Young Child programming available throughout April 2022. Additional details will be available in the coming weeks. More Information Visit the Trying Together Month of the Young Child webpage for more information and activity details.
March 21, 2022 Top 10 Skills for Children Entering Kindergarten Hi5! — a kindergarten readiness and registration campaign coordinated by The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, and Trying Together — collaborated with a group of pre-k and kindergarten teachers to develop a list of academic, social, emotional, and physical skills for children entering kindergarten based on the PA Early Learning Standards. Kindergarten Readiness List A list of more than 30 skills was sent to educators in school districts, child care programs, and Head Start programs throughout the region—including Allegheny, Butler, Fayette, Greene, and Westmoreland counties. The purpose of this exercise was to develop a useful tool for parents/caregivers of children ages birth to five in the SWPA region by teachers in the SWPA region. Over 120 pre-k and kindergarten educators responded to share their expertise and insight. The top skills include: Following rules and routines Following simple one- and two-step directions Writing their own name Recognizing some letters (8-12) from the alphabet (upper and lower case) Interacting appropriately with peers during play, both in reciprocal play activities and communication Expressing and communicating wants and needs Asking for help from adults and peers, when needed Responding to adults and peers appropriately in conversations Recognizing written numbers to 10 Expressing feelings appropriately to a variety of situations View the checklist (Spanish version PDF) Kindergarten Registration The purpose of this list of skills and resources is to support families and their young children as they prepare for kindergarten. When a child turns five and meets their district’s birthdate requirement, it is time to register whether or not a child has mastered every skill listed. View Trying Together’s Kindergarten Transition page to learn about Kindergarten registration in your area.
