August 29, 2024 OCDEL Bureau of Certification Services’ Western Office Moves to New Address The Office of Child Development and Early Learning’s (OCDEL) Bureau of Certification Services – Western Office has moved to a new address in Pittsburgh. Learn More As of Aug. 29, the OCDEL bureau has moved to the following address: Western Region Office 301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 370 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 The phone numbers for the Western Region OCDEL office remain the same: 412-565-5183 and (800) 222-2149. An updated regional map with contact information for each Regional Office of Child Development and Early Learning is also available.
August 28, 2024 Resources for September 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. Here is a list of resources for August observances: Month-Long Observances ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH Attendance Awareness Campaign 2024, Attendance Works Key Research: Why Attendance Matters for Achievement and How Interventions Can Help, Attendance Works BABY SAFETY MONTH Organizations Publish New Child Safety and Development Resources for Families and Educators, Trying Together Safety and Emergencies: Family Resources, Trying Together Directory for Emergency and Safety Services, Trying Together Baby Safety Month Safety Tips, Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) 5 Tips for New Parents During Baby Safety Month, SafeKids.org CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH What is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month?, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Free Resources from the American Childhood Cancer Organization, American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) Are There Disparities in Childhood Cancer?, New York State Department of Health Childhood Cancers, NIH National Cancer Institute Participate in a September Childhood Cancer Awareness Event, Children’s Cancer Cause HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH Family Guide to Discussing Race and Equity with Young Children, Trying Together One in Four Children Nationwide Are Latino, National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families Hispanic Heritage Month 2024, University of Pittsburgh Characteristics of the Early Childhood Workforce Serving Latino Children, National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families Celebrate Latin American and Hispanic Heritage Month With These Tasty Recipes!, PBS Kids for Parents NATIONAL CHILDHOOD OBESITY AWARENESS MONTH Supporting Childhood Physical Health: A Guide for Families: The Importance of Exercise, Trying Together Preventing Childhood Obesity: 6 Things Families Can Do, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Help Your Child Stay at a Healthy Weight, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month: September 2024, National Today Parents and Caregivers Can Help Prevent Obesity and Support Healthy Growth, U.S. Department of Agriculture NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH National Recovery Month 2024, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Recovery Month, Community Care Behavioral Health National Recovery Month, Allegheny County Department of Human Services Celebrating Roads to Recovery, Pittsburgh Recovery Walk NEWBORN SCREENING AWARENESS MONTH Newborn Screening, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) What is Newborn Screening?, Baby’s First Test Newborn Screening Tests for Your Baby, March of Dimes About Newborn Screening, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Weeks of Recognition SEPTEMBER 17 – 23 IS CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK Car Seat Safety for Children, Trying Together Car Seats and Booster Seats Overview, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Safe Kids Worldwide Car Seat Guide Videos, Safe Kids Worldwide Boost Your Child Passenger Safety Knowledge and Skills Trainings, National Child Passenger Safety Board All Children are Pedestrians! Prevention Tips and Recent Statistics, Children’s Safety Network at Education Development Center Days of Recognition SEPTEMBER 6 IS NATIONAL READ A BOOK DAY Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Releases 2024 Best Books for Babies List, Trying Together Toolkit: Families and Schools Partnering for Children’s Literary Success, Trying Together Children’s Books on Race and Equity, Trying Together Books to Celebrate Gender Expression, Inclusion, and Pride, Trying Together Children’s Books About Transitions, Trying Together Children’s Books About Mental Health, Trying Together SEPTEMBER 26 IS NATIONAL FAMILY DAY Family Engagement Toolkit, Trying Together Family Guide: Family Dynamics, Trying Together Strategies to Support Social-Emotional Development: A Guide for Families, Trying Together Family Transitions and Routines: Resources, Trying Together Trying Together Releases Family Resources in Spanish, Trying Together Grandfamily Tip Sheets Provide Information on Self-Care and Youth Mental Health, Trying Together Navigating Sibling Relationships, Psychology Today Foster and Adoptive Families: Supportive Strategies, PennState Better Kid Care Blended Family and Self-Parenting Tips, HelpGuide.org Keeping in Touch with Family Can Keep You Healthy, WebMD.com Healthy Communication in Stepfamilies, National Stepfamily Resource Center (NRSC) Get to Know Your Stepkids, National Stepfamily Resource Center (NRSC)
August 27, 2024 Child Care Directors and Owners Asked to Take Staffing Crisis Survey The Start Strong PA campaign is asking child care directors and owners to take a survey regarding the ongoing Pennsylvania teacher staffing crisis. Learn More While the recently passed Pennsylvania 2024-25 state budget included funding to help families better afford child care, programs are still in need of more funding to keep their classroom and program doors open. Information collected through the survey will be used to demonstrate the need for the 2025-26 state budget to fund a child care teacher recruitment and retention initiative. This would ensure that the workforce is paid a livable wage and that programs remain open for working families. Four respondents to the survey will be randomly selected to receive a $100 gift card. The deadline to participate is Monday, Sept. 30. The survey is now available online.
