Nathan Duke, Author at Trying Together

News

September 9, 2025

Trying Together’s Director of Public Policy Discusses Early Childhood Education Crisis on PCN Capitol Preview

Trying Together’s director of public policy appeared this week on The PCN Capitol Preview to discuss Pennsylvania’s ongoing early childhood education staffing and funding crisis.

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Emily Neff, Trying Together’s director of public policy, appeared on the program on Tuesday, Sept. 8 to discuss what Trying Together does to support early childhood development as well as the state’s teacher shortage and budget impasse.

“We are in a crisis,” Neff said. “The system is not working for everyone. Early childhood educators are woefully underpaid for the amazing work they do for our children. Families are paying as much for their rent or mortgage as they do for child care – and that’s if they can find it.”

Neff said many parents – including herself – are on long waiting lists to get their children into a program. Often, she added, programs have classrooms that are closed that could serve more children, but cannot due to the state’s staffing crisis. She said that one program she knows of recently closed its toddler class, while another said it would shut down if it lost another teacher.

Neff cited Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed $55 million child care teacher recruitment and retention line item as an opportunity to address the state’s early education crisis.

“It’s a great opportunity for Pennsylvania to put itself on the map,” she said. “It would be a $1,000 payment to teachers, but we don’t know what’s going to happen with that right now.”

She said that the state’s budget impasse – during which the state Legislature has not passed a budget more than two months past the deadline, resulting public schools not receiving state funding that educators say is critical to keep them operating – has led some programs to lay off teachers, while parents have been left to find care elsewhere.

“We need more investments to make sure that programs have what they need, teachers are being paid better, and families have access – and it’s not costing families more than what they’ve already been paying,” Neff said.

The PCN Capitol Preview is available on YouTube.

News

PA Partnerships for Children: MMR Vaccines for Children Trending Downward in State

Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children has released a new fact sheet on kindergarten immunizations as the 2025-26 school year begins.

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The fact sheet primarily focuses on vaccinations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) among Pennsylvania kindergarteners and emphasizes the importance of getting vaccinated for public health.

Data in the fact sheet focuses on MMR vaccines because of the resurgence of measles cases around the United States. However, other childhood vaccines for Pennsylvania kindergarteners – such as ones for whooping cough and polio – are also trending downward.

For the second consecutive year, the state’s MMR coverage rate for kindergarteners fell below the 95% target following the 8,000 children who were not up to date during the previous school year. Coverage rates vary by county, with 44 Pennsylvania counties below 95% and eight below 90%.

Vaccination rates have decreased, while exemptions – mostly for religious reasons – have increased. National MMR coverage is 93%, with only 11 states meeting the 95% target.

Decreasing vaccination rates heighten the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles. As the 2025-26 school year begins, caregivers are encouraged to schedule wellness checkups and discuss vaccine safety with their doctors.

There are free or low-cost health insurance options for families through Medicaid, CHIP, or the state’s health insurance marketplace, Pennie. The state Department of Health offers free vaccines for uninsured children or those whose insurance does not cover immunizations through the Vaccines for Children Program.

To learn more, check out the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children fact sheet.

News

September 8, 2025

Trying Together Testifies At PA House Public Hearing on State Child Care System

Trying Together’s director of public policy testified at an August public hearing held by the state House of Representatives’ Republican Policy Committee to examine challenges facing Pennsylvania’s child care system and discuss solutions.

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Emily Neff, Trying Together’s director of public policy, was among those who testified at the hearing. Speakers discussed the impact on families, providers, and the economy caused by low pay, workforce shortages, and rising costs of care. Policymakers also expressed interest in exploring regulatory reforms to ease the burden and reduce red tape for child care programs.

“When looking for solutions within the regulations, it’s critical to make sure that we are not making changes that tie directly to child health, safety, and quality learning,” Neff said. “We hear that liability costs are unsustainable. We hear so many stories across Allegheny County that zoning codes create barriers to open or maintain a home-based child care business.”

During her testimony, Neff said that many families pay the same amount for their rent or mortgage that they do for child care and noted that the pay for early childhood educators is driving viable candidates away from the field.

