February 3, 2021 Family Infant Oral Health Televisit, University of Pittsburgh Are you interested in keeping your child cavity-free during the pandemic? Schedule a free Virtual Oral Health Visit for tips on toothbrushing for young children and getting your child dental care. About This research study involves meeting one-on-one with mom and Pediatric Dentist, Jr. Jacqueline Burgette, D.M.D., Ph.D., for a televisit on Zoom to receive information on Infant Oral Health, a brief Oral Health Consultation, and support coordinating care for dental needs. This opportunity has been provided by the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and the Pitt Homewood Community Engagement Center (CEC). Share this flyer with your family and friends. Schedule A Visit For more information and to schedule a televisit, email at jacqueline@pitt.edu.
December 23, 2020 Housing Resources for Families in Allegheny County Housing and Eviction Resources If your family is at risk for eviction or homelessness, resources and programs are available to help. Housing Stabilization Program The Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Housing Stabilization Program provides one-time or short term (up to three months) financial assistance to households who are facing a temporary, non-reoccurring housing crisis. Depending on which type of support is needed, you may be able to receive funding to cover move-in fees, utilities, rent, mortgage payments, and legal fees. Eligibility To qualify, individuals must: be a renter or homeowner, live in the City of Pittsburgh, be at or below 50 percent of the Average Monthly Income if a renter, be at or below 80 percent of the Average Monthly Income if a homeowner, and develop a stability plan with a service provider. Apply For This Program If you are eligible, contact Untiled Way by dialing 211 or texting your zip code to 898.211. Interested applicants may also contact United Way via chatroom (located at the bottom right of the webpage) or the online contact form. Housing Legal Assistance Program The Housing Legal Assistance Program assists individuals through the following services: Tangled-Title: Legal assistance of up to $5,000 if you own a home but need the deed transferred to your name. Eviction Prevention: Legal assistance of up to $3,000 if you are at risk of eviction or are currently experiencing eviction and need legal assistance. Eligibility To qualify for Tangled-Title assistance, individuals must live in the City of Pittsburgh, have an income that is at or below 80 percent of the Average Monthly Income, and not have any outstanding City, School, and County real estate taxes (or must be on a payment plan for at least three months. To qualify for Eviction Prevention assistance, individuals must live in the City of Pittsburgh, have an income that is at or below 50 percent of the Average Monthly Income, and be experiencing wrongful threats of lock-out, eviction, or sub-standard living conditions. Apply For This Program To apply for Tangled-Title assistance, contact United Way by texting your zip code to 898-211 or by dialing 211. To apply for Eviction Prevention, call 412.255.6574 or email hof@ura.org. For more information, contact Victoria Jackson at 412.255.6696 or hof@ura.org. Just Mediation Pittsburgh Just Mediation Pittsburgh offers free, confidential mediation services to landlords and tenants who are looking to find solutions to housing disputes. Just Mediation Pittsburgh mediators facilitate a dialogue between both parties to identify positive solutions and create a shared, legally binding agreement. Request Services Participation in these services is voluntary. Both parties must be willing to share their perspectives, listen to the other individual’s perspective, and create constructive solutions. To request services, visit the Just Mediation Pittsburgh page. For more information, contact 412.228.0730 or info@justmediationpgh.org. Allegheny Link If you are experiencing a housing crisis, the Allegheny Link can help connect you to resources. The Allegheny Link will assess your eligibility for homeless supports such as rental assistance, utility assistance, and homeless services. Range Of Services The Allegheny Link assists Allegheny County residents: who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness in finding stable housing, who are pregnant, or parents and caregivers of children up to age six years of age, get referrals to home visiting programs, who are over the age of 60 live safely in their community, and with any disability find services that meet their needs. Contact If you are in need of services, contact the Allegheny Link at 1.866.730.2368. This line will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Callers between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. will be directed to appropriate supports by an automated message. Individuals can also contact the Allegheny Link via email. This method is especially suggested for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Rental Payment Assistance The Department of Public Assistance has an Emergency Shelter Fund that provides financial assistance to help individuals prevent eviction or foreclosure, obtain permanent housing, or obtain temporary shelter. Individuals must be receiving public assistance benefits to qualify. For more information, contact 412.565.2146. Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh Do you feel you have been the victim of housing discrimination? Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh investigates allegations of housing discrimination. If you have been a victim of housing discrimination, all of their services are free of charge. Report Discrimination To file an anonymous complaint, or to speak with a member of their staff, call 412.391.2535. Individuals can also report discrimination by completing this online form. Shelter Directory Pennsylvania’s Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH) Program has a Shelter Directory on its website that contains a filterable list of emergency shelters and housing providers. Shelters and providers included on the list accept homeless families and/or homeless youth. Some shelters and providers may admit single adults. Access the Directory. More Information Visit the Allegheny County website to learn more about housing subsidies, mortgage assistance, homelessness, discrimination support services, and more. If you are experiencing homelessness, visit the Homeless Services page.
