October 4, 2021 Transitioning from Home to Child Care Support the Transition to Child Care Starting child care can be a difficult transition for children and caregivers alike. While child care has numerous benefits, including access to highly skilled educators who are trained to support your child’s development, it takes trust to let someone educate and care for your child without you. During this transition, your child may express discomfort or fear. That is totally natural. Adjusting to a new environment and schedule and building relationships with new caregivers takes time. However, with the right support and preparation, you can ensure that your child’s transition to child care is successful which, in turn, will reduce your own worries and anxiety. What are the benefits of child care? Although the transition to child care can be scary, this new early learning environment actually offers many benefits to both you and your child, including (but not limited to): opportunities for children to build and practice their cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills right under the guidance of highly skilled early childhood educators, opportunities for children to play and socialize with other children and adults, which can help build self-confidence skills, lifelong friendships, and more, more structure and routine in each day, which helps children sleep better, eat healthier, and support children’s overall well-being, exposure to a variety of play, art, music, art, and other child-led activities, a smoother transition to kindergarten thanks to increased practice making transitions between home, and activities and other classroom skills, the ability for parents and caregivers to return to work which helps to stabilize financial security and ensures that families can continue to advance their careers, access to a reliable set of educators who provide child care on a consistent basis, no questions asked or additional schedules to be considered, the addition of much needed alone time for parents and caregivers to complete tasks, errands, chores, recreational activities, self-care, and more, and opportunities for parents and caregivers to grow their personal support networks by building relationships with other caregivers, educators, and more. To learn more, view these resources from ABC Academy and The Gardner School. How can you support your child’s transition to child care? To prepare your child for their transition to child care, consider: visiting the child care program before their first day to familiarize them with the environment and educators; some programs offer a phased transition approach; talk to your child about child care, including what it will look like, how it will be different from home, where you will go, and when you will come back; ask your child how they are feeling and validate their experience; be kind to yourself as well but try to set a strong, confident example for your child during drop-off; read books or watch tv episodes together where the main character is starting child care or the first day of school; work together to brainstorm strategies your child can use when they are feeling sad, angry, anxious, or unsure in their new environment; some children bring a comfort item with them to help soothe them during the transition; and ask for a copy of the child care schedule in advance and start practicing it at home before the official start of child care. Learn More For information on how to find, choose, and afford high-quality child care, check out our printable family guide. If you live or work in Allegheny County, visit Allegheny Child Care to find a high-quality child care program near you. To learn more strategies, view the following resources: 7 Tips to Ease the Transition Into Child Care, HiMama 6 ways to help ease your child’s transition to daycare, Motherly How to Help a Toddler Adjust to Daycare: 8 Tips for Parents & Teachers, Wonderschool
December 14, 2020 Child Care Emergency Plan, Child Care Aware of America About Child Care Aware of America reported that 38 percent of parents were unsure of their child care provider’s emergency plan, with another 7 percent stating that their program doesn’t have one. To ensure your child’s safety, Child Care Aware recommends that caregivers be proactive by asking their child care provider these 10 questions. Recommended Questions Do you have an emergency preparedness plan for disasters that are likely to occur in our area? How will you safely evacuate my child to a safe, predetermined location? How and when will I be notified if a disaster occurs when my child is in child care? If I can’t get to my child during or after a disaster, how will you continue to care for my child? Have you and your staff received training on how to respond to my child’s physical and emotional needs during and after a disaster; for example, are all staff first aid and CPR-certified? Will you teach my older child what to do in an emergency? Do you have a disaster/supply kit with enough items to meet my child’s needs for at least 72 hours? Do the state and local emergency management agencies and responders know about your child care program and where it is located? How may I help you during and after a disaster? After a disaster occurs, how will I be notified about your plan to reopen? More Information This information was provided by Child Care Aware of America. Visit their website for more information about emergency preparedness!