“The problem is not the pipeline,” she said. “There are dedicated people who are passionate about educating young children – but when they’re told that the wage is $15.15 an hour, people don’t want to or truly cannot pursue that path.”

The hearing was held as part of the House Republican Policy Committee’s ongoing work to engage with stakeholders across the state and ensure that proposed policy solutions support families, strengthen the workforce, and create opportunity.

“All too often, Pennsylvania families are priced out of quality, affordable child care and have to second guess whether they can afford to pursue or maintain a career,” said state Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-Washington), who hosted the hearing. “By hearing directly from those who work in child care, my House colleagues and I are better positioned to craft common sense solutions that address this important issue.”

The full hearing is available online.

News

Resources for Caregivers Parenting Multiple Children with Mental Health Challenges

Caregivers who take care of multiple children face the task of juggling many needs at once – and often at different maturity levels and schedules. But balancing the needs of multiple children can be even more challenging when more than one child struggles with mental health issues.

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The Child Mind Institute has compiled a list of resources to help caregivers meet these challenges, allowing them to take care of themselves while also giving each child the support they need.

Among the resources are a list of common challenges faced by families when more than one child has a mental health issue as well as how to approach conflict between siblings with different needs.

The resources include ways caregivers can prevent children from arguing and how to encourage connection. There is a discussion on how to navigate differing parenting styles while making sure children are properly supported.

The Child Mind Institute also includes advice from siblings of children with mental health challenges on how caregivers can ensure that each child feels seen and heard. The resources also include guidance on how to avoid burnout.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources on parenting multiple children with mental health challenges include:

News

PBS Kids for Parents Releases List of Books for Children About Friendship

PBS Kids for Parents has compiled a list of 15 books for children that cover the topic of friendship.

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The list was recently put together to celebrate the International Day of Friendship, which took place on July 30. The author, Kate McKeown, wrote that as a mother of two children she found that teaching and practicing friendship skills is a daily effort.

“When my children and I read together, we watch the dynamics of friendships play out in the lives of storybook characters and then talk about what we observe,” she wrote.

The book list is meant to help start conversations with children about what it means to be a friend. Some of the topics included in the books include autism, bullying, race, gender stereotypes, kindness, bilingualism, and cultural differences.

The list includes:

A Friend for Harry (Jenn Bailey)
Stick and Stone (Beth Ferry)
Be a Friend (Salina Yoon)
The Other Side (Jacqueline Woodson)
Best Friends in the Universe (Stephanie Watson)
I Walk with Vanessa (Kerascoet)
Boxes for Katje (Candace Fleming)
The Lion and the Mouse (Jerry Pinkney)
The Almost Terrible Playdate (Richard Torrey)
If You Plant a Seed (Kadir Nelson)
Katie Woo: Boss of the World (Fran Manushkin)
Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy (Jacky Davis)
Margaret and Margarita (Lynn Reiser)
Big Friends (Linda Sarah)
The Sandwich Swap (Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio)

The books’ descriptions can be found on PBS Kids for Parents’ website.

News

OCDEL Asks Licensed Child Care Providers Charging Private Pay Rates to Take Survey

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is requesting that licensed child care providers who charge private pay tuition rates complete a survey between Sept. 8 and Dec. 8.

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OCDEL is required to collect up-to-date tuition information from all licensed providers every three years. The 2025 Child Care Market Rate Survey helps OCDEL set child care subsidy payment rates that are reflective of the private pay market.

Even programs that don’t accept subsidies should fill out the survey. When all providers complete the survey, the date gives a more accurate picture of child care tuition rates across Pennsylvania.

Benefits of filling out the survey include:

The results help to set payment rates for child care subsidies over the next few years.
When more providers respond, rates are more fair and reflect real tuition rates.
It supports policies that better reflect the real structure and value of child care services statewide.
It strengthens the case for public investment in child care for everyone.
If you don’t respond, decisions may be based on other programs that don’t reflect your rates.

Participants who complete the survey will be entered into a raffle and could win a gift card. A total of 100 winners will each get a $100 e-gift card.

Surveys can be filled out online or on paper. A paper copy of the survey will be sent in mid-September to all programs that have not yet completed the survey online. Surveys should be returned in the pre-paid return envelopes that are provided. Or, those taking the survey can scan or take photos of it and submit it to ChildCareResearch@psu.edu.