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!
Breastfeeding Resources, Breastfeeding Center of Pittsburgh About To support expecting, new, and breastfeeding parents, the Breastfeeding Center of Pittsburgh created a series of digital resources that feature information on Breastfeeding 101, How to Latch Your Baby, Breastfeeding Myths, Newborn Hunger Cues, and more. Additionally, the Center provides access to coordinated care, virtual visits, lactation consultations, prenatal breastfeeding classes, breastfeeding supplies, and more. To learn more, visit their website or call 412.246.4726. Access Digital Resources To access the full database of resources, visit the Breastfeeding Center of Pittsburgh website.
Childhood Health Programs About The following organizations provide childhood health programs and services to families. Let’s Move Pittsburgh As a healthy lifestyle program of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Let’s Move Pittsburgh offers a range of in-person and virtual programming, including the Let’s Move Pittsburgh Pop-Up Series. To learn more, visit the Let’s Move Pittsburgh webpage! Healthy Start The Allegheny County Healthy Start program is free for women who are pregnant, new parents, and families who have children up to the age of two years old. At this time, new program enrollment is open to pregnant women only. Please view the full list of eligible zip codes before applying. To enroll, complete the online enrollment form. Kids Plus Pediatrics With offices located in Squirrel Hill/Greenfield, Pleasant Hills, and Cranberry/Seven Fields, Kids Plus Pediatrics offers a range of services to families, including Kids + Fit, Well Child Visits, Dental Days, Virtual Visits, Parent and Caregiver Classes, and more. To learn more and schedule an appointment, visit the Kids Plus Pediatrics website. MAYA Organization Located in Swissvale, MAYA Organization provides access to classes, doula services, postpartum support, and counseling. Classes cover a range of topics, including pregnancy, birth, newborn care, breastfeeding, baby and toddler safety, and more. To learn more, visit the MAYA Organization website. Cribs for Kids Cribs for Kids provides cribs to babies whose mothers cannot afford them and educates mothers about the dangers of unsafe sleep environments. If you are in need of a crib, find a Cribs for Kids Partner in your area by using the online Find a Partner tool. Partners may have a specific set of requirements for receiving a portable crib and some may only provide safe sleep education. Additionally, Cribs for Kids offers a Safe Sleep Academy that provides information about safe sleep practices, childhood milestones, and more. To learn more, visit the Safe Sleep Academy website.
Childhood Physical Health: Resources About The following organizations provide information on health and human services; classes on childhood and family health topics; referral and service support; and more. COMPASS COMPASS is an online platform that enables Pennsylvanians to learn about, apply for, manage, and renew health and human service benefits. These services include, but are not limited to: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medical Assistance, Early Intervention (EI) Services, and Child Care Works (CCW). To apply for services and learn more, visit the COMPASS website. Pennsylvania WIC The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) aims to improve the health of women, infants, and children in Pennsylvania by providing services at no cost to families. Services are available for: pregnant women; breastfeeding women (up until one year postpartum); women up to six months postpartum (who are not breastfeeding); and infants and children under five years old (including foster children). To be eligible, the family must meet WIC income guidelines. Interested families can start their application online or call the toll-free WIC Hotline at 1.800.942.9467. Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides comprehensive health insurance coverage (including eye, dental, and hearing services) to uninsured children and teens. To be eligible for CHIP, children must: be under the age of 19; a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or qualified alien; a resident of Pennsylvania; and uninsured or not eligible for Medical Assistance. Eligibility is also determined by family size and income. To learn more and apply, visit the CHIP website. Information is available for grandparents and immigrants. Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program The Allegheny Lead Safe Homes program offers qualifying homeowners and renters in Allegheny County with free lead-paint testing throughout their homes and hires a certified lead abatement contractor to repair any lead hazards found up to $12,000. Visit the Allegheny County website to view eligibility requirements and more. If you’re interested in participating, call 412.227.5700, email alleghenylead@actionhousing.org, or fill out the online form. For general program questions, call Jennifer Saks at 412.350.1032. Cribs for Kids Cribs for Kids provides cribs to babies whose mothers cannot afford them and educates mothers about the dangers of unsafe sleep environments. If you are in need of a crib, find a Cribs for Kids Partner in your area by using the online Find a Partner tool. Partners may have a specific set of requirements for receiving a portable crib and some many only provide safe sleep education. Additionally, Cribs for Kids offers a Safe Sleep Academy that provides information about safe sleep practices, childhood milestones, and more. To learn more, visit the Safe Sleep Academy website. Kids Plus Pediatrics With offices located in Squirrel Hill/Greenfield, Pleasant Hills, and Cranberry/Seven Fields, Kids Plus Pediatrics offers a range of services to families, including Well Child Visits, Dental Days, Virtual Visits, Parent and Caregiver Classes, and more. To learn more and schedule an appointment, visit the Kids Plus Pediatrics website. MAYA Organization Located in Swissvale, MAYA Organization provides access to classes, doula services, postpartum support, and counseling. Classes cover a range of topics, including pregnancy, birth, newborn care, breastfeeding, baby and toddler safety, and more. To learn more, visit the MAYA Organization website. Breastfeeding Center of Pittsburgh The Breastfeeding Center of Pittsburgh provides access to coordinated care, virtual visits, lactation consultations, prenatal breastfeeding classes, breastfeeding supplies, and more. To learn more and view their upcoming events, visit the Breastfeeding Center of Pittsburgh website. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) connects families and caregivers to a wide range of early childhood health topics, including information on safety, immunizations, milestones, child passenger safety, and more. To view the list of topics and more, visit the CDC website. HealthyChildren.org Created by the American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org features a wide range of childhood health topics, including parenting during a pandemic, breastfeeding, developmental milestones, health conditions, and more. To learn more, visit the HealthyChildren.org website.
