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Author: Maria Pisano

PennAEYC Names Linda D. Grinage as 2023 VOICE for Children Award Honoree

News

March 9, 2023

PennAEYC Names Linda D. Grinage as 2023 VOICE for Children Award Honoree

The Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) recently named Linda D. Grinage, a Pittsburgh-based child care provider and advocate, as one of two 2023 VOICE for Children Award Honorees.

Grinage shares the honor with Dr. Jean Allison, an Associate Professor of Early Childhood at Delaware County Community College. Both women will be recognized at the Annual VOICE For Children Award Celebration on March 31.

Learn More

Linda Grinage is the founder and Chief Servant Operator (CSO) of of Blessed Assurance Christian Childcare & Early Learning Center, LLC., and a dedicated, Pittsburgh-based child care provider with over 20 years of experience in the industry.

In addition to leading Blessed Assurance Christian Childcare, Grinage serves as an active member of the Woodland Hills School District Kindergarten Transition Team and collaborates with other early childhood practitioners to establish kindergarten transition processes and agreements with the district’s schools. Additionally, she serves as a community advocate through ELRC Region 5’s quality partner, Trying Together.

In the past, Grinage served as a Keystone STARS Mentor, and remains affiliated with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), PennAEYC, Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA), and National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC).

Grinage earned her bachelor’s degree in Child Development & Family Relations from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and holds both a Pennsylvania State Teaching Certificate in Nursery and Kindergarten, as well as a Pennsylvania Director’s Credential.

Her commitment to providing quality care and education to children, combined with her compassionate and nurturing approach to child care, have made her a beloved and respected pillar of the community.

Read Grinage’s full biography to learn more.

More Information

To learn more about Grinage’s recognition as a VOICE for Children Award Honoree or the PennAEYC VOICE awards, visit the PennAEYC website.

Child Care Providers to Invited to Join Family and Group Child Care Home Committee

News

March 8, 2023

Child Care Providers to Invited to Join Family and Group Child Care Home Committee

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is inviting child care providers throughout Pennsylvania to participate in the Family Child Home (FCCH) and Group Child Care Home (GCCH) Committee.

Pennsylvania child care providers interested in participating with the committee will have to sign-up by Monday, March 20, 2023.

About the Family Child Care Home (FCCH) and Group Child Care Home (GCCH) Committee

The goal of the FCCH and GCCH Committee is to form a culturally relevant and diverse group of child care providers and educators that is representative of the state of Pennsylvania. This group will connect to celebrate and share their strengths, struggles, and uniqueness with each other, as well as collaborate to identify effective early childhood strategies, enhance leadership skills, enhance quality-of-care provided to children and families that are served in Pennsylvania.

Discussions will also include updates on state and federal initiatives centered around child care, sharing of resources, opportunities, and concerns specific to child care providers, and thoughts on general workplace well-being for child care educators and professionals.

Meetings will be held virtually by Zoom in the evening, on a quarterly basis, with the opportunity to meet with the FCCH Coordinator during monthly office hours. The date and time of first meeting has not been announced yet.

See the flyer for more details. Interested child care providers in the state of Pennsylvania can express their interest in joining the Committee directly with OCDEL.

ECE Professionals Invited to Participate in Workplace Well-Being Research Study

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ECE Professionals Invited to Participate in Workplace Well-Being Research Study

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has announced an opportunity for for early childhood education (ECE) professionals to participate in an early access research study – Workplace Well-Being, Powered by Science! – to measure the impact of the Healthy Minds program‘s newest offering.

In 2022, OCDEL partnered with Healthy Minds Innovations, a non-profit organization dedicated to the science of human flourishing, to bring the Healthy Minds@Work app to Pennsylvania ECE professionals.

About

ECE teams of two or more from each center or program who have not yet used the Healthy Minds app are invited to apply for the research study, which is set to begin in April 2023. Participation details include:

  • Participation in a four-week well-being program, tailored to suit the participant’s needs with short, 3-10 min activities using the latest tools.
  • Three 20- to 30-minute sessions of research activities (surveys and web-based mini-games). These sessions will occur:
    • Upon enrollment
    • Immediately following the four-week Healthy Minds program
    • Three months later
  • Some users will be invited for an optional interview with the Healthy Minds Innovations team.

Participants will also have the chance to receive an Amazon.com gift card.

The Workplace Well-Being, Powered by Science research program is designed to improve the sense of belonging and inclusion; decrease stress and burnout; and reconnect with the individual’s sense of purpose at work.

Healthy Minds Innovations will keep all responses private and share only aggregated findings to improve the program and support other organizations. Participation in the Workplace Well-Being, Powered by Science research program is optional.

