May 7, 2024 Seeking Input on Recess and Play for Advocacy Toolkit Trying Together and Playful Pittsburgh are seeking input on recess and play for the creation of an advocacy toolkit on the topics. Learn More As part of their play advocacy research, Trying Together and Playful Pittsburgh are asking parents and caregivers of children, teachers, school administrators, and community members for input. In the survey, participants will discuss how their child’s school perceives and implements recess. Collected input will go toward devising a comprehensive, community-based Play Advocacy Toolkit that will be widely shared and easily accessible. The deadline to complete the survey is June 21. The survey is now available to complete. Community Conversations on Play Parents and caregivers of children, teachers, school leaders, and community members are also invited to join Trying Together and Playful Pittsburgh for upcoming community conversations on play. Physical movement, the freedom to play, and playful learning during the school day improves a child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive skills. However, many American children engage in less than one hour of unstructured play per day. The conversations will focus on how play is an important part of a child’s school life. The events will help attendees learn how to advocate for play and developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood. In person event Thursday, May 30, 2024 | 5 – 7 p.m. Spartan Community Center of Hazelwood, 134 East Elizabeth Street Registration is now open Dinner and child care will be provided. Virtual event Monday, June 10, 2024 | 7-8 p.m. Zoom Registration is now open.
Child Care Providers Invited to Participate In “Imagine a Day Without Child Care” Throughout May, the Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA Provider Advisory Board is inviting Pennsylvania child care providers to participate in Imagine a Day Without Child Care. Inspired by the national “A Day Without Child Care,” which takes place every year in May, Imagine a Day Without Child Care offers advocacy activities to engage families, teachers, and staff in early learning programs. Imagine a Day’s Origins Since 2022, Start Strong PA and the Provider Advisory Board have drawn attention to the importance of early care and education providers by strengthening the policy-to-practice feedback loop, and growing the network of providers willing to mobilize and advocate on behalf of the early childhood field. Inspired by the national Day Without Child Care movement, the board introduced A Day Without Child Care to enable child care providers to close on May 13 to advocate for their programs and encourage families to raise awareness for the day. PAB’s Toolkit To support provider participation in Imagine a Day Without Child Care, the Provider Advisory Board releases an annual toolkit that includes: Information on how to reach out to state legislators Samples of prompts to post on social media to raise awareness for the day Tags to include in social media posts Information on how to set up a family engagement station for parents or caregivers to take quick action during drop-off or pickup. Stations can include printable temples that families can use to share their stories. Printable grab-and-go stickers that can be worn on Imagine a Day Without Child Care Learn More On May 13 and throughout the month, Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA are encouraging child care providers to use their voices to advocate for increased funding in the state budget to provide higher wages for early childhood educators. When posting to social media, be sure to tag Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA so these organizations can elevate provider posts and ensure elected officials receive a collective message. Families can also sign a petition to tell their elected officials that they rely on child care and support increased investments in child care wages. To learn more, visit Start Strong PA’s website.