What Types of Child Care Are Available? About Did you know that there are several types of early childhood education and care programs that you can enroll your child into? To find a program type that works best for your family, review the options listed below. Available Program Types Child Care Center At a child care center that is state-certified by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), care and education services are provided to more than seven children. Family Child Care Home In a family child care home that is state-certified by OCDEL, one caregiver provides care and education services for three to six children who are not related to them in a home setting. Group Child Care Home In a group child care home that is state-certified by OCDEL, care and education services are provided for up to 12 children in a home or commercial setting. Relative Care Through relative care, one caregiver provides care and education services for no more than three related children in a home setting who may be eligible for subsidy reimbursement. Public School A public school provides pre-kindergarten programming. These schools may be publicly or privately funded. Private School A private school provides pre-kindergarten programming. These schools are funded by the individual family or school. Other Things to Consider Child Care Works Through Child Care Works, federal and state-supported child care subsidies are provided to income-eligible families who either work or attend school or training programs and pay a co-pay. Subsidies are paid directly to a provider in a home, child care center, or community-based setting. To see if you are eligible or to receive assistance in finding child care, contact your local Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC). Head Start Head Start is a federally-funded comprehensive early childhood education program supplemented by state investment. Through the program, infant, toddler, and pre-kindergarten opportunities are provided at no cost to income-eligible families (100% of poverty). Children with developmental delays or disabilities, as well as children who are learning English as a second language, may also qualify. Programs are found in homes, child care centers, schools, and community-based settings. To see if you are eligible or to receive assistance in finding child care, contact your local ELRC. Pre-K Counts Pre-K Counts provides state-supported high-quality pre-kindergarten opportunities at no cost to income-eligible families (300% of poverty). Children with developmental delays or disabilities, as well as children who are learning English as a second language, may also qualify. Pre-K Counts classrooms are found in child care centers and schools. To see if you are eligible or to receive assistance in finding child care, contact your local ELRC. School Districts School districts allocate funds from their general fund to support their pre-kindergarten programs. Privately Funded Birth to Kindergarten Privately Funded Birth to Kindergarten is user-funded programming that is often provided by a nonprofit, for-profit, religious organization, or university. Child and Adult Care Food Program The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides aid for the provision of nutritious foods for children birth through school age. To learn more about this program, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website. Quality Assurance Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania’s quality rating and improvement system for early learning programs. NAEYC, NAFCC, and NECPA accreditation are voluntary private-pay national initiatives. Each ELRC offers access to information, services, and resources to promote high-quality early childhood education. Quality Coaches provide support and technical assistance to programs working to build quality. Home Visiting Programs and Support Services Home visiting services give parents and others raising children the support necessary to improve their health, safety, literacy, and economic self-sufficiency. Trained professionals visit women, families, and children to provide parent education and support in order to promote child well-being and development. The six evidence-based home visiting models in Pennsylvania include Early Head Start, Family Check-Up, Healthy Families America, Nurse-Family Partnership, Parents as Teachers, and SafeCare Augmented. Early Intervention Early Intervention is a system of publicly-funded services for children birth to age five with developmental delays or disabilities. Early Intervention supports and services are embedded in typical routines and activities within the family, community, and/or early care and education settings. Parents who have questions about their child’s development can call the CONNECT Helpline at 1.800.692.7288. Print This Resource This resource is available as a printable PDF. For additional assistance in finding an early learning program that meets your needs, check out our family guide, “How to Find, Choose, and Pay for High-Quality Child Care.”
Remote Learning Resources About Trying Together compiled a list of remote learning resources to support parents and students as they navigate remote learning. Resources for Families 13 Activities to Make the Most Out of Video Chats With Kids, PBS Kids Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide, Office of Educational Technology The Distance Learning Toolbox Families Wish They Had, NAEYC Tools to Turn Your Kid into a Math and Science Pro, Common Sense Media Dr. G: How to support your kid’s mental health during back-to-school transition, Kidsburgh How Parents Can Help Kids Learn at Home, Common Sense Media How to Set Priorities This School Year, Child Mind Institute Back to School Guide for Families, Wide Open Schools Preparing for Back-to-School Success, Child Mind Institute How to Get Kids Ready to Video-Chat for Online Classes, Common Sense Media Tips for Partnering With Teachers in the New School Year, Child Mind Institute 30+ Preschool Themes with Free Printables, HiMama Back-to-School Anxiety During COVID, Child Mind Institute Resources on Face Masks for Children, OCDEL Strategies for Supporting Learning at Home, Child Mind Institute Parent Tips and Tricks for Distance Learning, Common Sense Media Back-to-School Tips for Kids Who Are Struggling, Child Mind Institute Kitchen Math: How Mealtime Can Support Kids’ Number Sense, PBS Kids How to Help Kids Who Are Too Hard on Themselves, Child Mind Institute Anxious Stomach Aches and