May 12, 2022 DHS to Offer P-EBT Benefits for 2021-22 School Year The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) helps families cover the cost of breakfasts and lunches their children would have been eligible to receive for free or at reduced price through the National School Lunch Program funding for meals missed while being out of school during the pandemic. The money on these cards can be used for food only. Once believed to be a short-term program, P-EBT has now transformed into a longer-term federal response to the national public health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. About P-EBT Benefits In April 2022, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture approved Pennsylvania’s plan to provide P-EBT benefits to students for the 2021-22 school year. Beginning in mid to late June, eligible students will receive P-EBT benefits in several 10-day periods: the first stage will provide benefits for eligible students for the months of September 2021 through November 2021 the second stage will provide benefits for eligible students for the months of December 2021-February 2022 the third stage will provide benefits for eligible students for the months of March through May 2022 the final stage will provide benefits for eligible students for the months of June through August of 2022 The amount of benefits received for each child for each stage will vary based on the individual student’s circumstances. Benefits will be issued on existing EBT or P-EBT cards. Anyone who has not received P-EBT previously will get a card in the mail for each eligible child. The return address on the card’s envelope will be from Texas. Eligibility Children qualify for P-EBT if they receive meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and missed those meals because they were absent from the classroom due to COVID-19. Children are eligible for NSLP if they have an approved free or reduced-price status from a household application, are directly certified by receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or certain Medical Assistance benefits through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), or are enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school. The PA Department of Human Services will work with schools to get the necessary information to determine which students are eligible. For more details, visit the PA Department of Human Services website.
May 11, 2022 Mental Health Awareness Month May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health is the overall wellness of how people think, regulate feelings, and behave. Mental health is important at every stage of life, including childhood. Mental health disorders in children are generally defined as delays or disruptions in developing age-appropriate thinking, behaviors, social skills or regulation of emotions. These disorders can cause distress to children and disrupt their ability to function well at home, in school, or in other social situations. Childhood Mental Health DAP Series As part of the 12-part Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series, Trying Together highlights several resources to support parents and caregivers who are caring for young children with mental health disorders. Topics include common childhood mental health disorders, children’s books about mental health, the impact of parental mental health on children, and more. Hope Day Block Party Staunton Farm Foundation is hosting a Hope Day Block Party on Saturday, May 21 at The Kingsley Association in East Liberty. The block party will have live performances, education about mental health, free food, and an art exhibit coming from Maine focusing on youth voice. Learn more. Mental Health in Afterschool The National Afterschool Association curated 15 resources to support mental health in all aspects of social and emotional learning in out-of-school-time programs. Mental Health Month Toolkit The theme of Mental Health America’s 2022 Mental Health Month Toolkit is “Back to Basics.” After the last two years of living with the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are realizing that stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taken a toll on their well-being. The toolkit provides information about mental health and what people can do if their mental health is a cause for concern. Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultation Program Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultation is a free resource that supports children’s social- emotional development from birth through age five within early learning programs participating in Keystone STARS. Mental health consultants work with parents and early care and education caregivers to facilitate healthy growth and development for infants and young children. IECMH consultation provides support for parents and childcare professionals who work with children experiencing persistent or puzzling challenges. Learn more.
May 10, 2022 Prepare for Upcoming Grant Opportunities in the PD Registry The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) plans to administer upcoming grant opportunities through Pennsylvania’s Professional Development (PD) Registry. About There are steps early childhood (ECE) professionals and programs can complete now to prepare for grant opportunities. All ECE professionals should: Create an account in the PD Registry Complete their profile Add their employment Directors and/or owners should complete the steps above for themselves and assist their staff to complete them as well. Directors must also verify all staff who have added their employment to their profile and are able to invite any staff who have not added their employment. Verifying employment is important to ensure everyone is eligible for upcoming grant opportunities in the PD Registry. To learn more about the PD Registry and access additional resources, visit the Pennsylvania Key website.
May 9, 2022 Pittsburgh Public Schools Requests Community Input on Superintendent Search The Board of Directors of Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) has requested “maximum community input” in its national search for a new superintendent. About During the community engagement phase of the process, the public is encouraged to participate through multiple opportunities to help determine the leadership traits and qualities needed to identify the next permanent superintendent. Feedback pertaining to the following questions will be discussed during the Community Engagement Activities and aggregated through the online Community Input Survey, specifically: What do you see as the greatest strengths of the Pittsburgh Public Schools? What do you see as the greatest challenges faced by the Pittsburgh Public Schools? What skill sets, qualities, and characteristics does the next Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools need to possess and demonstrate? Is there anything else you would like to share regarding the hiring of the next Superintendent? Input Survey The community is asked to complete a short Community Input Survey by midnight on Wednesday, May 18. The Community Input Survey is available in English and an additional six languages (Spanish, Arabic, Nepali, Pashto, Swahili, and Russian). Community Forums Community meetings are being held on Wednesday, May 11, and Thursday, May 12, in five geographic areas of the City of Pittsburgh and virtually to ensure maximum opportunity to participate in the process. Meeting details, schedules, and registration are available online. Learn more about the search process and participate in a community feedback session. Focus Groups Additionally, consulting firm BWP & Associates (BWP), which is leading the national search for the district, is hosting in-person and virtual Focus Group sessions with participants representing District administrators, educators, parents and guardians, students, faith-based organizations, foundations, corporate leaders, school board members, and other constituencies. Register for an in-person focus group or a virtual focus group. The insights garnered from all of these outreach efforts will build the foundation on which the Leadership Profile is developed by BWP and utilized in the selection recruiting process. The PPS School Board anticipates that the process of selecting the final candidate for the Superintendent role will be completed prior to the start of the 2022-2023 academic year.