A live kick-off event will be announced soon.

For more information on how to participate in the program as an ECE program or center team, visit the PA Keys website or contact Marnie at healthyminds@pakeys.org.

ELPA Responds to Governor Shapiro’s 2023-24 Pennsylvania Budget Proposal

News

March 7, 2023

ELPA Responds to Governor Shapiro’s 2023-24 Pennsylvania Budget Proposal

On March 7, 2023, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro released his 2023-24 state budget proposal.

The principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, are pleased with proposed investments in pre-k, evidence-based home visiting, and perinatal and child health.

ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home, and Thriving PA.

Governor Shapiro’s state budget proposal included:

Pre-k

  • $30 million in additional funding for the state’s Pre-K Counts program to boost reimbursement rates by nearly $1,000 per child (full-day) / $500 per child (part-day). 
  • $3 million in additional funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program to boost cost per child.

This funding is intended to further support pre-kindergarten providers in combating rising inflation and address increasing staffing shortages.

In the press release, ELPA states, “It is worth noting, however, that the classroom closures and teacher shortages resulting from low wages found in the child care sector is also impacting pre-k availability because 48 percent of the children served in Pre-K Counts classrooms are located in high-quality child care centers.

“As part of his budget address, the Governor also noted the importance of giving Pennsylvania children a ‘ladder up’ through pre-k. Unfortunately, this budget proposal does not provide the resources necessary to expand publicly-funded pre-k opportunities to more of the 100,000 Pennsylvania children that are eligible but not served.

“The General Assembly should respond to the 78 percent of Pennsylvania voters that supported increasing state funding to serve more eligible children in pre-k programs by building on the Governor’s proposal and expanding pre-k access.”

Child Care

  • $66.7 million in new funding for the state’s Child Care Services line item to maintain subsidized child care access to 75,000 low-income working families and sustain Child Care Works (CCW) reimbursements to meet or exceed rates at the 60th percentile of the market rate for child care facilities.

According to ELPA, “Governor Shapiro correctly emphasized the importance of high-quality child care for working families and the need to boost child care wages to get ‘more teachers and professionals on the job,’  and eliminate growing wait lists. Unfortunately, the Administration’s $66.7 million proposal merely maintains a system already in crisis.

“The proposal continues subsidized child care access to 75,000 low-income working families and sustains Child Care Works reimbursements to meet or exceed base rates at the 60th percentile of the market rate for a child care provider’s region. This represents a continuation of the current child care operating environment that has been in place since January 2022 after utilizing one-time federal funds to boost rates. Since that time, conditions within the system have not improved, in fact, wait lists have increased.

“Currently, Pennsylvania’s child care system is experiencing a 4,000 person workforce shortfall resulting in more than 35,500 children sitting on wait lists making it difficult for parents to work.

“The average child care teacher earns less than $12.50/hr. with approximately 21 percent of those child care teachers relying on SNAP benefits and 21 percent insured by Medicaid. As many of these staff are college educated, it’s no surprise that nearly 50 percent of educators surveyed say they are unlikely to remain in their child care jobs. Without a direct investment in the child care sector’s workforce, this crisis will continue and is likely to mean that more classrooms will close and more working parents will struggle to find care for their children.

“The child care crisis is costing working families, employers, and taxpayers $6.65 billion annually in lost wages, productivity and revenue. Fortunately, child care is an issue that crosses over the political divide with 81 percent of Pennsylvania voters in favor of allocating state funding to increase wages of child care workers and 78 percent percent of voters supporting an increase in state funding to help more low-income working families afford high-quality child care.

“The PA House and Senate must build on what’s been proposed by Governor Shapiro and not simply maintain a system that is currently in crisis but invest more, prioritizing the sector’s workforce to get ahead of this staffing shortage. Pennsylvania businesses depend on working families and working families depend on child care.” 

Home Visiting

  • Level funding for evidence-based home visiting in the Community-Based Family Centers line item as well as level funding for the Nurse Family Partnership line item.

ELPA stated, “Following last year’s historic budget increase for evidence-based home visiting, the Childhood Begins at Home campaign appreciates the continued funding in the proposal. Voluntary, evidence-based home visiting programs mentor parents and others raising children and provide supports for child development and school readiness, child health, family economic self-sufficiency, linkages and referrals, maternal health, positive parenting practices, reductions in child maltreatment and reductions in juvenile delinquency, family violence and crime.   

“While there is a large unmet need for services with only 5 percent of eligible pregnant women, young children and families currently receiving them, we acknowledge increased access must be done in a manner that home visiting programs can effectively implement.”

