News Archives

News

August 5, 2026

City Announces Return of Civic Leadership Academy

Mayor Corey O’Connor’s administration announced this week that the Civic Leadership Academy, a free 10-week course for local residents to learn more about city government, will return.

Learn More

In the program, participants will learn more about the government from leaders of city departments, authorities, and bureaus.

Residents can apply for the program, which runs on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. from September through December. Each week, participants will engage in weekly presentations, discussions and site visits with city government leaders.

Participating agencies and departments include the mayor’s office, City Council, the comptroller’s office, 311, Department of City Planning, Department of Public Safety, Bureau of EMS, Department of Parks and Recreation, Bureau of Fire, Bureau of Police, and many others.

“We are excited to bring back the Civic Leadership Academy because we want to engage our residents and offer them a deeper understanding of city government,” O’Connor said. “This is an important program for transparency that also empowers community leadership and partnership with our neighborhoods.”

The academy helps residents to better understand how the government operates and how to productively engage with the city of Pittsburgh. It allows participants to be ambassadors for their communities and helps to strengthen the relationship between city government and neighborhoods.

Applications must be submitted by the end of the day on Friday, August 21. Participation is limited and applicants must be residents of Pittsburgh, operate a business or nonprofit, or do community impact work within city limits. Questions about the program should be sent to CLA@pittsburghpa.gov.

News

August 4, 2026

Paid Family Leave: Good for Families, Good for Businesses

As the conversation continues in Allegheny County around Paid Parental Leave, Trying Together reiterates its support for a county-wide, mandated paid parental leave policy of 18 weeks for birth, foster, and adoptive parents. We believe a true continuum of care begins with paid parental leave and continues with the availability of high-quality infant child care.

As an early childhood nonprofit, we also recognize the impact on the child care sector and urge the Allegheny County Board of Health and the County to review and consider recommendations for a paid leave policy that supports the realities of child care programs.

What is Paid Parental Leave?

Paid Parental Leave is compensated time away from work for parents to bond with a newborn, newly-adopted, or newly-fostered child. This includes paternity and maternity leave.

Paid Parental Leave is not a partisan policy. A recent article by Public Source highlighted just how far behind the United States is on this issue. Paid parental leave is mandated in more than 180 countries, including all 55 high-income countries. About a quarter of all countries offer 18 weeks or more and more than half of all wealthy countries do.

The World Policy Center created a global map to demonstrate which countries mandate paid parental leave.

In its article, Public Source notes that across the United States, support for paid parental leave continues to gain traction as American families and employers realize what other high-income countries have already confirmed: the economic, health, and social benefits of paid family leave are good for families and good for business.

Paid Parental Leave is Good for Families

Parents are children’s first and most important teachers. The first few months of bonding with a new baby following a birth, adoption, or foster placement are essential to the health and wellness of the child and parents. This wellness is not just nice to have – it translates to broader health, economic, and societal outcomes.

It provides mothers the essential time required for physical recovery and healing following labor and delivery, and in some cases major abdominal surgery. Research shows a decrease in maternal and infant mortality and more time off is linked to longer breastfeeding periods, which strengthen a child’s immune system. Furthermore, access to leave is a proven intervention for protecting the mental health of mothers during the postpartum period. In the case of foster placement or adoption, paid parental leave offers additional mental health benefits with time for children to bond and develop trust with new parents.

The financial aspects of growing a family should not create additional strain and stress during one of the most transformative milestones in life. The establishment of paid parental leave would ensure no parent has to choose between a medical appointment or a missed paycheck, and that they can be present during the most formative weeks without the threat of financial ruin.

Paid Parental Leave is Good for Businesses Of All Sizes

A National Bureau on Economic Research report shows that every $1,000 invested in paid parental leave produces an estimated $7,275 to $29,406 in net social benefits (such as immediate health outcomes to babies and mothers and future savings from boosted earnings and tax contributions), and that providing paid parental leave results in higher workforce participation, improved health outcomes, and increased lifetime earnings. Paid parental leave has also been shown to reduce turnover, functionally reducing costs to an organization.

As noted by Public Source, the majority of businesses currently offering paid family leave programs in the United States tend to be large employers – but paid family leave can, and should, be a part of small business’ operations structure. Trying Together encourages small business owners to move beyond the question of whether it is possible, and towards what the right design is to make paid parental leave feasible for all employees in Allegheny County.

Successful current paid family leave programs across the United States all share one common thread of utilizing a social insurance model. In doing so, the cost burden is not the employer paying out-of-pocket dollar to dollar for every day missed, but rather is part of a shared pool similar to how unemployment insurance and disability insurance function.

As Public Source reports, most states have been able to cover the costs of their parental leave policies with a payroll tax of less than 1%. Since payroll costs make up only a portion of a business’ total revenue, an average business should expect its costs to rise by less than 1%. When viewed from a cost perspective, this model is far less burdensome to a business than having to replace employees due to workplace policies that don’t support new parents.

While we recognize the county is restricted in its ability to create a social insurance design through a new tax, we urge continued advocacy for the passage of the Family Care Act in the state. Senate Bill 906 proposes a state-run insurance program funded by employee payroll deductions capped at no more than 1% of a worker’s wage. House Bill 200 mandates that employers cover partial wage replacement for qualified employees, and proposes a grant program to help small businesses offset the costs.

Considerations for the Early Care and Education Sector

Child care providers overwhelmingly recognize the value of paid parental leave. However, there are unique operational and financial constraints that make implementing extended paid leave especially challenging. Child care programs operate with limited financial reserves while maintaining strict state-required staff-to-child ratios for the health and safety of young children.

When a teacher takes extended leave, providers often must continue paying the employee while simultaneously paying overtime, hiring substitute staff, or reducing classroom capacity if qualified staff cannot be found. Unlike many businesses, child care programs cannot simply increase production or temporarily reduce staffing levels without affecting families’ access to care.

Trying Together recommends:

Adding an element of social or private insurance to support the implementation of the proposal and ensure a funding model and structure
Creating an option for child care programs/small businesses to buy into private group insurance
Developing and maintaining a county child care substitute pool to ensure programs remain staffed
Increasing the 30-day qualification requirement
Considering a scaled approach for implementation
Educating the community on how the county policy will interact with other policies such as FMLA and short-term disability
Exploring a partnership with local philanthropy for funding support

Additionally, Trying Together continues to recommend that policymakers increase support for the systemic needs of the field, so that child care providers can be more financially secure and stabilized.

Those working in the field know very well that child care teachers are not simply babysitting or watching children. Their work is that of a skilled professional, deeply committed to supporting children during their most rapid period of brain development, which lays the foundation for all future learning and development. To create a sustainable pipeline of passionate, highly professional, and dedicated early childhood educators, increased compensation and benefits such as paid parental leave are required.

The question is not whether paid family leave should exist; it is asking how we can collectively implement it in a way that strengthens families without unintentionally weakening the child care system upon which those same families depend. Paid family leave and a strong child care system are complementary investments. Supporting child care providers during paid parental leave implementation ensures these two public priorities reinforce one another rather than compete.

Learn More

To learn more about the currently proposed paid parental leave policy of Allegheny County, see Allegheny County’s Paid Parental Leave FAQ sheet.

To view the full public comments on the policy proposal, as submitted by Trying Together on July 10, including in-depth recommendations for the child care sector, please click here.

News

Thriving Kids Podcast Focuses on How to Have Tough Conversations with Children

Conversations on hard topics with children can be challenging, but the latest Thriving Kids podcast episode notes that these types of conversations are often the ones that children most need caregivers to start.

In the podcast, Dave Anderson, PhD, the Child Mind Institute’s senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education, joins Kate Snow, a senior national correspondent for NBC News and anchor for “NBC News Daily,” to discuss the topic.

The discussion revolves around Snow’s years of reporting on difficult topics, from substance use to the toll of the digital world on teenagers. Anderson and Snow discuss what children are often seeing and experiencing online, and why it is important to talk to children about tough topics early and often, rather than waiting for the “right moment.”