May 6, 2022 CDA Scholarship Available for Family and Group Child Care Home Providers Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the PA Key invite Family Child Care Home and Group Child Care Home providers to apply for a scholarship to complete a Child Development Associate (CDA) through Better Kid Care. About Better Kid Care’s CDA coursework is independent, self-paced and exclusively online. This scholarship opportunity cannot be used for CDA renewals. Once awarded, recipients will receive a payment code to access the online coursework through Better Kid Care. This program also requires the purchase of a CDA textbook package and this cost can be reimbursed through the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance program. The Pennsylvania Key will provide instructions for all of this and offer ongoing logistical support. All coursework must be completed on or before Nov. 30, 2022. Apply Family Child Care Home or Group Child Care Home providers interested in this opportunity must submit a completed application via Microsoft Forms for consideration by Sunday, May 15, 2022. Questions? For more information or questions, contact Amy Barrett at amybar@pakeys.org.
May 5, 2022 Provider Appreciation Day Proclamations Friday, May 6, 2022, has been proclaimed as Provider Appreciation Day in Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh. About Provider Appreciation Day National Provider Appreciation Day is recognized on the Friday before Mother’s Day to celebrate essential workers providing care to young children and thanking child care providers for their work. Allegheny County Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald has formally proclaimed Friday, May 6, 2022 as Provider Appreciation Day in Allegheny County. The proclamation was presented to Trying Together during a meeting on May 4 with staff members Emily Neff, Director of Public Policy, and Jan Sapotichne, Associate Executive Director, accepting. Representatives from the departments of Children Initiatives and Human Services also attended the proclamation presentation. “We know that quality early childcare and education can positively impact a child’s life and have an effect on their health, education, social lives, future earning opportunities and more,” said Fitzgerald. “Having access to high quality programs is important for so many reasons, and it is early child care providers and educators that we rely on for this work. The essential nature of their work was never more pronounced than during the [COVID-19] pandemic.” City of Pittsburgh On May 5, City of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey joined Trying Together staff to visit Project Destiny Early Learning Center on the Northside to present a proclamation for Provider Appreciation Day. The children at the child care center also got to enjoy story time with Mayor Gainey.
New Commission Releases Call for Applications from Early Childhood Educators Early childhood educators are invited to apply to serve on national a new Commission on Professional Excellence in Early Childhood Education. About the Commission Seventeen organizations – including the National Education Association (NEA), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and ZERO TO THREE – dedicated to young children formed the commission “to develop and promote the framework for a unified, cohesive, and equitable early childhood education profession informed by and in partnership with early childhood educators across states and settings,” according to a news release. The Commission is guided by the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council’s Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 report, the Power to the Profession Task Force’s Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession, and The Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators. Eligibility The Commission is opening an application process for individual early childhood educators to apply to be co-equal, full voting members. Eligibility and criteria information for applicants are available online. Apply The application is available in English and Spanish. Applications are open until Friday, May 27. The Commission will appoint up to seven early childhood educators, representing a diverse cross-section of the profession.
May 4, 2022 Carnegie Library’s 2022 Best Books for Babies Are you looking for books to read your baby? Check out the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s 2022 Best Books for Babies list! Best Books for Babies List Created by a panel of local librarians and child development experts, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s annual Best Books for Babies list is a nationally recognized guide assisting parents, teachers, and caregivers in selecting quality materials to share with their babies. The 2022 list includes several bedtime books, stories focused on animals, and board books with appealing photographs, poems, and rhymes. To view the list, visit the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh website.
May 3, 2022 Pre-K Counts and Head Start Enrollment The Allegheny Intermediate Unit is enrolling for Pre-K Counts and Head Start programs, which provide high-quality pre-kindergarten education for children who are three to five years old and not eligible for kindergarten. About Pre-K Counts The Allegheny Intermediate Unit Pre-K Counts Program provides high quality pre-kindergarten classroom education for children. Eligibility Preference given to children eligible for kindergarten the following school year Households that meet income guidelines (up to 300% of the federal poverty level) Call 412-394-5863 for more information, classroom locations, or to enroll. Head Start The Head Start program provides eligible preschool children with high quality, comprehensive, in-home or classroom programming designed to support school readiness skills. The program offers services that include health and wellness, education, social services, and family engagement. Eligibility Households currently receiving TANF cash, SSI, are homeless, or a foster parent for children ages 3-5 Households that meet income guidelines (up to 100% of the federal poverty level) Call 412-394-4594 for more information and classroom locations or complete the online pre-application form. Find Other Pre-K Counts and Head Start Programs Families can find Head Start program in their community through the Head Start Provider Locator and Pre-K Counts programs on the COMPASS website. For assistance from the ELRC Region 5, call 412.350.3577 or email elrc5@alleghenycounty.us.
