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April 10, 2026

Rep. Lee Hosts Roundtable Discussion on the Importance of Head Start

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (D-12th) hosted a roundtable discussion Friday on the importance of Head Start with educators, parents, providers, and early childhood advocates. Emily Neff, Trying Together’s director of public policy, helped facilitate the discussion, which was held at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit at The Waterfront in Homestead.

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At the event, Lee discussed the need to expand access to high-quality early childhood education for working families and highlighted her recently introduced Head Start for America’s Children Act, which would dramatically expand the program nationwide, raise wages for educators, and strengthen support services for families.

“Every child deserves not just a chance to survive, but a real chance to survive,” Lee said. “Head Start has opened doors for generations of children, giving them a strong start in the classroom and an even stronger foundation in life. In the richest country in the world, early childhood education cannot be a luxury for a lucky few. It must be treated like the public good it is.”

The event also included a tour of a local Head Start classroom.

The roundtable included representatives from early childhood education programs, public schools, advocacy organizations, and families directly affected by Head Start. Participants shared stories about the vital role the program plays in preparing children for school, connecting families to critical supports, and sustaining communities across the region.

“For 60 years, Head Start has served as a cornerstone program within the early childhood system, providing the essential education, care, and resources that families and young children need to thrive,” Neff said.

Neff noted that Friday’s roundtable was timely as early childhood educators prepare for the Week of the Young Child and Trying Together celebrates the Month of the Young Child in April.

“It is vital that we honor the educators who create high-quality early learning experiences and take steps toward investing in the critical work they do for our youngest children,” said Neff, who added that Lee’s Head Start for America’s Children Act takes necessary steps to prioritize competitive compensation for early childhood professionals.

Over the past 60 years, Head Start programs have provided high-quality early education and comprehensive services to more than 40 million children and families nationwide. Today, nearly 800,000 children receive early education, health and dental care, and nutritious meals through the program, while families also gain access to referrals for job training, adult education, nutrition services, and housing support.

Lee’s bill – which was introduced with U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) as the House companion to legislation by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) – would expand the program to serve more than 11 million eligible young children nationwide.

The Head Start for America’s Children Act would:

Fully fund Head Start for eligible children
Align program hours with working families’ schedules
Raise Head Start educator pay to at least $60,000 per year
Strengthen recruitment and retention
Expand partnerships with child care providers and college campuses
Improve mental health services
Invest in facility upgrades, including the removal of lead contamination in paint and water

Lee serves on the House’s Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce.

News

April 8, 2026

Thriving Kids Podcast Episode Focuses on Children’s Social Media Use

Adolescence has long been thought of as a time when friendships, social status, and identity are important to young people. But unlike previous generations, many of those experiences are playing out online.

The latest Thriving Kids podcast episode examines how social media affects children in these and other areas.

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In the episode, Dave Anderson, PhD, senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education at the Child Mind Institute, joins Linda Charmaraman, PhD, a senior research scientist at the Wellesley Centers for Women and founder and director of the Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab, for a discussion on the matter.

Charmaraman’s research tracks children from middle school through high school and how social media shapes their lives over time. During the podcast, the discussion focuses on what young people say about how social media affects their well-being – from the ways it can help them find support and community to the pressures it can create around comparison, exclusion, and self-esteem.

Anderson and Charmaraman also talk about why prohibiting social media use entirely may not prepare children to manage online spaces later, and how caregivers can set limits while keeping communication open.

Strategies

Thriving Kids also provided some strategies that caregivers can use for helping young people navigate social media in a healthy manner.

Caregivers should model healthy behavior when it comes to devices. Children should be used to seeing their faces – not the top of their heads bent over a screen. Try to establish tech-free zones and hours in the home that apply to everyone, including caregivers.
If a child is on social media, it is reasonable to follow their accounts, but experts caution against going through texts without good reason. Starting from a place of trust strengthens a relationship and makes it more likely that a child will approach a caregiver when something goes wrong.
Activities that help children develop real-world skills – such as sports, music, volunteering, or creative projects – help to build a sense of self that doesn’t depend on likes or followers. When children feel good about what they do, rather than how they look online, they’re better prepared for challenges.

To learn more, watch the Thriving Kids podcast episode.

News

April 7, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Difference Between Bipolar Disorder and BPD in Youths

Bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder (BPD) can often be confused with each other. Both typically develop in adolescence, involve intense emotions and dramatic mood swings, and can lead to dangerous behavior.

Sometimes, teenagers might be misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder – which is more widely understood – when they might in fact be struggling with BPD.

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The Child Mind Institute has shared some resources about the key differences between BPD and bipolar disorder. For example, episodes of mania or depression last weeks or months with bipolar disorder and can arise without a clear trigger.

