April 15, 2019 Sign-On to Support Families Impacted by Postpartum Depression Understanding the Need Postpartum depression can strike any new mother. Research shows that approximately 15 percent of new mothers suffer from postpartum depression. In Pennsylvania, this means about 21,000 infants and moms are affected each year. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that when a mother suffers from postpartum depression, both mothers and babies experience negative effects, including: adverse effects on the baby’s brain and development, increased danger of child abuse and neglect, and increased medical care costs. Will you sign-on to support Pennsylvania’s mothers and infants? What is #StrongMomStrongBaby? #StrongMomStrongBaby is a statewide effort to amend the existing early intervention law (Act 212 of 1990) to add postpartum depression as an at-risk condition allowing infants to undergo assessments, parents to receive assistance in bonding with their babies, and if needed, Early Intervention services to ensure moms and babies have the best start together. To learn more and stay up-to-date, follow the campaign’s Facebook page. Take Action Show your support for Pennsylvania’s mothers and infants by adding your name to the #StrongMomStrongBaby petition.
April 9, 2019 Month of the Young Child: Celebrating Early Childhood With Trying Together having designated April as the Month of the Young Child (MOYC), Kidsburgh asked Executive Director Cara Ciminillo to explain why access to high-quality early childhood care and education is so vital for our youngest generation. Overview In the article, Ciminillo explains why access to early learning and care is critical and moves on to discuss the roles of advocacy, policy, and investments. Identifying connections to Trying Together’s public policy agenda, Ciminillo explains that by successfully advocating for increased investments in early childhood, we’re working to ensure that all young children have access to affordable, high-quality programs; that all early childhood professionals are being compensated appropriately; and that all early childhood programs have access to the support they need to provide high-quality services. Article To read the full article, visit Kidsburgh’s website!
March 27, 2019 No Small Matter Screening Join co-hosts Trying Together and PUMP for a screening of “No Small Matter,” a documentary film that highlights the importance of high-quality early education and its impact on all Americans. Itinerary 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. | Dinner* 6:30 – 7:15 p.m. | Screening 7:15 – 7:45 p.m. | Panel Discussion 7:45 – 8:00 p.m. | Action Item/Wrap-Up *A light dinner will be provided. Share this flyer with your network. Registeration Free child care will be available for children ages two to eight. Pre-registration is required for child care and space is limited. To register for child care, visit Sweet Dreams Child Care’s registration link. Questions Lissa Geiger Shulman | Trying Together | lissa@tryingtogether.org Katie Phillips | PUMP | katie@pump.org About No Small Matter No Small Matter is the first feature documentary to explore the most overlooked, underestimated, and powerful force for good in America today: early childhood education. Through poignant stories and surprising humor, the film lays out the overwhelming evidence for the importance of the first five years, and reveals how our failure to act on that evidence has resulted in an everyday crisis for American families, and a slow-motion catastrophe for the country.
March 11, 2019 New Study on Maternity Leave Unveiled Study A new study in the International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy finds a direct link between length of maternity leave and quality of mother-child interactions. The study: The Role of Length of Maternity Leave in Supporting Mother-Child Interactions and Attachment Security Among American Mothers and Their Infants suggests these results have implications for the development of family policies that support the needs of infants and mothers during the first months of life. Policy The implementation of comprehensive and universal maternity leave policy can complement child care policies. Both quality child care and maternity leave policies constitute solutions to similar needs. The results of this study support the need for parents to have the opportunity to choose to take maternity before infants enter child care. While quality child care can result in positive developmental outcomes for the infants, maternity leave can ensure that mothers have time off from work. This way, maternity leave can give mothers the opportunity to spend time with their infants, engage in positive and stress-free interactions, and learn to read a child’s cues before they negotiate the stress of balancing parenting and work. Ultimately, a combination of comprehensive maternity leave and child care policies will give each family the opportunity to have some choice in timing and combination of work, leave, and child care. Read the complete study here.