Headaches, Child Mind Institute 6 Tips for Keeping Kids Motivated for Online Learning, Common Sense Media Managing Your Own Anxiety During School Reopening, Child Mind Institute COVID-19 Resources For Childcare Centers, Preschools & Parents, HiMama Family Centers of Allegheny County Video: Parenting During A Pandemic Top 5 FAQs, A+ Schools Free Distance Learning Plans for K–2 Students and Their Families, Common Sense Media Keystone Scholars Resource Materials Pennsylvania issues health and safety guidelines for pandemic learning pods, The Morning Call 7 lessons from Pittsburgh moms with experience in online learning, Kidsburgh Learning at Home: 5 Steps to Plan Your Day, PBS Kids Beyond Reopening Schools: How to grow connections between families and schools, Kidsburgh How to protect your kids’ eyes during remote learning, Kidsburgh Common Sense Media: Tips and tricks to manage your kid’s school-issued computer, Kidsburgh Video: Restorative Parenting During a Pandemic, A+ Schools How to help kids learn — and feel loved — during this challenging school year, Kidsburgh Remote learning has been a disaster for many students. But some kids have thrived, The Hechinger Report Virtual Learning Anxiety: How to Help Your Kids, Cleveland Clinic Resources for Students Free Educational Apps, Games, and Websites, Common Sense Media Homework Help Websites, Common Sense Media Academic Support Initiative, Gwen’s Girls 50 Social Distancing Activities for Kids, HiMama Child Care and Education Planning Tools Allegheny Child Care In partnership with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School-Time (APOST), Trying Together developed Allegheny Child Care. By using this online tool, parents and caregivers of young children can search for available child care spots at early learning, after-school, out-of-school, summer camp, and virtual programs in Allegheny County. To use the tool, visit the Allegheny Child Care website. For additional support in finding child care and/or funding your child care needs, visit the ELRC Region 5 website or call 412.350.3577. Family Care and Education Forum Trying Together launched the Family Care & Education Forum. This new resource connects parents and caregivers across Southwestern Pennsylvania and provides a space to ask questions, network, and support one another. Upon signing up, users will be able to post questions, respond to comments, and learn more about care and education opportunities in their area. To discuss your care and education plans for this fall with other families, visit the new Family Care and Education Forum. Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) provide a single point-of-contact for families, early learning service providers, and communities to gain information and access services that support high-quality child care and early learning programs. To request support and learn more, visit the ELRC Region 5 website or call 412.350.3577.
The Head Start Program and Its Benefits About Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children from birth through ages five that is available to families with incomes no more than 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The program provides a learning environment that supports the cognitive, social, and emotional development of participating children. Many Head Start programs also offer Early Head Start, which serves infants, toddlers, and pregnant women and their families who have incomes below the federal poverty level. To learn more about Head Start, visit Benefits.gov. Benefits of Head Start Did you know that children participating in Head Start programs have increased access to health care and improved physical health throughout their lifetimes? Evidence shows that Head Start children: were served more fruits, vegetables, and milk and fewer sweetened beverages and other sweets and snacks, when compared to other child care sites; are three times as likely to have healthy eating patterns as non-participants; who received 60 minutes of outdoor playtime were 42% less likely to be obese at the end of the program year; received sleep health interventions that increased their sleep duration and decreased their behavioral sleep problems; had access to regular screenings, immunizations, well-child visits, dental and nutrition services, healthy meals, and social service programs such as SNAP and WIC; and were less likely to be hospitalized for accident or injury, missed fewer school days, and had fewer emergency hospital visits. Apply for Head Start If you are interested in applying, contact a local program that is serving your community. To find a program near you, use the Head Start Center Locator tool featured on the Benefits.gov website. The program will provide all required forms and answer your questions. To be eligible, your household must make an income lower than specific annual income limits. These limits vary by household size. Visit Benefits.gov to see if your family is eligible. More Information To learn more, view this handout by the National Head Start Association.
DAP Series: Free Printable Cards About A child’s parent is their first and most important caregiver. From the moment a caregiver meets their child, whether that is through birth, adoption, fostering, or guardianship, parents use their instincts and experiences to guide their personal caregiving style. Caregivers’ perspectives are valuable and can be especially powerful in supporting children’s long-term success when paired with research and science on the way that children learn and develop. That’s why Trying Together created the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting (DAP) Series to assist caregivers in creating high-quality early learning environments at the earliest stages of their child’s life. Through the Series, printable cards are available. Each card features information and resources on a specific early childhood topic. Featured Part Topics As of October 2021, Trying Together’s printable cards feature the following topics: Part I: Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP), Part II: Childhood Physical Health, Part III: Child Care, Part IV: Early Intervention (EI), Part V: Safety, Part VI: Social-Emotional Development, Part VII: Childhood Mental Health, Part VIII: Race and Equity, and Part IX: Transitions & Routines Additional topics will be added through 2022 as resources are finalized. Download the Cards The cards are available as a downloadable PDF. For more information about the Series, visit the About the Series page.
