Nathan Duke, Author at Trying Together

News

June 10, 2026

OCDEL Makes Clarification About Program Licensure Requirements

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has made a clarification regarding program licensure requirements.

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OCDEL’s Bureau of Policy and Professional Development and Bureau of Certification Services (BCS) have released an announcement to clarify the applicability of program licensure requirements.

BCS is responsible for receiving applications, conducting inspections, and issuing a certificate of compliance to certified child care facilities in Pennsylvania. The certificate is a document issued by the state to a legal entity permitting it to operate a specific type of facility at a specific location for a specific period of time according to department regulations.

Under the state code, certified child care facilities in Pennsylvania fall under one of the three categories – child care center, group child care home, or family child care home.

The state code requires that legal entities must obtain a valid certificate of compliance to operate at a specific location. Upon meeting the requirements, the certificate of compliance will be issued by the state to a legal entity prior to commencement of operation at a specific location.

For more information and to find details on programs subject to the requirements, read OCDEL’s announcement.

News

Trying Together, Educators Advocate in Harrisburg for Early Childhood Education Investments in State Budget

Trying Together traveled with 40 early childhood education teachers and administrators as well as caregivers of young children to Harrisburg on Tuesday, June 9 to meet with policymakers and advocate for investments in the early care and education workforce in the 2026-27 budget.

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The teachers, administrators, and parents represented five counties – Allegheny, Westmoreland, Fayette, Washington, and Beaver – and were members of Trying Together’s advocacy fellowship program. They met with their state representatives and senators to tell their early childhood education stories.

“Early care and education is a critical issue for families and economic development in every community – rural, suburban, and urban alike,” said Emily Neff, Trying Together’s director of public policy. “The fact that nearly 40 early childhood educators from five counties traveled to Harrisburg and back in a single day demonstrates the urgency of this issue.”

Neff said the group met with policymakers from both parties and both chambers – a total of 19 state representatives and 10 senators – to advocate for increased investments in child care, pre-k, and early intervention in the state budget.

“There is no way around it: continued public investment in early care and education is essential,” Neff said.

Meetings with Policymakers

The group discussed with policymakers the importance of including proposed investments in the early care and education workforce in the 2026-27 state budget, including:

A $10 million increase for the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program
A $2 million increase for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program
A $7.5 million increase for Pre-K Counts

Participants in the day of advocacy said it was a positive experience. Anna Dolter, a Pittsburgh Public Schools pre-k teacher, said the trip was her first time to Harrisburg. She met with state Reps. Dan Frankel (D-23rd) and Lindsay Powell (D-21st) and state Sen. Jay Costa (D-43rd).

“My message to them was the importance of early education and keeping it accessible and equitable to all families in our city and state,” she said. “It was good to meet with representatives, so we can take information back to our colleagues in terms of what we can do to advocate to get early education in the budget.”

Wes Garis, the senior director of professional and child development at Braddock’s Heritage Community Initiatives, said his job involves supporting educators and providing classroom support.

“I’ve tried to bolster recruitment and retention, but we need to have teachers long enough to grow them and keep them in the field,” he said.

He said although some of the policymakers he met with on Tuesday were already on board with proposed investments, he thought it was important to provide them with context.

“It was good that we did it as a group,” he said. “We had our stories bounce off each other – it shows the connection and makes the stories and data come to life.”

Dayna Jones, the owner and CEO of Highland Park’s Simply Kidz Zone Early Learning Center, said that the trip to Harrisburg was a great opportunity to advocate for investments to the field.

“I wanted to advocate that we struggle with financially supporting our staff to be able to embrace high-quality child care,” she said. “We want to pay staff what they deserve and allow parents to be able to afford child care and be able to work. We want to send a message that (early childhood educators) are essential. I don’t think child care is taken seriously enough.”

The group met with state Reps. Dan Frankel (D-23rd), Lindsay Powell (D-21st), Eric Nelson (R-57th), Daniel Deasy (D-27th), Arvind Venkat (D-30th), Timothy J. O’Neal (R-48th), Joshua Kail (R-15th), Jim Rigby (R-71st), Jessica Benham (D-36th), Aerion Abney (D-19th), Andrew Kuzma (R-39th), Emily Kinkead (D-20th), Bud Cook (R-49th), Natalie Mihalek (R-40th), Eric Davanzo (R-58th), and Anita Kulik (D-50th), La’Tasha Mayes (D-24th), Mandy Steele (D-33rd), and John Inglis III (D-38th), and state Sens. Jay Costa (D-43rd), Kim Ward (R-39th), Joe Pittman (R-41st), Camera Bartolotta (R-46th), Wayne Fontana (D-42nd), Elder Vogel (R-47th), Patrick Stefano (R-32nd), Lindsey Williams (D-38th), Wayne Langerholc (R-35th), and Devlin Robinson (R-37th).

News

June 9, 2026

Application Process Open for Scholarships to Conference Focusing on Autism and Sensory Disabilities

Those interested in attending the Building Knowledge to Know How Conference can apply for a scholarship, which provides free registration and lodging.

