December 19, 2024 Registration Open for Trying Together’s Annual Celebration of Early Childhood Educators Dinner Trying Together will host its Annual Celebration of Early Childhood Educators Dinner on April 10. Registration is now open for the event. Learn More The dinner is held to celebrate early childhood educators during April’s Month of the Young Child. The event includes a dinner, photo booth, prizes, and more. This year’s dinner will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10 at Acrisure Stadium, located at 100 Art Rooney Ave. in Pittsburgh. Individual tickets are $15 and groups of 10 may purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $135. Registrants are encouraged to consider the value of individual and group rate tickets – $140 and $1,400, respectively – and contribute more if they are willing and able to do so. This is a high-demand event, so seating will be based on a first-come, first-served basis that evening and reserved tables will not be available. Free parking will be available for guests. Registration will close when capacity is met or by March 28. Businesses, organizations, and individuals can recognize early childhood caregivers by purchasing full-color advertisements to appear in the 2025 Annual Celebration of Early Childhood Educators Dinner program book. The deadline to reserve an ad or name in the recognition list is Friday, January 17. Those interested in attending can register now. Any questions should be emailed to info@tryingtogether.org. Month of the Young Child First established in 1971 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Week of the Young Child was 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. Due to growing interest and focus, Trying Together later designated the entire month of April as the Month of the Young Child. It is recognized as a time during which the dedicated work of early educators is promoted for the essential role that it plays in society.
December 18, 2024 OCDEL to Offer Course on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the Pennsylvania Key are offering an eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course. What is MBSR? MBSR is the most extensively-tested, evidence-based mindfulness program available. Mindfulness is the practice of paying focused, non-judgmental attention to the present moment. It involves being fully aware of your thoughts, feelings, sensations, and surroundings without trying to change or avoid them. This eight-week course is aimed at individuals who are seeking a reputable and in-depth exploration of mindfulness meditation. It adheres to the same standards and structure as the in-person program created in 1979 by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. The course includes 2.5-hour sessions each week as well as a full day-long-at-home retreat and daily practice. It is an intense course for those seeking to deepen their mindfulness practice and understanding through a trusted and well-researched system. More Information Those interested in taking the class should view a recording on the Pennsylvania Key Mindfulness page prior to completing an application. The recording can be found at the bottom of the page. There are limited seats currently available. Applications will be prioritized for early childhood educators providing direct service to children and families. The application deadline is 4 p.m. on Friday, December 20. Applicants will be informed by Monday, December 23 of their application status. Those who are selected will receive a link and a code to register for the course through Mindful Leader, the organization hosting the courses. Applications are available online. The four different class options include: Starting January 6: Mondays, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Sessions: January 6 – March 3; retreat on Saturday, February 22) Starting January 12: Sundays, 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Sessions: January 12 – March 9; retreat on Saturday, February 22) Starting January 24: Fridays, 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Sessions: January 24 – March 21; retreat on Saturday, March 8) Starting January 28: Tuesdays, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Sessions: January 28 – March 25; retreat on Saturday, March 15)
December 17, 2024 APOST Announces Spring 2025 Professional Development Offerings Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time has unveiled its lineup of spring 2025 professional development courses. Offerings include courses on everything from dealing with conflict to listening actively to youth. Learn More Registration is required for all courses and closes two days prior to an event or once a session is full. Unless otherwise indicated, all workshops take place at: Nova Place – CoLab18 100 S. Commons Pittsburgh, PA 15212 The following courses will be offered in spring 2025: Building Community (Thursday, January 16) Promoting Responsibility & Leadership (Friday, January 17) Ask-Listen-Encourage (Friday, February 7 at Allegheny Intermediate Unit; 475 E. Waterfront Drive in Homestead) Engaging Youth in Supported Struggle (Friday, February 21) Essentials of a (SEL) Social Emotional Learning Framework (Thursday, March 6) Ask-Listen-Encourage (Friday, March 21 at Allegheny Intermediate Unit) Building Community (Thursday, April 3) Holistic Health Framework: Curriculum/Activities Focus (Thursday, April 17; webinar) Reframing Conflict (Friday, April 18) For more information on spring 2025 professional development offerings, visit APOST’s website.
PACCA Releases Report on 2023-24 T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship The Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) released its annual report on the scholarships it provided to early learning professionals during the 2023-24 Fiscal Year. Learn More The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Pennsylvania Scholarship Program offers early learning professionals a debt-free higher education. The scholarship aims to raise the quality of care and education that teachers provide to children in their classrooms. In the 2023-24 Fiscal Year, PACCA provided scholarships to 910 early learning professionals who were employed in 560 child care programs in Pennsylvania. Recipients earned 13 to 15 credits last year, with an average 3.34 GPA (for associate degrees) and 3.6 (for bachelor’s degrees). Associate degree scholars increased their salaries by 14.6%, while bachelor’s degree scholars increased theirs by 12.6%. Sponsoring employers experienced a 95% retention rate of scholarship recipients. The full report on the impact of the T.E.A.C.H. scholarship on early childhood education professionals and programs is available on PACCA’s website.