It is being conducted by the Institute of State and Regional Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg, in partnership with OCDEL and the Pennsylvania Key.

The survey should be filled out between Sept. 8 and Dec. 8.

News

September 4, 2025

Nonprofits Encouraged to Take Part in Survey on PA State Budget Impasse

Nonprofit organizations – including those in the early childhood education sector – are being encouraged to take part in a survey on Pennsylvania’s state budget impasse on Survey Monkey.

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The survey takes approximately 15 to 18 minutes to complete. It focuses on the projected impact of the state budget delay on various organizations’ financial well-being, staff, operations, and those served by the organizations.

The survey asks for participants to provide current and estimated data, if possible, and poses questions about current and projected impacts. Organizations’ names will not be used in a final report resulting from the survey.

The state Legislature has not passed a budget more than two months past the deadline. As a result, public schools are not receiving state funding that educators say is critical to keep schools operating.

The survey’s deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 15. The survey is available on Survey Monkey.

News

SNAP Recipients Must Take Action to Ensure They Don’t Lose Benefits in December

Recipients that fail to take action to secure their SNAP benefits could lose them in December following federal changes to the benefits that have recently taken effect.

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As of Sept. 1, most adults on SNAP are required to work at least 20 hours per week or qualify for an exemption. People who do not properly document that they meet these conditions can only receive three months of benefits over a three-year period, meaning they would run out in December.

SNAP recipients must take the following actions:

Complete the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ (DHS) screening form checklist that was mailed to recipients by the DHS. The checklist can also be found online.
If health limits their work, have a doctor or therapist sign a medical exemption form.
Return the screening form and proof to the County Assistance Office, which is operated at the state level by the DHS.

Details about who needs to take action and when can be found on the DHS’ website.

For Providers

To ensure that people in your network are aware of these updates, share this flyer from the Housing Stabilization Center that summarizes key action items and includes quick reference phone numbers.

News

September 3, 2025

Deadline to Apply for APOST’s Lights On Afterschool Mini-Grant is Sept. 23

Those interested in applying for Allegheny Partners for Out of School Time’s (APOST) Lights on Afterschool 2025 mini-grants must do so by Tuesday, Sept. 23.

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Celebrating its 25th year, Lights on Afterschool is a nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families, and communities. The program is meant to draw attention to the many ways afterschool programs support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things – such as science, community service, robotics, poetry, Tae Kwon Do, and other new skills.

APOST celebrates Lights on Afterschool by awarding mini-grant funds to local out-of-school time programs to showcase their work and share the importance of their mission.

The deadline to apply for APOST’s mini-grants is 5 p.m. on Sept. 23. To be eligible, organizations must be located within Allegheny County and qualify as a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

A maximum of one award will be given per event or project.

Mini-grant requirements include:

Events or projects must take place within the week of Monday, Oct. 20 to Friday, Oct. 24.
Events or projects must be submitted to the Lights on Afterschool Directory by Monday, Oct. 13.
At least one photo of the event or project must be sent to APOST to be shared publicly.

Providers chosen for the grant will receive $500 to implement a Lights On Afterschool-inspired event or project. APOST staff may attend the event or participate in a project where possible, and chosen events or projects will have a chance to be spotlighted in the News You Can Use newsletter or on the APOST website.

For more information, visit APOST’s Lights On Afterschool web page.

News

September 2, 2025

Back-to-School Resources for Children Who Are Struggling

Starting back at school in the fall presents a number of challenges for young children – but especially those who are already struggling.

The Child Mind Institute has provided a series of resources for children who might need a little extra help to achieve success.

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Children might experience anxiety as they start a new school year – especially if they are attending for the first time.

But some students might need a little extra assistance as they navigate the challenges of school. Some students with selective mutism might speak comfortably at home but find it harder to interact at school.

Other students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might need tools and strategies to stay organized, while others with sensory processing challenges may need help to stay comfortable and focused.

Most children would benefit from a consistent schedule and homework routine, the Child Mind Institute noted.

Here are some resources for back-to-school success for children who might be struggling: