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DAP Category: Support

News

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,
    • 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.

 

News

December 14, 2020

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.”

 

News

The Brain Architects Podcast, Center on the Developing Child

About

Launched in January 2020 by the Center on Child Development at Harvard University, The Brain Architects Podcast explores common questions that parents and caregivers have during the early periods of their child’s life. The podcast brings together experts and practitioners from pediatrics, social services, education, and other fields of study to help guide caregivers in improving the lives of their young children.

Featured Topics

The podcast explores a variety of early childhood topics, including, but not limited to self-care, toxic stress, serve and return, brain architecture, mental health during COVID-19, and more.

Learn More

To start listening, visit the podcast webpage.

 

News

Childhood Development and Lifelong Health, Center on the Developing Child

About

Are you interested in learning how early childhood development and environments impact children’s lifelong physical and mental health? Check out the Center on the Developing Child’s whitepaper, “Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body: Early Childhood Development and Lifelong Health Are Deeply Intertwined.”

Featured Topics

In the whitepaper, researchers explore:

    • what 21st-century science is teaching us,
    • how early adversity affects developing biological systems,
    • common illnesses in adults that have roots in early childhood adversity,
    • facts about the health that are often misunderstood,
    • future directions for policies and practice, and
    • final reflections in a COVID-19 world.

Learn More

For more information, view this resource from Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child.

 

News

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.

 

News

Anti-Racism Resources for Families

About

As parents and caregivers, we have a responsibility to ensure that every child and family is safe from racism and discrimination and has equitable opportunities to thrive.

In order to do this, we must begin with ourselves. Set aside time in your day to do a personal inventory. What thoughts, feelings, and behaviors have you contributed to upholding systems of racism? What assumptions are you making? What actions or inactions have you taken that contribute to systems of oppression?

Next, consider your family and your friends—what behaviors, statements, or jokes have gone unchecked? What actions or inactions have you taken within your interpersonal relationships that have contributed to an unsafe community for our black and brown children, neighbors, and colleagues? How might you begin to lead by example within your own family or community?

Anti-racism work is something that has to be attended to in an ongoing way. In order to support you in this work, Trying Together compiled the following resources. This list is not exhaustive.

Resources for Adults

Discussing Racism and Violence with Children

Children’s Books

Resources for Social-Emotional Development

 

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.

 

News

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.

 

News

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:

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

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.

 

News

Play and Physical Activity Guide for Educators & Families, Recess Advocacy Team

About

The Recess Advocacy Team compiled a list of resources for educators and families to make sure play and physical activity are a part of children’s’ days and serve as a foundation for their learning, growth, and development. The list includes resources, activities, considerations, and ways that educators and families can incorporate play and physical activity into children’s daily routines.

Resources for Play & Physical Activity

Download This Resource

The Recess Advocacy Team is a group of organizations dedicated to health and wellness, education, and play with a focus on recess practices and policies. To view the full list of resources, download the guide (PDF).