March 8, 2019 PA’s Program Reach and Risk Assessment Report Released About Children in 40 Pennsylvania counties (60 percent) are at moderate-high or high-risk of low academic performance. This is according to the recent release of the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning Program Reach and Risk Assessment State of Fiscal Year 2016-2017. As a result, OCDEL annually creates its Program Reach and Risk Assessment Report. This report offers information on the level of risk for school failure for children (based on 16 risk factors). It also offers information on the availability, or reach, of most OCDEL programs to children in each county and school district in Pennsylvania. Consequently, the Reach and Risk Report includes data for all children under age five. It also provides a breakdown of program reach by infants/toddlers (birth – two years) and preschool (ages three and four). Report Breakdown Highlights within the report include: One-third (34 percent) of children under age five participate in state and/or federally-funded quality early care and education programs in Pennsylvania. Of all state-funded programs, the most children are reached through the Keystone STARS program. This program provides services to an estimated 14 percent of children from birth to age five. Approximately one-fourth (24 percent) of Pennsylvania’s infants and toddlers (birth to age two) participate in publicly-funded quality early care and education programs. Almost half (49 percent) of Pennsylvania’s preschoolers are served in state and/or federally funded quality early care and education programs. Full Report To read the full report and access county and school-based specific information, visit the PA Key website.
March 7, 2019 Disability and Mental Health Summit Join State Representative Dan Miller in the 2019 Disability and Mental Health Summit. Happening over three days, this summit includes the following opportunities: Informative Sessions Topics of interest for parents, students, providers, and professionals seeking continuing education A Resource Fair State, county, and local agencies; service providers, advocacy and support groups; post-secondary education organizations; and employment opportunities Free and open to the public, this summit includes multiple sessions on a range of disabilities and mental health issues spanning from early intervention to adults and seniors. View the attached flyer or visit the Summit website for more information.
March 4, 2019 2019 Capital Area Chapter of PennAEYC (CACPennAEYC) Conference Conference Information The Capital Area Chapter of PennAEYC (CACPennAEYC) invites you and your colleagues to participate in a day of learning, networking and professional development. Returning to Messiah College on March 16, 2019, the Capital Area Early Childhood conference is especially designed for early childhood professionals and advocates who work with and on behalf of young children. This year’s conference will include a wide variety of in-depth workshops, an inspirational keynote speaker, an assortment of vendors, and additional resources for up-to-date information on early care and education. Please bring this brochure to the conference for easy reference. Professional Development Up to six DHS and PA Key professional development hours will be awarded. Forms for Act 48 credit will be available at the registration table for teachers holding a PA professional I or II certification. CEUs are not offered at this event. Directions on where to obtain documentation of your attendance will be included in your conference folder materials. We look forward to seeing you on March 16, 2019! Please view the attached brochure for more information!
March 1, 2019 Restorative Justice Practices A+ Schools, Carlow University’s Education Department, and Trying Together are pleased to present, “Restorative Justice Practices: Disrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline” on Thursday, March 21, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Arsenal Middle School. About A long-time social justice activist, civil rights trial attorney, restorative justice practitioner, writer, professor, and scholar with a PhD in Indigenous Knowledge, keynote speaker, Dr. Fania E. Davis is considered a leading national voice. Dr. Davis will share her personal journey to restorative justice. Attendees will also hear her presentation on what restorative justice is, how it differs from other forms of justice, and its history. Dr. Davis will also share the way it is being used in Oakland, California’s schools and juvenile justice system. The evening will conclude with a panel discussion between Dr. Davis and Mr. John Wetzel, Secretary, PA Department of Corrections. During Mr. Wetzel’s tenure an elimination of a 24-year average growth of 1,500 inmates per year occurred presiding over the first population reduction in PA in more than four decades. With more than 29 years of experience in the corrections field, Mr. Wetzel has been selected as chair of the Council of State Government’s Justice Center’s Executive Board and Vice President of ASCA. Register Get more information and register for this event.