Federal Final Rule on Head Start Regulatory Changes The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Department has released a final rule regarding regulatory changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards. Changes to the rule include requirements for wages and benefits, breaks for staff, and enhanced support for staff health and wellness. Learn More The changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards are aimed at supporting and stabilizing the Head Start workforce and improving the quality of services that its programs provide to children and families. Changes also include enhancements to mental health services to better integrate mental health into every aspect of program service delivery. Enhancements are included in the areas of family service worker family assignments, identifying and meeting community needs, ensuring child safety, services for pregnant women, and alignment with state early childhood systems. The changes also include minor clarifications to promote better transparency and clarity of understanding for grant recipients. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) released a statement praising the Department of Health and Human Services for the final rule. NAEYC noted that the rule would strengthen the Head Start workforce. About Head Start The federal Head Start program provides early education and other comprehensive services to more than half a million children, prenatal to age 5, in center- and home-based settings across the country. It is a leader in providing high-quality services that support the development of children from low-income families, helping them enter kindergarten more prepared to succeed in school and life. Dates The compliance date for many of the requirements in the final rule is Oct. 21, which is 60 days after it was published in the Federal Register. However, some of the requirements involve programs that might need more time to implement the regulatory changes. For further information, call 202-240-3901 or email Jessica.Bialecki@acf.hhs.gov. The details of the final rule can be found on the Federal Register’s website.
August 26, 2024 NAEYC Releases Advocacy Toolkit Ahead of November Election The National Association for the Education of Young Children has released an Electoral Advocacy Toolkit that includes resources aimed at supporting and advancing nonpartisan advocacy efforts. Learn More The U.S. general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5. On its website, NAEYC notes that early childhood educators play an important role in ensuring that child care and early learning are priorities for voters and candidates. The association has released a toolkit that includes resources to support and advance nonpartisan electoral advocacy efforts. These include everything from signs to take to candidate town halls to ideas to help “get out the vote” in support of early childhood education and educators. November Election The toolkit notes that 33 U.S. Senate seats, 11 gubernatorial elections, thousands of state and local elections, and 435 U.S. House of Representatives seats will be on the ballot in November. As a result, more than 40 million children will be impacted by the election’s results. On the toolkit’s web page, visitors can: Register to vote Discover what’s on the ballot Find information about voting in each state Check on voter registration status Pledge to vote To view the Electoral Advocacy Toolkit, visit NAEYC’s America for Early Ed website. Other Resources America for Early Education Nonpartisan Electoral Advocacy has also provided some resources to assist with Get Out the Vote efforts. These include: Nonpartisan Electoral Advocacy for ECE Programs and Organizations: Do’s and Don’ts GOTV Activities for ECE Programs and Organizations Hosting a Candidate Forum on Child Care and Early Learning: Sample Facilitator Questions Town Hall Signs and Questions Oct. 21 is the last day to register to vote before the election. You can register to vote, update registration and find information about voting on the state’s webpage. Applications for a mail-in or absentee ballot must be received by your county election office by Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. County election offices must receive completed mail ballots by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. A postmark by 8 p.m. on that date is not sufficient.
CDC Issues Update on Spread of Parvovirus B19 in United States The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an update on Parvovirus B19 activity in the United States. Learn More Parvovirus B19 is a respiratory virus that is transmitted through respiratory droplets. Infection usually causes no symptoms or mild illness, such as flu-like symptoms, rash, and joint pain. However, it can cause serious complications for high-risk groups. The CDC has issued a health alert to notify healthcare providers, public health authorities, and the public about the increases in parvovirus B19 activity around the nation. People who are pregnant, have a weakened immune system, or have certain blood disorders – such as sickle cell disease – should talk to their healthcare provider if they experience flu-like symptoms or might have been exposed to someone with parvovirus B19. Prevention The CDC recommends several preventative strategies to avoid the virus: Stay up to date with immunizations. Practice good hygiene. Take steps for cleaner air. When you have a respiratory virus, use precautions to prevent spread and seek healthcare promptly for testing or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness.