May 6, 2024 Registration Open for UnConference: Launching School Age Summer Programming Join Trying Together, Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST), and Allegheny County Department of Human Services for “UnConference: Launching School Age Summer Programming.” Registration is now open for the event, which will be held on Thursday, June 6 at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., participants will attend expert-led sessions that will equip them with skills needed to create safe and enriching summer experiences for school-aged children. Six PQAS and Act 48 credit hours will be available. Workshops The morning session is dedicated to American Red Cross Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and AED training. Participants will attend two afternoon sessions. Morning Session (9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) Workshops include: Play Included: Building Friendships Through LEGO Play o Speaker: John Balash and Team from Carnegie Mellon University Maximizing the Mind-Body Connection in Summer Youth Programming Speaker: Danielle Thum, MS, RYT, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Family Care Connection Centers American Red Cross: First Aid/CPR/AED, Including Pediatric First Aid and CPR Playnotes Interactive Activity Afternoon Sessions (1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.) Following lunch, participants will attend two rounds of workshops. Sessions will focus on how to create welcoming and culturally inclusive environments; strategies to guide and mentor children; and using LEGO play to collaborate, communicate, and problem solve. Workshops include: The Culturally Inclusive Check-In o Speaker: Ja’Sonta Roberts from Assemble Everyday Mentoring o Speaker: Sophia Duck from Mentoring Pittsburgh Play Included: Building Friendships Through LEGO Play o Speaker: John Balash and Team from Carnegie Mellon University When Helping Hurts: Understanding the Impact of Compassion Fatigue o Speaker: Sharice Nance, LCSW, CCTP Amplifying Youth Voice and Choice Speaker: Katherine Spinney, PCC, MT, MSW Maximizing the Mind-Body Connection in Summer Youth Programming Speaker: Danielle Thum, MS, RYT, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Family Care Connection Centers Supporting Youth From English Language Learning Backgrounds Speakers: Meg Booth and Jenna Baron from Alliance for Refugee Youth Support and Education More session details will be available soon. More Details Registration is now open for the conference. Tickets for the UnConference cost $25 and free parking will be available for participants at the conservatory. Lunch, which will be catered by Phipps, is included with registration. Those interested in attending must register by May 27. Registrants will be asked to choose their preferred workshops at a later date. Group discounts are not available. If you have questions about the UnConference, visit the event webpage or contact Paige Kizior at paige@tryingtogether.org.
RAD Pass’ Summer Staycation to Offer Free Admissions to Area Attractions The RAD Pass’ Summer Staycation will offer free admission opportunities to numerous area attractions this summer. Free Admissions Ticket offers from a number of Pittsburgh museums, cultural institutions, and other attractions will begin to appear May 1 on the RAD Pass’ website. Free admission days will begin on May 15. During the course of RAD Summer Staycation, more than 100,000 free tickets will be available. Allegheny County residents would need to sign up for a library card and make reservations for specific events for free admission. The free admissions will continue to be announced until the end of August. Participating attractions include the Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, The Frick Pittsburgh, Heinz History Center, Mattress Factory, National Aviary, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum. More Details Free family-four-packs of tickets will be replenished with new dates for admission throughout the summer. They can be booked and redeemed through a four-step process on the RAD Pass’ website: Log in with your Allegheny County library card number and PIN Browse for passes by date or venue Reserve your pass Print your RAD Pass or download it to your mobile device RAD Pass users are asked to only book a reservation that they plan to use on a selected date. If they are unable to attend, they should cancel the reservation to open up spots for others. The RAD Summer Staycation will also serve as a one-stop-shop for people to explore free events at regional attractions throughout the summer. Its RAD Works Here site will feature a calendar of events, including everything from free concerts and movies at local parks to summer festivals. Attractions participating in RAD Summer Staycation will not host a traditional “RAD Day” this year. They will instead shift free admissions from the fall to the summer. However, RAD Days will remain focused on fan-favorite free events and experiences, including music and theater performances as well as stadium tours, arts classes, and family open houses. For more information, visit the RAD Summer Staycation website.
iLookOut Enrolling for Free Mandated Reporter Training iLookOut’s enrollment is currently open for mandated reporter training. The iLookOut Core Training was designed to ensure that professionals can master basic information about how to identify signs of child abuse. Learn More iLookOut’s Core Training provides instructional activities along with various didactic exercises and resource handouts, requiring participants to master the learning objectives. iLookOut is a multimedia, online-learning program that prepares mandated reporters through evidence-based training to meet their professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities for identifying and reporting suspected child abuse. The iLookOut Training can be completed over multiple sessions on your smartphone, tablet, or computer, and has two parts: Mandated Reporter Training: interactive video-based storyline (three hours total) Advanced Training: 5-12-minute animated micro-learning exercises (three hours total) Those who participate in both trainings can: meet their required three hours of Act 31 mandated reporter training meet Act 126 requirements for PA teachers receive six hours of early childhood Professional Development credit from the PA Key receive a $15 gift card for completing the training sessions. During the course, they will learn about supporting at-risk children and their families. For more information, visit the iLookOut website.