In BPD, emotional shifts are rapid and reactive, with moods lasting only minutes or hours and typically triggered by interpersonal stress, rejection, or disappointment.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources explain how to recognize the earliest signs of both disorders in teenagers and why it’s important to catch them as soon as possible. Treatment for the two disorders are very different, and the longer they go untreated or misdiagnosed, the more disruptive they can be to a person’s life.

The resources include:

News

Five Ways to Advocate for Early Childhood Education During Month of the Young Child

There are numerous ways to advocate for early childhood education during April, which is celebrated by Trying Together as the Month of the Young Child and includes a regional advocacy blitz.

It is an important time to collectively work together to create systemic and policy change for young children, families, and the educators who serve them. No action is too small and can be part of your day. Think of advocacy as educating policymakers on the reality of early childhood education and the families of young children to ensure their needs are met and to receive the resources and investments necessary for a thriving early childhood education (ECE) system.

April Advocacy Blitz

The Trying Together Policy team supports an April Advocacy Blitz, a regional advocacy effort that aims to amplify the voices of early childhood educators, families, and community partners across the Pittsburgh region, said Emily Neff, Trying Together’s director of public policy.

“Last year, we celebrated a major win – a $25 million recurring investment (in the state budget) for child care recruitment and retention, the first of its kind in nearly 20 years,” Neff said. “While that was a huge step, we’re just getting started.”

Neff noted that as the 2026-2027 state budget is being negotiated, it is a critical time for early childhood advocates in the region to come together to ensure that their voices are heard.

Neff outlined five things to do during April’s Month of the Young Child (MOYC) to advocate for early learning:

Sign Start Strong PA’s petition
Complete the 2026 child care staffing crisis survey
Contact legislators
Submit children’s artwork to legislators
Post on social media

Sign Start Strong PA’s Petition

The first action that advocates can take is to sign Start Strong PA’s petition to include a number of proposed investments for early childhood education in the 2026-2027 state budget. The proposals include:

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

Other recommendations include raising the child care subsidy limit, dedicating funds so programs can better serve children with special needs, and advancing targeted reforms to reduce unnecessary burdens on child care providers while preserving strong health and safety standards to keep children safe.

After signing the petition, share it with your friends, family, colleagues, and community members.

Complete the 2026 Child Care Staffing Crisis Survey

Help to gather real stories and data from the field to inform state policymakers and advocacy efforts by filling out Start Strong PA’s 2026 Child Care Staffing Crisis Survey.

Those who fill out the survey will have the opportunity to discuss staffing issues at their child care programs. The information collected from the 15-minute survey will be used to demonstrate the need for the 2026-2027 state budget to increase funding for the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention program, so that bonuses for the workforce grow.

Those who take out the survey should encourage fellow staff members and families who utilize the program to also participate.

Contact Your Legislator

Another way to make your voice heard on the state’s child care staffing crisis is to reach out directly to the decision-makers in your community.

Start by looking up your state legislators, and then sending an email, making a call, or inviting them to visit your program. Show and tell them why investing in early childhood education is important to your community.

To find your state legislator, visit the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s website.

Submit Children’s Artwork

Another simple and powerful way to advocate is to submit children’s artwork to elected officials who represent your community.

Ask the children in your program to create artwork. If you are already having them create something for the Week of the Young Child, you can use that – or ask them to create something new. An optional step would be to ask them to include a short message, such as “My name is ___ and I love my school because ___.”

Then, find your state legislator’s district office by searching the state General Assembly’s page and then entering your program’s address on the artwork that you submit. Send some of the artwork to your state House representative’s office and some to your state senator’s office.

Post on Social Media

A final, simple way to advocate is to share what you are doing during the Month of the Young Child on social media and tag your legislator in the post.

Information you might consider sharing in the post might include:

Activities taking place at your center
Teachers in action
Children learning and engaging
An explanation of why this week and your work matter

Post your photos on Facebook or Instagram and describe the activities taking place at your center as well as why the Month of the Young Child is important. In your post, tag your state House representative, state senator, and Trying Together.

MOYC and Week of the Young Child

Trying Together celebrates the Month of the Young Child every April in conjunction with the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) yearly observance of the Week of the Young Child.

This year, the Week of the Young Child will be observed April 11 through 17.

More information on how Trying Together and providers are celebrating the Month of the Young Child can be found on Trying Together’s website.

News

April 6, 2026

McKeesport Area School District Summer Camp Registration Opens in April

Registration will open in April for two summer camps in McKeesport this summer that serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

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The McKeesport Area School District’s Summer Discovery Camp, for which rising school district kindergarten through eighth grade students are eligible, will run from June 15 to July 9.

The camp will operate on Monday through Thursday. Transportation, breakfast, and lunch will be provided for attendees.

Last year’s camp offered full and half days. No information is currently available on this year’s format.