NAEYC Encourages Early Childhood Education Experts to Become Subject Matter Experts Early childhood education experts are encouraged to share their knowledge and expertise in the field by becoming a subject matter expert (SME) for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Learn More NAEYC is expanding its pool of SMEs to support creating professional development, training, and webinars for early education leaders and educators. It aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice by drawing on the insights of SMEs in regard to practical applications, best practices, and lessons learned in the field. A subject matter expert is defined as someone who has mastery of a particular early education topic, hands-on experience and the ability to translate both to support early education professionals. The SMEs should know how to implement realistic and practical strategies for creating culturally relevant and developmentally appropriate experiences for young children. To become an SME for NAEYC, the following criteria is required: Hold a master’s degree or doctorate in early childhood education, developmental psychology, child development and family studies, early childhood special education, elementary education, or other related degree Have experience as an early childhood professional, preferably as a direct service provider – program administrator, teacher, or family childcare provider – or ability to adapt a specific knowledge base to an early childhood audience Have knowledge of adult learning theory Applying and the Selection Process To apply, complete the NAEYC SME Pool Application and attach a resume, cover letter, and writing sample. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Candidates who meet the SME criteria will be added to the SME pool. When NAEYC seeks expertise, candidates will be selected and retained on a contractual basis. Applications will be active for two years; after that time, a new application will be required to maintain active status. NAEYC is seeking SMEs on the following topics: Advocacy/public policy Art Child Development Children with disabilities and/or early intervention Cognitive development Community partnerships Curriculum theories and approaches Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging Emergent bilingual/multilingual learners Family engagement Guidance or classroom management Health and safety Infant/toddlers Kindergarten Leadership Learning environments Language and literacy Mathematics Observation and assessment Physical development Play Professionalism and ethics Program administration Science Social and emotional development Social studies Teaching and instructional practices Technology For more information, visit NAEYC’s website.
August 21, 2024 Pennsylvania’s Professional Development Registry Debuts Training Organization Directory The state’s Professional Development (PD) Registry has launched a Training Organization Directory for finding organizations approved by the Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS). Learn More Providers seeking professional development can use the directory to find and contact PQAS-approved organizations to schedule events. To access the directory, visit the PD Registry website. Once there, click on “Search Training Organization Directory” within the left-hand menu. Visitors can search for an organization by name or region (at this time, qualifications will appear blank). To email an organization, click on its name or email icon. To view any professional development events the organization may have scheduled, click on the calendar icon. PQAS-approved training organizations that are interested in listing themselves in the Training Organization Directory should complete the steps in a tipsheet on the Pennsylvania Keys’ website. Any questions should be emailed to pqas@pakeys.org.
August 20, 2024 Buzzword to Explore ENTERTAINMENT at Family-Friendly Event in September As part of Buzzword’s programming, we distribute our signature “BUZZ Boxes” to local families to help excite children from birth to age five as well as their caregivers about new words that are all around them. These family engagement kits come complete with a high-quality children’s book and enriching activities that support early literacy skills and development. Learn More This month’s Buzzword is ENTERTAINMENT, which means being provided with amusement or enjoyment. Our ENTERTAINMENT Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy skills. Buzzword will explore its latest buzzword during a celebratory, music-focused, and family-friendly event on Wednesday, Sept. 4. The event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Clairton Family Center, located at 734 Miller Ave. in Clairton. During the event, children and their caregivers will engage with each other to create meaningful moments through interactive activities provided by the Pittsburgh Festival Opera. Each family will take a BUZZ Box home with them and dinner will be provided. Registration is required to attend. More Information Be sure to check back soon for more information on the ENTERTAINMENT Activity Book and other Buzzword materials for September. Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email us at buzzword@tryingtogether.org.
Pennsylvania to Discontinue PA Position Statements for Environment Rating Scales As of Aug. 1, the state has discontinued the use of PA Position Statements for the Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) and School-Age Environment Rating Scale (SACERS). Learn More The sunsetting of the scales was part of an effort to simplify guidance and strengthen consistent use of program observation instruments for continuous quality improvement. Programs may continue to use ERS, third editions, and SACERS-U as a quality assessment tool without the position statements. State Department of Human Services regulations are the foundation of all quality work and compliance is required for all certified programs. If variance occurs between ERS quality expectations and PA DHS Certification regulations, programs must ensure that regulations are met. Programs utilizing the most updated ERS or SACERS are encouraged to review PA DHS Certification regulations around the following to ensure compliance with regulations: Use of hand sanitizer Handling of soiled diapers Placement of nap equipment Mandated Reporter training and policies First Aid training ERS and SACERS ERS focuses on the typical daily experiences of children in early childhood and school-age settings. The assessment considers how teacher engagement, the spaces and equipment used by the children, accessible play materials, and children’s activities combine to enhance learning. It includes a variety of factors, including indoor and outdoor space and furnishings as well as supports for parents and staff, and personal care routines, including health and safety practices. SACERS is a tool used to evaluate group-care programs for children, ages 5 to 12. It consists of 49 items that are organized into seven subscales. Items include everything from space and furnishings to health and safety. More information on Program Quality Assessment can be found on The Pennsylvania Key website.