September 10, 2020 Child Care and Education Planning Tools About Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many early learning programs and all schools in Pennsylvania had to close abruptly and drastically adjust their operations. In turn, this left many families without access to child care and education services for their children. In response to this crisis, Trying Together and our partners worked rapidly to develop several new platforms and resources to support the continuity of care and education for families in Southwestern Pennsylvania and to support the early learning professionals who provide these services. To learn about our tools and resources, continue reading below. Share this flyer with your network. Allegheny Child Care In partnership with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School-Time (APOST), Trying Together developed Allegheny Child Care. By using this online tool, parents and caregivers of young children can search for available child care spots at early learning, after-school, out-of-school, summer camp, and virtual programs in Allegheny County. To use the tool, visit the Allegheny Child Care website. For additional support in finding child care and/or funding your child care needs, visit the ELRC Region 5 website or call 412.350.3577. Family Care and Education Forum In response to uncertainty surrounding the 2020-21 school year, Trying Together launched the Family Care & Education Forum. This new resource connects parents and caregivers across Southwestern Pennsylvania and provides a space to ask questions, network, and support one another. Upon signing up, users will be able to post questions, respond to comments, and learn more about care and education opportunities in their area. To discuss your care and education plans for this fall with other families, visit the new Family Care and Education Forum. Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) provide a single point-of-contact for families, early learning service providers, and communities to gain information and access services that support high-quality child care and early learning programs. To request support and learn more, visit the ELRC Region 5 website or call 412.350.3577.
August 11, 2020 How to Find, Choose, and Pay for High-Quality Child Care About Choosing child care for the young children in your life can be less stressful if you know what to look for when determining whether or not a program is “high-quality.” Continue reading below to learn what to look for, how to find and pay for child care, and more! What to Look For Caregivers who: communicate through talk and touch, songs, and stories engage at the child’s level, sitting, squatting, or laying on the floor use a warm and supportive tone of voice while addressing a behavior or redirecting attention Classrooms and settings that include: organized, clean, and accessible materials for children to select without adult assistance a variety of materials available for all types of play: physical—developing gross and fine motor skills object—sensory tables with rice, sand, or water, loose parts play dramatic—costumes, housekeeping, or kitchen objects constructive—art materials, blocks games with rules—fingerplays to music or books, board games Curriculum: play-based and allows for exploration, creativity, and inquiry Family Engagement that includes: an open-door policy for family members to drop-in regular updates about a child’s day special events, family nights, and programming in the evenings or on weekends Designations like: Pennsylvania Keystone STARS* licensed child care programs in Pennsylvania have a state rating from STAR 1 through 4; STAR 3 and STAR 4 are considered “high-quality” National Accreditations* additional markers of “high-quality” National Association for the Education of Young Children National Association of Family Child Care Pre-K Counts and Head Start (in schools or community-based settings) * Note that only licensed child care programs may participate in these rating systems. Find Child Care Now that you know how to determine if a program is high-quality, it is time to find programs that meet your location, time, and transportation needs. Here are a few resources to support your search. Allegheny Child Care Caregivers and parents of young children can now search available child care spots at all Allegheny County early learning, after-school, out-of-school, summer camp, and virtual programs in real-time with the Allegheny Child Care tool. Visit the Allegheny Child Care website to try it out and learn more. Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 ELRC Region 5 provides a single point-of-contact for families, early learning services providers, and communities to gain information and access services that support high-quality child care and early learning programs. To learn more, visit the ELRC Region 5, email elrc5@alleghenycounty.us, or call 412.350.3577. United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania To talk to a resource specialist, call 2.1.1 or text your zip code to 898-211. Pennsylvania 211 resource specialists will listen to your needs and connect you to programs in your community. Paying for Quality Care You found a high-quality child care program and are ready to enroll your child, but how do you pay for it? Do you qualify for publicly-funded programs? Learn more about qualifying for subsidy and supplemental payment programs available for families below. Pre-K Counts Pre-K Counts is available to families with incomes that are no more than 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Pre-K Counts is a school-day, school-year program for children ages three to four. This program may give preference to four-year-olds. Child Care Works Child Care Works (CCW) is available to families with incomes that are no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Through CCW, children ages birth to 12 may receive a voucher to attend a child care program based on their family’s or household’s school or work schedule. A small co-pay is required from the family to receive services. Head Start Head Start is available to families with incomes that are no more than 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Head Start is a school-day, school-year program for children ages three and four. This program may give preference to four-year-olds. Early Head Start Early Head Start (EHS) is available to families with incomes that are no more than 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Early Head Start serves children birth to age two in home-based or center-based programs. Most of these programs are not full-time care. Scholarships and Tuition Assistance Even if you do not qualify for the programs listed above due to your income, many programs offer their own independent scholarships or tuition assistance programs. Ask each program you are considering if they offer financial assistance. Take Action After searching for an affordable high-quality program, too many families find themselves making compromises in the process. Affordable programs fill up quickly and many have long waiting lists. Simply put, there are just not enough high-quality slots to meet the needs of all families. As a leading advocate in western Pennsylvania, Trying Together works every day with our local, regional, and state partners to advocate for child care access, affordability, and quality. Join our effort to expand access to high-quality child care by signing up to receive our advocacy action alerts! Print This Resource This resource is available as a downloadable PDF (English) (Español).
