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DAP Category: Pre-k

Directory for Emergency and Safety Services

News

April 23, 2021

Directory for Emergency and Safety Services

Keep information for emergency and safety services on hand with this printable resource.

Emergency Services

 

Personal/local contacts:

  • Police department
  • Fire department
  • Pediatrician

Battery Ingestion Hotline:

  • Call 202.625.3333.

Pittsburgh Poison Center:

  • Call 1.800.222.1222.
  • Text “poison” to 797979 to add the poison center number as a contact in your mobile phone.

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Emergency Department:

  • Call 412.692.5555.

webPOINSONCONTROL:

The first fully-automated virtual poison center. As an interactive tool, it guides you through a specific poison exposure situation just as poison control centers would do if you called.

Safety Services

Allegheny County Health Department’s Safe and Healthy Homes (SHHP) Program:

Provides free in-home health and safety assessments to qualified participants in Allegheny County as well as Beaver, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.

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.

Cribs for Kids:

Provides portable cribettes to families who, otherwise, cannot afford a safe place for their babies to sleep.

PA Car Seat Loan Program:

The PA Traffic Injury Prevention Project (PA TIPP) is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and offers a car seat loan program for families in need.

The National Child Identification Program Inkless Fingerprint I.D. Kit:

The ID Kit allows parents to collect specific information by easily recording the physical characteristics and fingerprints of their children on identification cards that are then kept at home by the parent or guardian.

Print This Resource

This resource is available as a printable PDF (English) (Spanish).

Child Care Emergency Plan, Child Care Aware of America

News

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?

News

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.”

 

The Lying Down Song, Early Childhood TLC

News

The Lying Down Song, Early Childhood TLC

About

Looking to get active with your young child? Try crab walking, bear crawling, doing the superman, and more by watching this video from Early Childhood TLC. If you’re looking to get creative, try creating your own song and dance moves!

For more videos like this, visit the Early Childhood TLC YouTube page.

Watch the Video

 

Walk It Like An Animal Activity, Early Childhood TLC

News

Walk It Like An Animal Activity, Early Childhood TLC

About

Are you looking for a fun physical activity to do with your young child? Watch this video from Early Childhood TLC to jump like a kangaroo, swing like a monkey, walk like a bear, and climb like a sloth!

For more music videos, visit the Early Childhood TLC YouTube page.

Watch the Video

 

How Racism Can Affect Child Development, Harvard Center

News

Remote Learning Resources

News

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

Resources for Students

 

 

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.

 

Exercise Together with Darnell Campbell

News

Exercise Together with Darnell Campbell

Exercises for Families

Are you looking for simple but effective exercises to get your family up and moving? Watch this video from Darnell Campbell to learn four exercises your family can do right at home. Darnell Campbell is a Physical Education Teacher at Winchester Thurston, CPR Instructor, and Personal Trainer.

Watch the Video

 

Supporting Childhood Physical Health: A Guide for Families

News

Supporting Childhood Physical Health: A Guide for Families

Support Your Child’s Physical Health!

Did you know that children’s brain development is influenced by many health-related factors, including nutrition, physical activity, and toxic stress? That’s why it’s important for parents and caregivers to create routines and environments that support their children’s health. For more information, continue reading below.

The Importance of Exercise

All children should engage in at least one hour of physical activity daily and should not be still for more than 60 minutes at a time. To support physical activity, families should:

    • provide a space where children can safely run and play with toys and equipment (75 square feet is adequate),
    • provide a space for riding tricycles, running, and rolling balls,
    • purchase balls and toys with wheels that can keep a child active,
    • plan activities that promote perceptual motor development, the ability to interact with one’s environment by using one’s senses, and
    • have children dance to nursery rhymes or chants to help them develop rhythm.

Benefits of Exercise

    • Supports the development of children’s fundamental motor skills including walking, throwing, kicking, running, balancing, hopping, and skipping.
    • In addition to helping a child move better, physical activity helps their bodies maintain healthy body weight and build healthy bones, muscles, heart, and lungs.
    • Fights off depression, anger, and anxiety at early stages.
    • Sparks creativity and problem solving.

The Importance of Nutrition

Making healthy food and nutrition choices is a challenge for not only adults, but for children too. A balanced meal can help reduce the risk of many health conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Fresh foods like fruits and vegetables are nutritious options and a great source of fiber. Children’s fruit and vegetable intake per meal should be as follows:

    • Two- to Three-Years-Old
      One cup of vegetables and one cup of fruit daily.
    • Four- to Eight-Years-Old
      One and a half cups of vegetables with each meal, and one and a half cups of fruit daily.
    • Nine-Years-Old and Older
      Two cups of vegetables with each meal, and one and a half cups of fruit daily.

TIP: Smoothies can be fun to make with children. They love to watch whole fruits being crushed up to make juice!

Benefits of Nutritious Food

    • Helps children’s digestive and immune systems stay healthy.
    • Provides a good source of vitamins.
    • Helps to fight infections.
    • Makes wonderful snacks that can be easily packed.

Strategies for a Healthy Routine

Create a schedule that includes time to be active throughout the day.

    • Dance
      A creative and fun way to keep the body moving, get the heart rate up, and promote good blood flow.
    • Tag
      One game that can help promote movement in a fun and fast-paced way.
    • Scavenger Hunt
      A creative way to get children up and moving. This can be done inside or outside. This is a great way to promote exploratory play with younger children.
    • Games
      It’s important to incorporate rules with some games, and to vaguely give directions for others. This helps children learn how to create their own rules which enhances their thinking abilities.
    • Some Rules
      Example: You can only hop during tag; no tagging the person who tagged you; freeze once you’re tagged, etc.
    • Meal Planning
      Create a meal menu. This helps to not only save money, but helps to keep track of the things one is eating. Allow children to help season food, sort food by type or color, and even taste the vegetables before they are cooked. Some children like raw veggies as snacks.

TIP: When making a schedule to support a healthy routine, try to block off time for activities that can be done in a 60-minute timeframe.

Print This Resource

This resource is available as a printable PDF (English) (Español).

Acknowledgments

This document was created by Darnell Campbell, in partnership with Trying Together, as a resource for Part II: Childhood Physical Health of the Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series. Darnell Campbell is a Physical Education Teacher at Winchester Thurston, CPR Instructor, and Personal Trainer.

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.

 

The Head Start Program and Its Benefits

News

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.