December 16, 2024 Nominations Open: Pennsylvania’s Early Childhood Education Recognition The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is seeking nominations to recognize early childhood professionals for their accomplishments. Learn More Individuals can nominate people in the early childhood education field who have made accomplishments in the following areas: Academic (accomplishment recognition can include directors, classroom staff, and support staff in an early learning program) Years of Service (completed years are recognized in increments of 10, 15, 20 and 25+ years only) Retirement These recognitions are applicable to all staffing positions within an early learning program, including, but not limited to: Directors Classroom staff (teachers, aides, etc.) Support staff (receptionists, janitors, kitchen staff, etc.) Submissions can be nominations (submitted by someone else), or self-submitted (submitted by the individual to be recognized) and will be collected on an ongoing basis. The deadline to submit is Friday, January 3. Eligible submissions will receive a letter of recognition from OCDEL Deputy Secretary Shante’ Brown. Submit a nomination.
CWRC to Host Listening Sessions for Parents with Closed Youth Agency Cases The Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center (CWRC) wants to hear from birth parents who have a closed case with a county children and youth agency. The center will host listening sessions in 2025 on the matter. Learn More Since parents are the experts regarding the needs and strengths of their families, their expertise provides opportunities for partnerships with professionals in the child welfare system. During a series of upcoming Parent Listening Sessions, parents will be able to share their experiences with and provide input on the county’s children and youth agency. The sessions will be invitation-only and selected parents will receive $300 for time, travel, and child care. Applications are being accepted until Dec. 31. As registrations are received, event locations will be selected based on proximity to the applicant’s county of residence. The listening sessions will be held from March to June. Sign-up is available online.
December 11, 2024 The Buzzword is DIRECTION As part of its programming, Buzzword distributes its 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. This month’s Buzzword is DIRECTION, which means the path along which someone or something moves. Buzzword’s DIRECTION Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities. Caregivers are encouraged to read through Tap! Tap! Tap! by Hervet Tullet with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and ideas together, taking time to explain the meaning of the words and connecting them to their child’s real-life experiences. Buzzword has also provided a DIRECTION book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading. View the DIRECTION Activity Book and book recommendations. More Information Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email buzzword@tryingtogether.org.
December 10, 2024 Pennie Enrollment Deadline for Jan. 1 Coverage This Week Pennie’s open enrollment for health insurance will remain open until mid-January – however, those who need coverage for January 1 must enroll no later than December 15. Learn More Pennie’s open enrollment began in early November and will close on Wednesday, January 15. Those who do not sign up during the enrollment period would have to wait until the next period, except in limited circumstances known as special enrollment periods. Special enrollment periods include qualifying life events – such as losses of coverage, changes in households (including getting married or divorced, the birth of a child, or a death in the family), changes in residence, or other events (gaining immigration status, for example). Those who want their coverage to begin on Wednesday, January 1 would need to sign up by Sunday, January 15. For more information on eligibility, required documents, and how to enroll, visit Pennie’s website.
Trying Together Community Honors Advocacy Fellows The Trying Together community recently held an event to honor the 22 fellows who completed their 11-month journey of advocacy, creativity, and dedication through the Early Childhood Education Advocacy Fellowship. A total of 77 attendees gathered to celebrate the fellows’ accomplishments and reflect on their work. The fellows showcase projects that addressed early intervention, staffing recruitment, child care advocacy, mental health support, and more. The fellows demonstrated their creativity and commitment to driving change through posters, brochures, and PSA videos they created. They also shared their next steps in advocacy, highlighting how their passion and hard work will continue to make an impact beyond the fellowship. “A huge ‘thank you’ to our fellows for their unwavering dedication and to everyone who made this night so memorable,” said Hailee B. Roye, Trying Together’s policy and practice manager. “Your efforts have shown the power of advocacy and the importance of building a brighter future for children, families, and educators.” About the Fellowship The Early Childhood Education Advocacy Fellowship is committed to equipping early childhood professionals, parents, families, and caregivers of young children with the knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively advocate for policies that enhance the quality and accessibility of early care and education.
Representative from Rep. Abney’s Office Discusses Early Childhood Needs at The Learning Loft A representative from the office of state Rep. Aerion Abney, D-19th, visited The Learning Loft this week to discuss the role of early childhood education. Learn More Natali Lara-Jimena, Abney’s constituent services advisor, visited the early childhood education on Centre Avenue, which is in the state representative’s district. Her visit provided a first-hand glimpse into the vital role that early childhood educators play as the “workforce behind the workforce.” Amid an ongoing state staffing crisis and capacity challenges for early childhood education, Lara-Jimena’s engagement underscored the critical need for action and support. Lara-Jimena met with educators, who discussed balancing the needs of children and families while navigating consistent underfunding and workforce shortages. The visit highlighted the importance of a proposed $284 million recruitment and retention initiative to help providers offer competitive wages and ensure the long-term sustainability of the early childhood workforce. The proposed funds would help to stabilize and strengthen the field by addressing urgent staffing needs, retaining skilled educators, and ensuring that children and communities could rely on getting high-quality care.