Perinatal and Child Health

  • $10.4 million increase for the Part B Early Intervention program (age three to five) offered through PDE.
  • $20 million increase funding for the Early Intervention Part C (infant and toddler) program through DHS.
  • $2.3 million increase to expand Maternal Health Programing, implementing strategies outlined by the Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC).

“All children birth through age five with developmental delays must be identified, referred to and accepted for the services they need to reach their fullest potential. The proposed state budget includes a needed investment in Early Intervention services with an increase of $10.4 million for the Early Intervention Part B (age three to five) program in the Department of Education (PDE) budget and a $20 million increase for Early Intervention Part C (infants and toddlers) program in the Department of Human Services (DHS) budget,” ELPA stated.

Learn More

Read ELPA’s full budget response statement to learn more.

The Pittsburgh-based early childhood nonprofit Trying Together and other partners of ELPA will continue to advocate for these investments as the budget process continues. Stay up-to-date on how to advocate for these issues by signing-up to get public policy updates from Trying Together.

New Survey Reveals Impact of Child Care Staffing Shortage

News

March 3, 2023

New Survey Reveals Impact of Child Care Staffing Shortage

Partners of the Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA advocacy campaigns recently released new survey results detailing the wage-driven staffing crisis in the early care and education sector, which continues to contract the capacity of child care programs.

About the Survey

The new survey, conducted between January 31 and February 12 details the current child care staffing crisis in more than 1,100 Pennsylvania child care programs across 54 counties and its effects on working families’ ability to access care.

Summary of Survey Results

Staffing Crisis

  • Programs need to fill nearly 4,000 open staffing positions.
  • 85% of child care respondents reported staffing shortages.
  • 50% of child care respondents have closed at least one classroom.

Impact on Working Families

  • Nearly 35,500 children currently sit on child care waiting lists.
  • More than 30,000 additional children could be served at respondents’ sites if they were fully staffed.
  • Over 2,200 children currently sit on Pre-K Counts waiting lists.
  • Over 650 children currently sit on Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program waiting lists.

Implications

The February 2023 survey results depict a deepening crisis in the early care and education sector. In May 2022, Start Strong PA released a similar survey showing that Pennsylvania’s child care centers were experiencing a staffing shortage resulting in nearly 32,500 children sitting on waiting lists. These new survey results show that over the past 10 months, waiting list numbers have continued to increase across Pennsylvania.

Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA Campaign Recommendations

Child care workers, on average, make less than $12.50 an hour, and 50% of them qualify for government benefits. Because of this, child care providers cannot compete against other industries, which offer higher wages and require less specialized skills, for staff.

Child care advocates are calling on Governor Shapiro and the Pennsylvania General Assembly to increase investment in early care and education programs, using recurring funds as part of the 2023-2024 state budget.

Learn More

The following fact sheets are available with statewide and county results:

Statewide results
Allegheny
Armstrong
Beaver
Butler
Fayette
Greene
Indiana
Lawrence
Washington
Westmoreland

Trying Together is a principal partner of the Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA campaigns.

To learn more, visit the Trying Together, Start Strong PA, or Pre-K for PA websites.

March is National Reading Month

News

March 1, 2023

March is National Reading Month

March is National Reading Month. The month kicks off with National Read Across America Day on March 2, where children, teachers, parents/caregivers, and community members around the nation come together to read books and celebrate the joy of reading.

Reading Month Activity Ideas

 

About National Reading Month

National Reading Month is celebrated not just to promote the love for reading but also to develop communication and learning.

The National Education Association (NEA) has been leading the Read Across America initiative since 1998. Read Across America Day calls upon everyone to read and engage with children to make reading a more fun and interactive experience. Libraries, schools, book clubs, and communities organize events to celebrate and promote reading.

February Recalls on Children’s Products

News

February 28, 2023

February Recalls on Children’s Products

Parents and caregivers should be aware of several child-related product recalls.

Learn More

Here is a list of February recalls collected from the major federal agencies: the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

More Information

For recall details, visit the links above or review the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration websites.

Request for Applications: PA Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships

News

February 24, 2023

Request for Applications: PA Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is requesting applications for Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships (EHSCCP).

Partnerships are made possible by an EHSCCP grant, and forty partnership opportunities are available. Applications are due by March 20.

About EHSCCP and the EHSCCP Grant

Pennsylvania’s EHSCCP grant enables partnerships between high-quality child care providers and OCDEL, which provide funded child care to infants and toddlers.

All providers who meet eligibility standards are encouraged to complete an application for consideration.