Some tips from the Child Mind Institute on the topic include:

Don’t wait for a crisis to start the conversation. Bring up difficult topics – a scary headline or even just a rough day – before things reach a breaking point. Low-key check-ins make it easier for children to open up when it matters.
If you’re worried, ask directly and calmly. Asking a child how they’re really doing – even about something as serious as suicidal thoughts – doesn’t plant the idea or make things worse. Instead, it shows them they have someone safe to talk to, which can be a relief for them.
Get a real picture of their world online. Children are usually on their phones far more than caregivers realize. Ask open-ended questions about what they’re seeing, who they are talking to, and which apps they use most.
Model the habits you want to see. Children notice when their parents are glued to their own phones. Naming your own limits out loud – such as mentioning that you are putting away your phone at the dinner table – teaches balance more effectively than rules alone.
Protect the relationship, not just the rules. Prioritize connection over correction through activities such as walks together, cooking dinner side by side, or game nights. Low-stakes, fun time together helps to build a foundation of trust, which makes hard conversations possible when you need to have them.

For more information, listen to the Thriving Kids podcast.

News

Reading Ready Pittsburgh Working to Expand Regional Participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Reading Ready Pittsburgh and the city of Pittsburgh are working together to expand participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL), a book-gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age 5.

Learn More

The program sends the free, age-appropriate books to children who live in the city as well as those living in 20 additional ZIP codes.

Each DPIL subscription begins with a copy of the classic children’s story, “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper. There are no household income requirements to take part in the program, and enrollment only takes a few minutes.

Those interested in taking part in the program can check eligibility and register online on Reading Ready Pittsburgh’s website.

“This is a great program,” said Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor in an Instagram post about DPIL. “Reading is very important, especially at a very young age – and we want to provide free books to as many kids across the city as we possibly can. It’s very simple to sign up. I just did it in a couple of minutes.”

Caregivers interested in enrolling their child in the program should:

Submit an official registration form, completely filled out by the authorized adult.
Notify Reading Ready Pittsburgh any time your address changes.
Read the book selections with your child.

Books will begin arriving about eight to 10 weeks after the registration form has been received. Households will continue to receive one book per month until the registered child turns age 5.

News

August 3, 2026

Allegheny County Organizations Hold Back to School Giveaways and Activities

Allegheny County caregivers with children who are starting school later this month can choose from several upcoming back-to-school events that include backpack giveaways and fun activities.

Sto-Rox Back-to-School Event

A back-to-school event will be held on Friday, August 14 at the Sto-Rox Football Field in Mckees Rocks.

The event will run from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will include performances by the Little Viking Cheerleaders and Father Ryans Arts Center Dancing Soldiers. It will also include community kick ball, a potato bag race, a Bounce house, face painting, hair cuts, nails, free book bags, produce, hot dogs and hamburgers, games, prizes, and entertainment.

Free book bags will be available. The football field is located at 1105 Valley Street in McKees Rocks.

Kindergarten Here I Come

Rising kindergartners and their families can explore arts activities and gather educational resources during this event, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, August 15, at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.

Kindergarten Here I Come is free for fall 2026 kindergarten students and one accompanying caregiver.

Some of the activities at the event include:

Climbing aboard a real school bus and meeting a cross guard
Trying readiness skills activities such as shoelace tying and zippering
Getting resources on everything from vaccinations and library assets to healthy lunches
Seeing “Rhea the Great Detective and the Case of the Mrs. Bearington,” an interactive children’s play that will perform at 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 12:15 p.m. in the Art Studio
Making backpack key chains and friendship bracelets
Exploring the Children’s Museum

Pittsburgh Friends

Pittsburgh Friends will hold a back-to-school event that features free backpacks and school supplies on Sunday, August 17 from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Monroeville Community Park – Pavilion #2.

The event will include free backpacks and school supplies, games, food, giveaways, encouragement for families and students, and support from more than 15 community churches and partners.

Wilkinsburg Borough School District Block Party and Luau

The Wilkinsburg Borough School District will hold its Community Back to School Block Party and Summer Luau on Thursday, August 20. The event, which runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Turner Intermediate (1833 Laketon Road), is a community celebration designed to bring students, families, staff, and community partners together to kick off the new school year.

With a vibrant Hawaiian luau theme, the event will feature music, games, food, educational resources, giveaways, and interactive activities that promote school pride, strengthen family engagement, and build positive relationships before the first day of school.

The goal of the event is to create an atmosphere where every child feels excited, supported, and connected to their school community while providing families with access to valuable community resources.

Those interested in attending can RSVP now.

News

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on How to Calm Squabbling Siblings

Siblings can often be each other’s best friend, but a lot of time spent together over the summer can occasionally feel like too much. Squabbling can then become commonplace during long car rides or activities in which siblings are spending too much time together.

Learn More

The Child Mind Institute has put together a series of resources on what to do when siblings won’t stop fighting. The first step is to figure out if there is a pattern to the arguments, and then to set ground rules to help avoid conflict.

If one child keeps running to an adult to tattle, they should establish rules on when to tell an adult and when to resolve things on their own. Noticing when children are getting along and praising them for it helps to reinforce the desired behavior.

There are also tips for when there’s a new baby on the way or if a sibling has a mental health challenge. When a child is struggling, a sibling might often be the first to notice and can sound the alarm so that their brother or sister can get help.

Below are the Child Mind Institute’s resources:

News

Team of Fellows Design Tools to Strengthen Communication at Allegheny County School

A team of Learning Sciences Exchange (LSX) fellows have designed new tools to strengthen communication and relationships between families and an Allegheny County school.

Learn More

This past year, a team of fellows from LSX – a problem-solving platform focused on transforming education by applying the science of learning to help children thrive – took part in listening and feedback sessions with parents to design the tools. The fellows included two principals, a researcher, a journalist, an assistant superintendent, a social entrepreneur, and a children’s book author.

At Duquesne Elementary School, caregivers had been seeking support for a variety of needs, from housing and transportation to child care. In response, the LSX fellows team designed an interactive map of community resources that was translated into Spanish, Arabic, and Pashto, which are the most commonly spoken languages by English learners at the school.

The map includes a QR code that families can scan to access the community resource links, phone numbers, and directions.

A 2025 blog post titled “Designing Tools to Strengthen Communication and Relationships Between Families and Schools” described the fellows’ process in designing the map. It discusses how the project brought together individuals from typically siloed fields to build education solutions, and how the project was grounded in ideas raised by caregivers who had critiques and suggestions for improving communication.

The completed project can be accessed on the Duquesne Community Support Maps website.

News

July 31, 2026

Enrollment Open for Trying Together’s Fall CDA Cohort

Trying Together is now actively enrolling students for its fall Child Development Associate (CDA) cohorts.

Learn More

The hybrid cohorts will begin on Monday, September 14 and will conclude in May 2027. All students will participate in biweekly virtual meetings on Monday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Additionally, three smaller groups will meet in-person:

Alternating Mondays (two times per month)
Alternating Tuesdays (two times per month)
Saturdays (once a month)

The cohort will be a total of 135 hours. Coursework for the cohort will include portfolio and application assistance, study materials, and exam preparation. Interested students should fill out Trying Together’s CDA Interest Form. Additionally, all students will be required to complete a PASSHE PDO Funding application to cover tuition, books, and fees.

About the CDA Credential

A CDA credential is the most widely recognized credential in the early childhood field and is a key stepping stone on the path to career advancement. The CDA Credential is based on a core set of competency standards that guide early learning professionals in their work to build on their professional experience and expertise.

As a nationally recognized credential, a CDA credential enables early learning professionals to work in Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms in addition to early learning programs across the United States. Several topics are studied in a CDA program, including, but not limited to:

A healthy and safe learning environment
Physical, cognitive, language, and creative development
Social and emotional development
Positive guidance
Creating positive relationships with families
Program and classroom management
Observation and assessments
Professionalism in early childhood education

By earning a CDA Credential, early learning professionals strengthen their professional skill sets, gain opportunities to advance their careers, increase their confidence in the classroom, and reinforce their commitment to support young children and families.