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.
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.
May 27, 2020 Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series Creating high-quality learning experiences at the earliest stages of your child’s life As an early childhood nonprofit, Trying Together recognizes that 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. Evidence-based research shows that children’s brains develop rapidly from zero to age five. Through consistent and caring daily interactions with their children, parents and other caregivers are able to build healthy relationships with and best support the early development and learning of their children. When children grow up in safe environments with engaged, supportive caregivers, the positive effects are felt throughout their lifetime. But where do caregivers go to find information and resources that help them do this? Through the family resource series Developmentally Appropriate Parenting, Trying Together assists parents and caregivers like you in creating high-quality learning experiences at the earliest stages of your child’s life. About the Series Developmentally Appropriate Parenting is a family resource content series developed by Trying Together as an effort to empower caregivers to create high-quality experiences at the earliest stages of their child’s life. To do this, we are developing digital and print content for families that covers critical early childhood topics. To stay up-to-date on available materials, sign up to receive our newsletter. Featured Content Use the list below to navigate through each series topic: 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 Part IX: Transitions & Routines Part X: Gender and Gender Identity Part XI: Family Dynamics Part XII: Caring for the Caregiver Request free printed materials from our Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series. Available Languages Caregivers viewing our online resources can use the “Select Language” button in the top right corner of the screen to access the information in their native language. Printed Materials Request free printed materials from our Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series. Printed materials are available in English and Spanish. More Information For questions about the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting series, email Trying Together at: info@tryingtogether.org.
April 23, 2020 Support Resources for Families Organizations and tools that offer support. Trying Together Trying Together supports 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. Visit the Trying Together website to view all of our available resources. Featured Resources Family Care & Education Forum The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center Remote Learning Resources COVID-19: Resources for Parents and Caregivers Anti-Racism 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. Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) 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. Services Provides assistance in understanding, identifying, and enrolling in high-quality child care. Provides assistance in enrolling to receive public benefits through COMPASS (SNAP, CHIP, Medical Assistance, etc.). Provides information about Family Support Centers. Connects caregivers to an appropriate home visiting program, including Early Head Start (EHS). United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania United Way fights for the health, education, financial stability, and basic needs of everyone in Southwestern Pennsylvania communities. If your family is struggling to access food, pay bills, or needs access to health and human services, contact 2-1-1 via phone, text your zip code to 898-11, or search their service database. Services Connects individuals to Rent Payment Assistance, Utility Assistance, Housing Search Assistance, Transportation Expense Assistance, and more. Connects individuals to food pantries, soup kitchens, SNAP, general clothing provision, diaper assistance, and more. Connects individuals to homeless shelters, community shelters, homelessness prevention programs, and more. COMPASS COMPASS is an online platform managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) to provides community members access to many of Pennsylvania’s health and human services benefits, allowing them to learn about benefits, see if they qualify, apply for benefits, and more. To learn more, visit the COMPASS website. If you are a caregiver who is searching for child care and other early learning programs, visit their program search page. Services Helps families and caregivers identify and access early learning programs in their area. Allows community members to complete one application for multiple benefits, such as SNAP, CHIP, Cash Assistance, Free or Reduced Price School Meals, Child Care Works, Medical Assistance, and more. Sends applications to the appropriate agency for review. The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers is the Service Coordination unit for families of children receiving Early Intervention services (birth to three years of age) in Allegheny County. If you are concerned about your child’s development or would like to know more about Early Intervention services, contact the Alliance at 412.-885.6000 or fill out this contact form. Eligibility criteria apply. Services Provides parent education and support, including identification and referral to community resources. Provides monitor services in areas such as movement, language and communication, social and play skills, problem solving, and self-help. Assists your child and family in transitioning to appropriate services at age three, including Department of Education funded pre-kindergarten programs.