February 26, 2019 Councilperson Strassburger Introduces Legislation to Combat Pregnancy Discrimination Today, Pittsburgh City Councilperson Erika Strassburger announced the introduction of legislation to safeguard employment protections for pregnant employees, individuals seeking to become pregnant, and their partners. In addition, the City of Pittsburgh’s Commission on Human Relations released an accompanying Guidance Document to empower employers to take steps to prevent discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions and events. Strassburger’s Statement “Employees should not be forced to choose between their livelihood and their reproductive decisions. My legislation ensures that pregnant workers, regardless of whether they work in a corporate office, a retail store, or a warehouse, can work in a safe and comfortable environment, attend medical appointments, and sustain a healthy pregnancy without fear of losing their job or benefits,” said Councilperson Strassburger. “I encourage employers citywide to review the Guidance Document to help prevent pregnancy-based discrimination from ever occurring.” Details and Impact Councilperson Strassburger’s legislation would explicitly prohibit employment discrimination against pregnant individuals, those seeking to become pregnant, and their partners before, during, and after the nine-month gestation period and after childbirth. This change to the City Code may require employers to provide reasonable modifications to employees’ workspaces and offer justifiable flexibility in scheduling to allow employees and their partners to attend procedures, tests, and other appointments associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. A copy of the legislation is available here. With this change, Pittsburgh would become one of the first jurisdictions nationwide to clearly safeguard employment protections for the partners of pregnant employees. Additionally, the legislation would make Pittsburgh one of few cities to guarantee employment protections for related events that occur before, during, and after gestation and after childbirth. View the entire press release here. Those who feel they may have been treated unfairly are encouraged to call the Commission on Human Relations (CHR) at 412-255-2600 or visit http://pittsburghpa.gov/chr/ for more information. The CHR also offers free training and resources for employers.
February 25, 2019 Trying Together 2019-2020 Public Policy Agenda Released Trying Together is pleased to announce the release of its 2019-2020 Public Policy Agenda. The objectives listed build upon our successes and expand to include new areas of focus. The 2017-2018 agenda called for several action items which were positively advanced in the past two years. While there is still work to do, Trying Together helped to achieve several key accomplishments in support of these goals including: Advance the use of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP). released a Kindergarten Transition white paper; formed a Recess Advocacy Team in partnership with the playful Pittsburgh Collaborative to elevate the importance of free play and promote recess best practices for children in pre-k through sixth grade; released a DAP white paper and guide for parents; hosted a DAP webinar; developed custom professional development on DAP for early childhood professionals; and presented information on the role of DAP to an assembly of school superintendents. End early childhood suspensions and expulsions*: released a white paper and guide for families; hosted a lunch and learn with the Remake Learning Council; presented at The Early Childhood Education Summit in 2017 and 2018; and sits on the state workgroup in Pennsylvania *Notably, Pittsburgh Public Schools ruled in 2017 that suspensions and expulsions for minor, non-violent infractions for K-2 students would be ended, after which Philadelphia followed. Additionally, The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) released a policy announcement and provided resources on how to do reduce suspensions and expulsions. Increase access to high-quality pre-kindergarten (pre-k) programs. partnered on the Pre-K for PA campaign which successfully advocated for an increased investment of $55 million dollars in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 budgets collectively. Increase access to high-quality infant toddler care. successfully advocated for an increased investment of $26.8 million dollars in child care services as of the 2018-19 budget; and convened and partnered on a workgroup to launch the Start Strong PA campaign in January 2019 to advocate for high-quality child care for infants and toddlers. Transform the early childhood profession. provided several dozen Level 1 Teachers their Induction program; hosted the ECE Advocacy Fellowship for more than 20 early childhood professional; and successfully updated language state statute and regulations to use the term ‘child care’ instead of ‘day care’. Leverage resources and partnerships. has continued its partnership with the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University to provide professional development to 1,000 early care and education professionals who utilize the Message From Me digital tool, allowing 20,000 children to consistently communicate about their day with caregivers. In 2019, we, along with our partners, will develop an Advisory Board to bring this to PNC markets nationwide; and partners with the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU3) to lead the Hi5! Kindergarten Readiness and Registration campaign – working with nearly all 43 school districts in Allegheny County to facilitate roundtables and networking for best practices in supporting young children as they transition into kindergarten. As a leading advocate for high-quality early childhood care and education in Pennsylvania, Trying Together educates and engages regularly with policymakers on access, affordability, and quality policies that affect the lives of children, families, and professionals throughout the state. Partnering with education, government, business, nonprofit, and philanthropic stakeholders, Trying Together advocates for public policy changes throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, with an emphasis in the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Visit tryingtogether.org to view the full 2019-2020 Public Policy Agenda. Advocates are invited to sign on support for the 2019-2020 Trying Together Public Policy Agenda at tryingtogether.org to begin engaging their legislators today.