News

July 29, 2026

July Recalls on Children’s Products

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

Learn More

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

Diamond Wipes International recalled its CVS Health medicated hemorrhoidal wipes. The wipes contain lidocaine, but are not in child-resistant packaging, which poses a risk of serious injury or death from poisoning if ingested by young children.
Target recalled the Gigglescape Under the Sea popping toy because the toy’s clear plastic dome can detach from the blue plastic base, making the small plastic balls inside accessible to children and posing a choking hazard.
Projecting LED finger light toys sold on Amazon by POPOOO are being recalled because they contain button cell batteries that can easily be accessed by children. If button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, they can cause serious injuries, including internal chemical burns or death.
AMASKY recalled its nursing pillows for infant feeding and tummy time because they violate standards for nursing pillows and infant support cushions. The pillows can obstruct and infant’s breathing, posing a serious risk of injury or death from suffocation.
Junpower CR2032 lithium coin batteries sold on Amazon are being recalled because they are not in child-resistant packaging and do not bear warning labels that are required by law. When button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, they can cause serious injuries, including internal chemical burns or death.
Vevor recalled its baby loungers because the sides are too low to contain an infant and the enclosed openings at the foot of the loungers are wider than allowed, posing serious risks of fall and entrapment hazards to infants. The loungers also do not have a stand, posing a fall hazard if used on elevated surfaces.
Wonderstone recalled its infant walkers because they can fit through a standard doorway and fail to stop at the edge of a step, posing a serious risk of injury or death due to a fall hazard.
Liizousauda recalled its paint thinner bottles because the paint thinner contains low-viscosity petroleum distillates but its bottles are not in child-resistant packaging, posing a risk of serious injury or death from poisoning if ingested by young children. Additionally, the petroleum distillates can get into the lungs, causing chemical pneumonia or pulmonary damage, which can be fatal.
TOMY recalled its Boon PIVOT collapsible toddler tower kitchen step stools because they can tip over while in use, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
Jobon recalled its torch lighters because they do not have the required child-resistant mechanisms, posing a risk of serious injury or death from fire and burn hazards. The lighters also failed to meet the pre-market lighter submission requirement needed to demonstrate that they feature child-resistant mechanisms and are safe and compliant with regulations.
Oitnlaughter recalled its projecting finger light toys because they contain button cell batteries that can be easily accessed by children. If button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, they can cause serious injuries, including internal chemical burns or death.
Wade Logan Annyka recalled its nine-drawer fabric dressers because they can be unstable if not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in serious injuries or death to children.
Warren James recalled the copper cup found in its Flashgitz Relic lunch boxes because they contain high lead concentration levels for drinking vessels, posing a lead poisoning hazard. Lead is toxic if ingested and can cause adverse health issues.
SDADI recalled its kitchen step tower stools because they can collapse or tip over while in use and a child’s torso can fit through the openings on the front and back sides, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
Target recalled its Cat & Jack children’s sandals because the sandals’ decorative pearls can fall off, posing a risk of serious injury or death from choking.
EnHomee recalled its nine-drawer fabric dressers because they are unstable if not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in serious injuries or death to children.
Aojieni Silicone recalled its Sili Factory pull-string teething toys because the silicone strings are smaller and longer than permitted. The strings can reach the back of children’s throats and become lodged, posing a risk of respiratory distress and choking.
CuddleCubs Creations recalled its teething toy sets because they contain a pull-string teething toy that has silicone strings that are smaller and longer than permitted. The strings can reach the back of children’s throats and become lodged, posing a risk of respiratory distress and choking.
Amazon seller Romorgniz recalled 12-drawer fabric dressers that can be unstable if they are not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in serious injury or death to children.
Peony Design recalled its personalized baby bibs and stroller bags because the snap can detach from the bibs and stroller bags, posing a risk to children of serious injury or death by choking.

News

OCDEL Announces Pathway for Internationally Educated ECE Professionals to Obtain Necessary Documents

Starting in early August, a new equivalency report will create an additional pathway for internationally educated early childhood professionals to obtain necessary educational documents.

Learn More

As of Monday, August 3, the Educational Credential Evaluators will offer an equivalency report to early childhood education (ECE) workforce professionals who are unable to obtain their original international educational documents.

Photocopies of original documentation will now be eligible to proceed through a vetted review process by Educational Credential Evaluators and reviewed for authenticity and U.S. equivalency, according to an announcement on Wednesday by Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).

The equivalency report can be used by ECE professionals to be placed on the state’s ECE Career Pathway, which provides a clear framework for professional growth, helping educators to meet the qualifications and competencies required for various roles in early childhood education.

Last year, OCDEL and the Pennsylvania Key partnered with the Educational Credential Evaluators to develop a more accessible system for ECE workforce members who received their education abroad.

Now, in its second year, the International Education Evaluation program has launched a new opportunity for workforce members who are experiencing challenges obtaining original diplomas, transcripts, and degrees from the educational institutions where they were educated.

More information on the equivalency reports can be found on the Pennsylvania Key’s International Education Evaluation website, including instructions on how to secure the required documentation and the evaluation application process in Pennsylvania.