June 21, 2023 Application Period for Early Intervention Leadership Development Program Now Open Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania is now accepting applications for their 2023-2024 Competence and Confidence Partners in Policymaking Early Intervention (C2P2 EI) Cohort. All applicants must submit their applications by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 11, though the program will begin at the end of September 2023 and run through May 2024. About C2Pc EI C2P2 EI is a free leadership development opportunity for families of children who are currently receiving early intervention infant, toddler, or preschool services. It supports successful applicants in attending four, two-day, in-person sessions, and four virtual sessions (eight sessions total) which give them knowledge and skills to advocate for EI. Throughout the sessions, participants will: learn about the infant/toddler and preschool early intervention system. connect with other families. build skills to advocate for their family and others. Consequently, applicants must commit to participating in all eight sessions. The in-person sessions will be held at the DoubleTree Conference Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. However, expenses, including lodging costs, mileage, and childcare reimbursement, will be provided to participants. Eligibility Eligible applicants must: have a child between birth to age five who is currently receiving Pennsylvania infant/toddler or preschool EI services. have a desire to explicitly advocate for themselves and others. commit to participation in all eight sessions. Apply Interested individuals should apply using the online C2P2 EI 2023-2024 Application Form. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 11. Accordingly, Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania will notify applicants of their acceptance by September 1. Learn More This program is funded by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Bureau of Early Intervention and Family Supports, with support from Temple Institute on Disabilities. To learn more, view the flyer or visit the Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children website. Please direct any questions to Sarah Holland at sholland@parenttoparent.org.
February 10, 2022 Advocacy 201: Crafting and Sharing Your Story Effective messaging helps advocates communicate key points to their audience that can potentially influence their level of support. This workshop is for ECE professionals who have taken our Advocacy 101 or any other foundational advocacy training and would like to take the next step in preparing to speak with elected officials. We will review early childhood research and effective messaging such as brain science, return on investment, impact on workforce and business community, and high-quality teaching. Attendees will leave the workshop with talking points for meeting with elected officials to advocate for early childhood. This session will be virtual via Zoom. Register online to obtain the Zoom link. Objectives Apply ECE experience, child development knowledge, and storytelling to develop advocacy messaging and talking points. Demonstrate strategies for engaging with elected officials and communicating advocacy priorities for early learning. This course is available for 1.5 hours of PQAS credit (K6.10 C2). Learn More Learn more about the Early Learning Pennsylvania campaigns and sign up for public policy alerts on the training together website.
September 27, 2021 Advocacy Basics If you are interested in talking with legislators and civic leaders about how vital early care and education is to your community, learn the basics of advocacy from PennAEYC. This session will cover basic advocacy concepts and how to engage the families you serve in the process. Register for this event online.
May 10, 2021 Grandparent Council Become an Advocate for Young Children The Grandparent Council helps to ensure that all young children receive high-quality care and education. Members meet monthly through virtual Zoom meetings to: learn more about the importance of an early childhood education; receive guidance and support in identifying high-quality early learning environments; and learn how to advocate for the well-being of all children in our communities. Join the Council To join Trying Together’s Grandparent Council, please complete and submit the sign-up form. Submit The Online Form First Name * Last Name * Address City State/Province * AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamMarshall IslandsNorthern Mariana IslandsPalauPuerto RicoU.S. Minor Outlying IslandsVirgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces Europe, the Middle East, anArmed Forces PacificAlbertaBritish ColumbiaManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundland and LabradorNova ScotiaNorthwest TerritoriesNunavat TerritoryOntarioPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewanYukon Territory Zip Phone * Email * How many grandchildren do you have and what are their ages? (optional) Other Ways to Sign-Up If you would like to submit the form via mail, please print, fill-out, and mail this form (PDF) to: ATTN: Grandparent Council 5604 Solway Street Pittsburgh, PA 15217. If you would like to submit the form via email, please print, scan, and email this form (PDF) to info@tryingtogether.org. Courses Zoom 101 Presenter: Peter Sloan Navigating technology in our new virtual reality can sometimes be very challenging. This Zoom training will provide a brief overview of how to properly use the Zoom platform, along with tips and tricks to help everyone become more technologically savvy. View a transcript of Zoom 101 Zoom Training from Trying Together on Vimeo. Grandparent’s Council Introduction and Advocacy 101 Presenters: Emily Neff and Lindsey Ramsey This workshop gives an overview of the origin and need for grandparent advocacy in our region. Participants will receive an overview of the Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA) campaigns, how ECE programs are impacted by the budget process and ways professionals and families can use their experience and knowledge to advocate. Participants should leave with foundational knowledge of the ELPA campaigns, and various advocacy actions they participate in or lead, and guidance on how to complete the mandated reporter training. View a transcript of Grandparent’s Council Introduction and Advocacy 101 Grandparent’s Council Introduction and Advocacy 101 from Trying Together on Vimeo. Developmentally Appropriate Practice and the Importance of Play Presenters: Cristina Codario and Lainey Yockey As grandparents and caregivers of all types spend quality time with the young children in their lives, it is important to make every moment count! Young children need to engage in developmentally appropriate activities to ensure healthy development. This training will provide an overview of child brain development and the interactions and best practices that are needed to support it. We will also discuss the importance of play for children and provide caregivers with family resources to help support them along their journey. View a transcript of Developmentally Appropriate Practice and the Importance of Play Developmentally Appropriate Practice and the Importance of Play from Trying Together on Vimeo. The Early Learning Landscape and Relative Providers Presenter: Bliss Letang The Early Learning Landscape in Pennsylvania is full of care options for our little learners. Caregivers even have the opportunity to become “Relative Providers” for children who are receiving subsidized child care. This training will outline the care options available for children and families in our region along with giving detail on the steps it takes to become a “Relative Provider”. View a transcript of The Early Learning Landscape and Relative Providers The Early Learning Landscape from Trying Together on Vimeo. More Information For questions contact Lindsey Ramsey, Public Policy Regional Coordinator by calling 412.567.4173 or emailing lindsey@tryingtogether.org.