The conference highlights best practices, research, and strategies with a special focus on autism, sensory disabilities, secondary transition, and complex instructional needs.

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Those interested in obtaining a scholarship to attend the conference should apply by Monday, June 15.

The scholarships are provided by the state’s Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education, and PaTTAN. The conference runs from August 4 to 7 at the Lancaster County Convention Center.

This year’s theme is “Empowering Pennsylvania Educators and Partners.” The conference will provide an opportunity to learn and engage with nationally recognized presenters as well as educators and families from across the state.

The conference also includes:

Youth experiences for young people, ages 4 to 21
Poster sessions on successful approaches, programs, and collaborations from state educational agencies
Exhibitors and vendors
Networking opportunities and evening activities

Family scholarships – full, partial, and virtual – are available to Pennsylvania residents who have children between the ages of 4 and 21. Applicants should:

Have a current IEP/IFSP
Receive supports and services through an infant toddler or preschool early intervention program
Be in the evaluation/assessment process for eligibility to receive support and services from a state public or approved private school

More information about the scholarships is available online.

News

Application Process Open to Serve on PA State Advisory Council Subcommittees

The Pennsylvania State Advisory Council (SAC) is accepting applications for family and professional leaders who are interested in serving on one of the council’s five supporting subcommittees.

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Participation on a SAC subcommittee is an opportunity for participants to help shape discussions, provide feedback, and support initiatives that affect the state’s early childhood education system, children, and families.

The subcommittees serve as focused workgroups that provide specialized expertise, develop recommendations, and support the implementation of initiatives aligned with the council’s broader goals and priorities.

The SAC advises the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) on planning for the expansion and coordination of effective early learning and development services for young children and their families.

Family members, early childhood education professionals, advocates, community partners, and system leaders are encouraged to apply to serve on a subcommittee.

The application can be completed online. To learn more about the State Advisory Council, visit the organization’s website.

News

June 8, 2026

Child Mind Institute Provides Resources on How to De-Escalate with Autistic Children

Allowing a child’s temper tantrum to run its course is often a method employed by many caregivers, but tantrums from children with autism might need a different approach.

In a new set of resources, The Child Mind Institute discusses how to de-escalate when children with autism are having a meltdown.

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Meltdowns, the institute writes, are similar to tantrums in that they share such traits as crying, screaming, door slamming, and harsh words. But they differ in that they are an intense involuntary response to outside stimuli, such as stress, powerful emotions, or sudden changes.

Meltdowns can go on for hours and have the potential to become dangerous to the child and others if not effectively defused.

Among the Child Mind Institute’s resources are an article that covers the different stages of an autistic meltdown as well as the dos and don’ts on how to de-escalate.

There is also an article on the sensory processing issues that can trigger extreme behavioral responses from children with autism or other developmental disorders. There are also some tips on how to help autistic children to build communication skills and manage responsibility.

Another resource discusses common causes of behavior problems in children – such as anxiety and ADHD – and how to help them regulate strong emotions or impulsive urges.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

News

Pittsburgh Foundation Offering Help to Submit Comments About Paid and Parental Sick Leave Amendment

The Pittsburgh Foundation will host open office hours on Thursday, June 11 to help Allegheny County residents craft and submit comments about the county Health Department’s Paid and Parental Sick Leave.

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In May, the Health Department proposed an amendment to Article XXIV – Paid and Parental Sick Leave – to expand paid sick time and include paid parental leave for employees across the county. The department is requesting feedback on the proposal through a public comment process.

The Pittsburgh Foundation will host open office hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 11 at its offices at 912 Fort Duquesne Boulevard. Those who stop by can receive assistance in crafting and submitting comments to the Health Department.

For accommodation requests, contact Maura Jacob at jacobm@pghfdn.org.

News

Thriving Kids Podcast Focuses on How Anxiety Can Affect the Brain

The latest Thriving Kids podcast episode is a discussion on how anxiety can affect the brain and how children who suffer from it often fly under the radar.

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In the podcast, Dave Anderson, PhD, senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education for the Child Mind Institute, joins neurosurgeon Brian Hoeflinger, MD, for a discussion on anxiety.

They discuss a scenario involving a boy who went from being the seventh grade class president to slipping out of class with his heart racing and thinking he was going to die. The boy started skipping school, his parents never noticed, and his teachers never asked why. For the next 20 years, anxiety controlled his life.

In the podcast, Hoeflinger said it shouldn’t have taken the boy so long to get help, and explains how anxious children can go unnoticed by parents, teachers, and counselors.

The podcast’s topics include what panic attacks feel like from the inside and how to face them and what parents should know about head injuries and helmets.

Tips for recognizing signs of anxiety in children and offering support include:

Know that anxiety often hides in plain sight; anxious children are often quiet, well-behaved, and outwardly OK, which is why their struggles can go unnoticed.
Watch for avoidance, not just worry. A child who skips school, dodges social situations, or finds reasons to opt out of doing things may not be lazy. Anxiety often shows up as avoidance.
Learn what a panic attack feels like – racing heart, trouble breathing, sweating, trembling, or a sense of dread.
Don’t help a child avoid what they are afraid of; avoidance feels better in the moment, but makes anxiety worse over time. Prioritize gradual exposure to the thing they are anxious about.
Validate the feeling without amplifying it; saying “I know you’re scared, and I know you can handle this” works better than dismissing the fear or promising nothing bad will happen.