The district’s Early Literacy Camp, which is new this summer, will run from July 20 to 30. Students in the school district in kindergarten through third grade for the 2026-2027 school year are eligible for this camp.

However, kindergarten registration is required to attend the literacy camp. Caregivers can register children on the McKeesport Area School District’s website.

Camp registration will open in April. Those interested should contact the school district for additional information on the camp by phone at 412-664-3600 or by email at communications@mckasd.net.

News

Comment Period Open for IDEA Part C Application for Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program

The review and comment period is now open for the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C application for the Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program.

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The review period for the application opened on March 20 and the comment period began on April 1. It will remain open until Friday, May 8.

Each year, the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) provides access and opportunities for interested parties – such as families, early intervention providers, and other professionals – to review and make comments on the IDEA Part C application for the Infant Toddler Early Intervention program for the federal fiscal year.

Those interested in reviewing the proposed grant application can find the document on the state’s Early Intervention Services website in the right-hand menu of the webpages.

Hard copies can be obtained by emailing ra-ocdintervention@pa.gov or by calling 717-346-9320.

The opportunities to provide public comment include:

Visiting Part C Grant Public Comment, which allows for online comments.
Submitting written comments regarding the proposed grant application can be directed to the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports, ATTN: Public comments for Part C Grant Application, 607 South Drive, 4th Floor Rotunda, Harrisburg, PA 17120
Submitting written comments to ra-ocdintervention@pa.gov.

Comments will be accepted through May 8. All comments will be reviewed and considered by the department before the final grant application is submitted.

News

April 2, 2026

Survey Asks Organizations About Programming During NFL Draft Week

A+ Schools and the Pittsburgh Learning Collaborative (PLC) are asking early childhood learning organizations to take part in a brief survey about programming being offered during the NFL Draft week in Pittsburgh this month.

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The NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh from April 22 to 24. ELRC Region 5 recently announced office closures as well as information about satellite offices and diaper and formula banks. The three-day event is expected to cause road closures, disrupt public transportation, and bring numerous visitors to the city, with as many as 700,000 people in attendance.

During the Draft, Pittsburgh Public Schools will transition to remote learning from April 22 to 24, which A+ Schools said could result in barriers for students and families’ ability to stay engaged in learning.

Both A+ Schools and the PLC are working to prevent disruptions in student participation by identifying and sharing available supports across the city. Organizations are asked to complete a survey – which takes about five to 10 minutes – to share programming or support that they are planning to offer during the three days of the Draft.

The survey must be completed by Friday, April 10. By completing the survey, information provided will help to:

Prevent missed instructional time and increased absenteeism
Connect students to safe spaces, WiFi, devices, and learning support
Ensure families have access to clear, centralized information about available resources
Strengthen coordination across organizations to support students and families

A+ Schools asks to share any information about resources during the event, even if plans are still being finalized. Organizations with multiple sites should fill out a separate form for each site, unless it’s going to be standard, where each location has the same registration process, cost, enrollment, or hours.

News

April 1, 2026

Trying Together to Be Pittsburgh Pirates Nonprofit of the Game

Trying Together will be spotlighted as the Nonprofit of the Game at the Pittsburgh Pirates game against the Miami Marlins in June. A portion of each ticket benefits Trying Together.

Get your tickets now!

Details

The Pittsburgh Pirates will take on the Marlins at PNC Park at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, June 14. All tickets include a $5 food and beverage credit. A portion of each ticket purchased goes towards Trying Together’s mission of supporting high-quality care and education for young children by providing advocacy, community resources, and professional growth opportunities for the needs and rights of children, their families, and the individuals who interact with them.

Nonprofit of the Game tickets cost $44.66 – $51.86 and can be purchased online. Purchase tickets by Sunday, June 7. Ticket prices include fees.

Don’t forget to wear your Trying Together gear to show support when you attend the game. Direct any questions about attending or sponsoring the event to Maria Pisano, Trying Together’s Director of Community Relations, at maria@tryingtogether.org.

For more information, check out the event’s flyer.

News

March Recalls on Children’s Products

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

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

Unique Brands Com recalled its Forever 21 pajama pants because they violate mandatory standards for flammability for children’s sleepwear, posing a burn hazard and risk of serious injury or death.

Cubimana recalled its Island Storm 3 in 1 Building Sets because the battery compartment within the LED light piece contains button cell batteries that can easily be ingested by children. When button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, they can cause serious injuries, internal chemical burns, or death.

Tomum recalled its minoxidil hair serum spray bottles because they are not in child-resistance packaging as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. The hair serum poses a risk of serious injury or death from poisoning if children swallow the contents.

HALO Dream recalled its magic sleepsuits because the zipper head can detach from the sleepsuits, posing a choking hazard to infants.