Eligibility

To apply for an EHSCCP opportunity, child care providers must:

  • have and maintain a STAR 3 or 4 rating
  • provide full day (10 hours or more) and full year care to infants and toddlers (ages 6 weeks – 3 years) of income-eligible, working or student families or caregivers
  • adhere to all Head Start Program Performance Standards and OCDEL Early Head Start (EHS) policies including:
    • meeting a staff to child ratio of 1:4
    • maintaining a maximum group size of eight children
    • providing two qualified, in-room staff members at all times
    • assigning children to primary care groups
  • retain or hire qualified staff to work in EHS classrooms
    • EHS classroom staff must have an Infant Toddler CDA and/or a degree in Early Childhood Education.
  • facilitate ongoing staff coaching with an OCDEL EHS coach
  • maintain full enrollment and fill vacant slots within 30 days
  • participate in Child Care Works (CCW)
  • continue to provide care to children who lose their CCW until they transition from the program
  • never unenroll children due to loss of subsidy
  • utilize GoEngage data system (previously known as MyHeadStart)
  • work collaboratively with the comprehensive service provider holding their contract, if applicable
  • waive any fees typically charged to enrolled families, except for subsidy co-pays

How to Apply

To apply, complete the application below:

EHSCCP Application

Applicants must submit their applications via email. Send completed applications to ehsteam@pakeys.org by Monday, March 20.

Learn More

The OCDEL EHS Team will host a Q&A via Zoom to address questions about the requirements of the grants and the application process, and to provide general information about EHSCCP on Thursday, March 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pre-registration is not required.

To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website.

Members for New Pittsburgh Advisory Committee for Youth and Family Resource Centers Named

News

February 23, 2023

Members for New Pittsburgh Advisory Committee for Youth and Family Resource Centers Named

City of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and City Council President Theresa Kail-Smith recently named the members of the new Advisory Committee for Youth and Family Resource Centers in their joined effort to tackle youth violence in Pittsburgh.

The nine-member committee will find ways to utilize existing city assets to launch resource centers. These centers will serve as a safe spaces for children and youth, while providing support services for families in need.

About the Advisory Committee for Youth and Family Resource Centers

Pittsburgh City Council chose five members of the committee and Gainey chose the remaining four members.

 Members of the Advisory Committee for Youth and Family Resource Centers include:

As chosen by the Pittsburgh City Council:

  • Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess
  • Councilman Anthony Coghill
  • Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle
  • Ricky Moody – Community Health and Human Services Policy Manager
  • Diane Hobson – Community Engagement Specialist

As chosen by Mayor Ed Gainey:

  • Lisa Frank – Chief Administrative and Operations Officer
  • Kathryn Vargas – Director Parks and Recreation
  • David Jones – Assistant Director of Community Affairs, Department of Public Safety
  • Education Coordinator – Office of the Mayor Ed Gainey

Learn More

The committee will soon convene their initial meeting. In this meeting, they will discuss their meeting schedule, public engagement, and timeline for their strategic plan to open up city owned facilities in areas being impacted by youth violence.

To learn more, visit the City of Pittsburgh website.

ELPA Poll Shows Strong Support for Investments into Early Childhood

News

February 22, 2023

ELPA Poll Shows Strong Support for Investments into Early Childhood

A new poll, commissioned by the Early Learning PA Coalition and conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research from February 1 – 7, 2023, found that 98% of PA voters believe that early childhood education is important. The poll also showed strong voter support for increased investment for early care and education programs like pre-k, high-quality child care and home visiting services.

There has been significant growth in voter’s overall support from a June 2022 poll, where 90% of voters said they found early childhood education to be important.

Poll Details

Partners of the Early Learning PA Coalition released the new polling data on voter support for early childhood care and education programs during a press conference held on Tuesday, February, 21, 2023 at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg, PA.

According to the poll:

  • 78% of PA voters support increasing state funding to serve more eligible children in pre-k programs, which is an increase from 65% in 2022;
  • 78% of PA voters also support increasing state funding to help more low-income working families afford high-quality child care, up from 67% in 2022;
  • 68% of PA voters support increasing state funding to provide voluntary home visiting services to eligible families , up from 60% in 2022; and
  • 81% of PA voters favor allocating state funding to increase wages of child care workers.

“As we start budget season here in Harrisburg, the partners of the Early Learning PA Coalition urge Governor Shapiro and all members of the General Assembly to respond to this level of voter support for growing the Commonwealth’s investments in early care and education,” said Kristen Rotz, President of the United Way of Pennsylvania and principal partner in the Early Learning PA Coalition. “Pennsylvania must make these programs more accessible to children and families that qualify and further stabilize and strengthen the system by addressing historic teacher shortages caused by low wages.” said Rotz.

Visit the Pre-K for PA Facebook page to watch the February 21, 2023 press conference in full.