June 15, 2020 Questions for Your Early Learning Provider During COVID-19 Child Care and the COVID-19 Pandemic Child Care Operations in Pennsylvania During the COVID-19 pandemic, all child care programs located in counties in the yellow or green phase of Governor Tom Wolf’s Process to Reopen Pennsylvania are permitted to offer services to families and caregivers without a waiver. However, to maintain the health and safety of children, families, and staff, all programs must comply with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Guidance for Child Care Programs that Remain Open. To better understand the type of care and services your early learning program is providing during the COVID-19 pandemic, ask your early learning professional the following questions. For additional questions on program quality, visit our Questions to Ask Your Early Learning Professional page. Questions to Ask Your Child Care Program What are your current operating hours? (COVID-19 might have affected the normal hours.) What is the health screening process you are implementing for children and staff? What is your drop-off and pick-up process right now? What is your policy regarding visitors and non-essential staff in your program? What is your program’s policy on adults and children wearing masks? Can you share with me a little about your handwashing and hygiene practices? What is the staff-to-child ratio you are currently following? How are you handling groupings of children and use of space in general (ie., meals, nap time, outdoor activities)? How is your program communicating with families? Can you tell me about the communication you will have with families about illnesses? Does the program have an emergency plan for a child or staff member showing COVID-19 symptoms? Can you share your sick/illness policy with me before enrolling? How will you meet the developmental needs of my child while following the health and safety guidance of the CDC? Do you have an outside play area or a plan to get children outside every day? Recognizing the increased need for cleaning and sanitation, are cleaning supplies and chemicals locked up and out of the reach of children? Print this Resource This list of questions is also available as a printable Family Checklist (PDF). Find Child Care Is your family in need of child care? Use the Allegheny Child Care tool to search for child care, before and after school programs, and summer programs near you! This tool displays real-time available child care slots at early learning programs in Allegheny County. Visit our Find Child Care page to learn more and start your search. More Information If you are looking for additional questions to assess program quality, visit our Questions to Ask Your Early Learning Professional page. For more information and to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 guidance, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health website.
Questions to Ask Early Learning Professionals Type & Quality of Care When a child has access to high-quality early care and learning environments, they have access to certified, experienced professionals who support their development. To learn more about the type and quality of care your child care professional is providing, consider asking the following questions: Program Details What will a typical day for my child look like? Does your program use a play-based curriculum? Can you tell me a little bit about it? Is your facility Keystone STARS certified? If so, what is your STAR level? How does your program contact families? Will there be family engagement events or opportunities? Can you tell me more about them? Health and Safety What is your adult-to-child ratio for each age group? How will I be alerted if there is an emergency? What is your facility’s Emergency Preparedness Plan? Are all staff at your program certified in pediatric CPR and first aid? Are all staff at your program required to complete a PA Child Abuse History Clearance, PA State Police Criminal Record Check, FBI Criminal History Background Check, and National Sex Offender Registry Clearance? Qualifications Is your program state certified? What other qualifications or certifications are staff required to have at your location? What topics are staff regularly trained on or learning about? How often do your staff access professional development courses? Reflection In addition to asking questions, parents and caregivers can benefit from personally reflecting on their visit to the early learning program. Take a few minutes to answer the following questions: What did you notice during your visit to the early learning program? Were caregivers playing with and talking to children at their level? Were caregivers using a warm tone and kind touch to engage with children? Were caregivers responsive rather than reactive? Was the facility clean? Were toys and materials readily available for children to engage with? Print this Resource This list of questions is available as a printable PDF. More Information Looking for additional questions you can ask to learn about your program’s updated procedures and operations during the COVID-19 pandemic? Visit our Questions to Ask Your Early Learning Provider During the COVID-19 Pandemic page.
