April 5, 2023 APOST Relaunches as Independent Nonprofit After 13 years of support for more than 150 out-of-school time (OST) organizations in Allegheny County, Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) has relaunched as an independent nonprofit organization. About APOST APOST is an intermediary, convener, and champion of the out-of-school community in Allegheny County. OST programs, which typically take place during afterschool hours and summer months, provide youth access to enrichment activities. Enrolling Children in OST Programs OST programs provide safe and supervised spaces for children and youth to engage in academic and enrichment programming when they would otherwise be unsupervised or unengaged. Enrollment for OST programs is now open throughout Allegheny County. Please use the Allegheny County Child Care tool at www.alleghenychildcare.org/welcome to find more information about programs in your neighborhood. Inaugural Executive Director and Board Leadership As an independent nonprofit, Executive Director Dr. Karen Dreyer will manage APOST. Dreyer has focused her career on increasing access to opportunities for learning and healthy development for young people. Most recently, she served as the Director of Child Nutrition Programs at Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. An inaugural Board of Directors will join Dreyer in her leadership. Kathryn Vargas, the director of the City of Pittsburgh Department of Parks and Recreation, will chair the board. Find the full list of board members on the APOST website. Learn More To learn more, visit the APOST website.
NAEYC Sponsoring Week of the Young Child Sweepstakes The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is sponsoring a Week of the Young Child (WOYC) Sweepstakes. Week of the Young Child is the first week of April, and NAEYC is offering prizes to seven lucky parents, caregivers, and early childhood educators who participate in the sweepstakes, which runs March 31 through April 14. WOYC Sweepstake Prizes Three people will win a free one-year Entry Level Membership ($30 value) Two people will win a free NAEYC Book Bundle ($70 estimated value) Two people will win a free module of Each and Every Child Training ($120 estimated value) Participate All parents, caregivers, and educators are invited to participate in the sweepstakes. To participate, simply visit the NAEYC website and complete the participation form. Learn More To learn more, visit the NAEYC website.
Trying Together Offering Fundraising Opportunity for Child Care Providers Trying Together is inviting early childhood program directors to join them at the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community to raise funds for their early learning programs. About the 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. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at Acrisure Stadium. Though the Highmark Walk is a great opportunity for nonprofit organizations to raise funds, not all entities meet eligibility standards. If you are the owner or director of an early learning program, your program may be ineligible. However, Trying Together is inviting all early childhood program directors to join Trying Together at the walk to raise funds for their program. Raise Money for An Early Learning Program To raise funds for an early learning program, create a program walk team on behalf of Trying Together and join Trying Together at the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community. After the walk, Trying Together will give 75% of all funds raised by early learning program teams back to their respective programs. Create a Walk Team Interested in teaming up with Trying Together? Start a team now! Start by visiting Trying Together’s Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community registration page. Once on the page, select “Click Here to Form Team.” Next, enter the name of your organization as the team name when prompted, and, finally, complete the registration form. Learn More If you need assistance creating a team or want to learn more, visit the Highmark Walk page on the Trying Together website or view the event flyer.
April 4, 2023 Diaper Bank at ELRC Region 5 The ELRC Region 5’s main office in downtown Pittsburgh is now a Diaper Bank location in Allegheny County. Learn More Emergency diapers and wipes are available at the ELRC Region 5. Families can receive up to 50 diapers and two packs of wipes per month. Opened diapers and wipes may not be returned or exchanged. The office is located at: 304 Wood Street, Suite 400 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Call 412.350.3577 for more information.
Resources for April Observances Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them. April Observances Here is a list of resources for April observances: April is Month of the Young Child Week of the Young Child Activities and Tips, NAEYC Celebrate Month of the Young Child 2023, Trying Together April is World Autism Month 20 Classroom Activities For Autism Awareness, Teaching Expertise Family Guide for Early Intervention and Inclusion in Allegheny County, Trying Together Picture Books Featuring Characters with Autism, Reading Rockets Sensory Friendly Afternoons, The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Sensory Friendly Film Showings, AMC Theater at the Waterfront 2023 Autism Friendly Events in Pittsburgh, Autism Center of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Autism Services, The Children’s Institute April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Managing Problem Behavior at Home, Child Mind Institute Tips for Stressed-Out Parents, Cleveland Clinic Developmentally Appropriate Practice: A Guide for Parents, Trying Together Child Abuse and Neglect Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Resources to Keep Kids Safe, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Strategies for Reducing Inequity in Child Protection: Addressing Bias, Child Welfare Information Gateway April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) ·Medical Treatment for Sexual Assault, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital National Resources for Sexual Assault Survivors and their Loved Ones, Rape, Incest, and Abuse National Network (RAINN) A Guide for Friends and Family of Sexual Violence Survivors, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) Help for Parents of Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused, Rape, Incest, and Abuse National Network (RAINN) Caring for Kids: What Parents Need to Know About Sexual Abuse, National Child Traumatic Stress Network Parenting a Child or Youth Who Has Been Sexually Abused: A Guide for Foster and Adoptive Parents, Child Welfare Information Gateway Sexual Violence and Oppression, National Sexual Violence Resource Center April 2: International Children’s Book Day 10 Multicultural Children’s Books That Celebrate the World, Forbes Around the World in 80+ Children’s Books, New York Public Library 100 Favorite Books for Young Readers, NPR The 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time, Time Magazine April 2: World Autism Awareness Day Celebrate World Autism Awareness Day With These 7 Activities, KidsKonnect From Awareness to Acceptance: 10 Children’s Books that Accurately Portray What It Is to Be Autistic, PBS Kids SoCal Early Intervention FAQs, Trying Together April 15: National American Sign Language Day 6 Ways to Celebrate National ASL Day, American Society for Deaf Children 7 Teaching Strategies to Empower Deaf Students, Deaf Unity Top Tips for Communicating with a Deaf Child, National Deaf Children’s Society My Child Is Deaf – What Can I Do?, Deaf Education through Listening and Talking Association (DELTA) 7 Children’s Books About Deafness, Deaf Unity Fun American Sign Language Games, Start ASL 20 Creative Ways to Teach Sign Language in the Classroom, Teaching Expertise April 22: Earth Day 15 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day With Kids, PBS Kids for Parents Top 10 outdoor play spaces in Pittsburgh, NextPittsburgh 40 Fun Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Throughout the Month, One Tree Planted Try Earth Day-Flavored Ice Cream From Millie’s to Benefit Youth Programming at Frick Environmental Center, Pittsburgh Tribune Review Honoring Earth Month in Pittsburgh: Events, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy April 23: World Book Day How to Celebrate World Book Day 2023, Bona Fide Bookworm Buzzword Words & Activities, Buzzword Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Book Lists, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