For more information, listen to the Thriving Kids podcast.

News

June 3, 2026

Trying Together’s Lending Library Offers Materials to Providers to Inspire Love of Learning

Early learning providers can find a variety of materials to borrow from Trying Together’s ECE Lending Library that support and recognize learning abilities, promote cultural diversity, and cover everything from health to safety.

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The library, which is located at Trying Together’s offices at 5604 Solway Street, was created to be a community space for child care providers in Allegheny County to borrow learning materials as well as teacher and curriculum resources.

“The benefit for teachers is that they are able to rotate materials in their programs without having to worry about storage or extra added costs,” said Allison Robinson, a leadership development strategist for ELRC Region 5. “It gives them the opportunity to try new things – a new material they might like to try before purchasing it.”

Teachers can borrow materials for 30 days on the first Saturday of the month or on Tuesdays or Thursdays.

“We want teachers to see it as a beneficial place where they can come monthly to change out the learning materials for their classrooms,” Robinson said.

What the Library Offers

Robinson said the library’s most popular items are its theme boxes – such as boxes focusing on farm animals or other topics – as well as its infant-toddler boxes and book bundles.

The materials in the library can help children learn about a variety of topics, Robinson said.

“We’ve got a number of STEAM and STEM materials, so these can give them a start in science, technology, and engineering, which is important because that’s where so many of the jobs these days are focused. We have materials for math and basic reading skills and a wealth of new social-emotional materials.”

Robinson said that Trying Together is currently undergoing an equity audit for the library, and that it intends to stock additional diverse materials.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to get more representation in place,” she said.

Robinson said that the intention of the library is to help get children more interested in what they are learning.

“We talk about behavior issues in the classroom, but it’s often that children are uninterested in what’s going on in the classroom,” she said. “By coming to the lending library monthly, teachers can get them more interested. It’s not a magic wand, but it helps them to develop a love for learning.”

More Details

The library’s materials include:

Books for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
Infant social-emotional support kits
Toddler dress up trunks
Puppet sets
STEM and coding kits
Active play kits
Storytelling kits
Sensory items and kits
Musical instruments
Leadership resources
Resources related to early childhood education and interactions with children
Die cut machines
Inspire Interactive Panels

The library is located in Room 204 of Trying Together’s office on Solway Street. It is open on the first Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For details about how to access the library, how to check out items, and to view a full list of available items, visit the ECE Lending Library website.

News

June 2, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Medicating Children with Tics or Tourette’s

Tics can upset children and disorders such as Tourette’s, ADHD, or OCD can interfere with their lives.

Medication can be a helpful part of treatment for such disorders, but clinicians who are prescribing should take into consideration that many children with one condition often have another, the Child Mind Institute notes.

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Clinicians will want to prioritize treating what is causing the child the most difficulty, the Child Mind Institute writes in a new set of resources – which is often not the tics, but the disorder.

The institute’s resources examine the two main types of medication that are effective in reducing tics as well as the pros and cons of each and the steps leading to an effective treatment plan.

The first recommended step in treatment is a specialized therapy known as comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT), rather than medication, which may be prescribed if therapy alone doesn’t alleviate tics.

If a child also has ADHD, it is important to ensure that their ADHD medication isn’t making the tics worse. Occasionally, when a second disorder causes a child a lot of stress, treating that can alleviate tics as well.

Below are the Child Mind Institute’s resources on how to treat tics and disorders such as Tourette’s in children.

News

Trying Together Announces 2026-27 Schedule for Growing Together PD Series

Trying Together has released a schedule for 2026 and 2027 offerings available through its upcoming Growing Together professional development series.

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Every third Wednesday of the month, Trying Together hosts a virtual professional development session that is focused on requested topics that are relevant to early childhood educators.

Participants can choose to attend any or all of the mini-sessions. Registration for the sessions is highly recommended, but participants can access any session using the series’ Zoom link.

Trying Together’s Growing Together schedule includes:

Navigating Public Policy and Systems – 6:30-7:30 on July 15
Trauma Informed Care – 6:30-7:30 on August 19
The Cycle of Inquiry: Meaningful Experiences from Infancy to Pre-K – 6:30-7:30 on September 16
Intro to Neurodivergence – 6:30-7:30 on October 21
Let’s Get Creative: Incorporating Creative Art in the Early Childhood Classroom – 6:30-7:30 on November 18
Sensory Activities Through STEAM – 6:30-7:30 on December 16
Separation Anxiety – 6:30-7:30 on January 20
Calm, Reset, Respond – 6:30-7:30 on February 17
ELRC Resources – 6:30-7:30 on March 17
Behavior is Communication – 6:30-7:30 on April 21
De-Escalation – 6:30-7:30 on May 18
Infant and Toddler Circle Time – 6:30-7:30 on June 16, 2027

Those interested in attending the sessions can register online.