LIVEHOM recalled its 11-drawer dressers because they are unstable if not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in risks of serious injuries or death to children.

Stoney Games recalled its Kluster Magnet Chess Games because they contain loose high-powered magnets that fit within CPSC’s small parts cylinder, posing an ingestion hazard to children. When high-powered magnets are swallowed, they can attract each other or other metal objects and become lodged in the digestive system. This can result in perforations, twisting, and/or blockage of the intestines, blood poisoning, and death.

LFTE USA recalled its playground swing sets because the rivets used to support the swing seat can fail, posing a fall hazard to children.

17 Stories Furniture recalled its 14-drawer dressers because they are unstable if they are not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in risks of serious injuries or death to children.

Infant walkers sold by the Goregent Official Store on Amazon were recalled because the walkers can fit through a standard doorway and fail to stop at the edge of a step, posing a risk of serious injury or death due to a fall.

Lifetime Brands recalled its BUILT LUUM light up tumblers. If the tumblers break, the button cell batteries in them can become accessible to children and pose choking and ingestion hazards. When button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, they can cause serious injuries, internal chemical burns, or death.

Sunnyyes recalled its LED mini lights because they contain button cell or coin batteries that can be easily accessed by children, posing an ingestion hazard. Also, the screw used on the remote controls to secure the battery compartments that contain a lithium coin does not remain attached. The packaging also does not have warnings required by Reese’s Law. When button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, they can cause serious injuries, internal chemical burns, or death.

GLMZZ recalled its fidget magnet ball toys because they are high-powered magnets that pose an ingestion hazard to children. When high-powered magnets are swallowed, they can attract each other or other metal objects and become lodged in the digestive system. This can result in perforations, twisting, and/or blockage of the intestines, blood poisoning, and death.

FUNTOK recalled its ride-on trucks because the truck’s circuit board can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards. Consumers should stop using the truck immediately, unplug it if it is charging, and contact Shenzhen Luobei Trading Co. for instructions to receive a full refund.

AirClub recalled its convertible bassinets because they violate mandatory standards for bedside sleepers. The mechanism used to attach the product to the adult bed creates an opening between the bedside sleeper and mattress, posing a deadly fall hazard to infants.

4our Kiddies recalled its plastic tip restraint kits (also referred to as furniture straps) because they can break or degrade, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in serious injuries or death to children. This is a hidden defect because consumers who purchase and install the product may be under a false sense of security that their furniture is safe from a tip-over accident.

News

March 31, 2026

PennAEYC Honors Educators with 2026 VOICE for Children Award

The Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) will honor five educators during its 2026 VOICE for Children Celebration in April.

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The VOICE for Children Award is the only statewide award in Pennsylvania that recognizes early care and education professionals, who are not paid advocates but go above and beyond in their daily work in the field by being grassroots leaders through advocacy and public policy efforts.

This year’s awards ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 10 at the Hershey Lodge, located at 325 University Drive in Hershey.

This year’s honorees include two educators who have worked with Trying Together – Sue Polojac, M.Ed., who is the director of the Rae Ann Hirsch Apprenticeship Program for Early Childhood Education at Carlow University, and Meghan Strawcutter, M.Ed., the executive director for LOLA’s Early Care and Education Center in Homer City.

PennAEYC’s 2026 Voice for Children Award Honorees include Strawcutter; Charles Coe, MSW, MPH, MSN, CPNP, LCSW, C-ACYFSW, the chief executive officer and founder of Incredible Kids Learning Center in Philadelphia; and Nicole Fetherman, M.Ed., the executive director of LifeSpan School & Daycare in Quakertown.

This year’s Distinguished Career Award Honorees include Polojac and Anu Sachdev, Ph.D, a faculty member of East Stroudsburg University.

Sue Polojac

Polojac has more than three decades of experience in early childhood education. Since joining Carlow University in 2020, she has directed the growth and expansion of the Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program, a model that allows early educators to pursue full-time work in the field. Through her leadership, the program has strengthened the connection between higher education and the early childhood community and provided educators with real-world pathways to professional advancement while addressing workforce shortages.

Previously, Polojac served as the director for the Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge Grant and the Preschool Development Grant Birth-Five for the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).

Meghan Strawcutter

Strawcutter has been the executive director of LOLA’s Early Care and Education Center for 10 years as well as serves on such committees and advisory boards as the Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA Provider Advisory Board, where she advocates for high-quality child care and early education and the professionals that serve the early childhood education field.

Her teaching experience includes instructing undergraduate students at Westmoreland County Community College and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She has more than 18 years of professional experience in educational settings, including six years as a teacher in a Keystone STAR 4 and NAEYC-accredited early learning center. In 2015, she began working alongside a financial investor to develop LOLA’s Early Care and Education Center, a nonprofit child care center and preschool from the ground up.