November 17, 2020 Child Care Programs: Submit Your Experience The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is conducting a survey to gather information from the early childhood field to inform federal and state actions on child care. This survey is intended for early learning professionals. About Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, NAEYC has been collecting survey responses from early learning professionals to convey the challenges child care programs are facing across states and settings. Data collected through this survey will be shared with policymakers to build a deeper understanding of the ongoing urgency of the challenges programs are facing. Early childhood educators can answer the questions regardless of whether their child care program is open, closed, or somewhere in between, and regardless of what kind of child care program they work in, or what role they have there. Take The Survey To submit your experience, complete the online survey by November 22, 2020. NAEYC will select 10 respondents at random to receive a $50 gift card. Winners will be notified on December 18, 2020. Child Care Survey (English) Child Care Survey (Spanish) More Information For more information, contact advocacy@naeyc.org.
October 28, 2020 Listen to Black Women: What’s it like to be a Black Woman in Pittsburgh? Are you a Black woman in Pittsburgh who is interested in sharing your experiences with other Black women in Pittsburgh? Join the Black Women’s Policy Agenda on November 14 for “Listen to Black Women: What’s it like to be a Black Woman in Pittsburgh?” About Fixing Pittsburgh’s problems starts with listening to Black women! That’s why the Black Women’s Policy Agenda has launched a survey and is facilitating a series of community conversations where Black women share their experiences with other Black women. This event is designed to elevate the voices and experiences of Black women in Pittsburgh. It’s the first step to building collective power among Black women, advocating for the needs of Black women, and advancing policy to achieve racial and gender justice in this region. Take the Survey The Black Women’s Policy Agenda is conducting a survey to hear from 250 women in the Pittsburgh region to discover how they are dealing with the double crisis of COVID-19, anti-Black violence, and being a Black woman overall. To complete the survey, visit the Black Women’s Policy Agenda website. Registration To register, visit the event webpage. Participants will receive a $25 gift card. Share this flyer with your network.
October 1, 2020 Early Learning is No Small Matter Are you interested in exploring the most overlooked, underestimated, and powerful force for good in America today? Join Trying Together on Monday, October 12 for our online course “Early Learning is No Small Matter” to discuss the importance of early childhood education. About During this course, participants will view the documentary “No Small Matter” and learn how they can leverage the film for advocacy in their programs and communities. Opportunities to bring the film back to their community in support of early learning advocacy will be shared. Session Details Session Date: Monday, October 12, 2020 | 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Instructors: Cristina Codario and Lindsey Ramsey Core Knowledge Area: Professional and Leadership CDA Content Area: Maintaining Professionalism Registration Deadline: Saturday, October 10, 2020 Registration To register, visit the course PD Registry page. Space is limited. Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. PQAS and Act 48 credit available. If you do not have a PD Registry account, please complete this online form to create one. If you are unable to create an account, please contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org for more information. More Information For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org.
September 22, 2020 Advocacy 201: Crafting and Sharing Your Message Are you interested in speaking with elected officials about the importance of early childhood? Join Trying Together on October 27 for our free virtual workshop, “Advocacy 201: Crafting and Sharing Your Message.” About Effective messaging helps advocates communicate key points to their audience that can potentially influence their level of support. This workshop is for Early Childhood Education professionals who have taken Trying Together’s Advocacy 101 course (or any other foundational advocacy training) and would like to take the next step in preparing to speak with elected officials. Course instructors will review early childhood research and effective messaging such as brain science, return on investment, impact on workforce and business community, and high-quality teaching. Attendees will leave the workshop with talking points for meeting with elected officials to advocate for early childhood. Session Details Session Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Instructors: Cristina Codario, Emily Neff, and Lindsey Ramsey Core Knowledge Area: Professional and Leadership CDA Content Area: Maintaining Professionalism Registration Deadline: Sunday, October 25, 2020 Registration To register, visit the course PD Registry page. Space is limited. Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. PQAS and Act 48 credit available. If you do not have a PD Registry account, please complete this online form to create one. If you are unable to create an account, please contact pdregistry@pakeys.org for more information. More Information For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org.
ECE Advocacy 101 Are you interested in learning how to use your experience and knowledge to advocate for early childhood? Join Trying Together on October 6 for our free virtual workshop, “ECE Advocacy 101.” About The ECE Advocacy 101 workshop is designed to break down the Pennsylvania budget cycle. Participants will receive an overview of the Early Learning PA (ELPA) campaigns, how Early Childhood Education programs are impacted by the budget process, and ways professionals and families can use their experience and knowledge to advocate. Participants will leave with foundational knowledge of the Pennsylvania budget, ELPA campaigns, and various advocacy actions they participate in or lead. Session Details Session Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2020 | 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Instructors: Cristina Codario, Emily Neff, and Lindsey Ramsey Core Knowledge Area: Professional and Leadership CDA Content Area: Maintaining Professionalism Registration Deadline: Sunday, October 4, 2020 Registration To register, visit the course PD Registry page. Space is limited. Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. PQAS and Act 48 credit available. If you do not have a PD Registry account, please complete this online form to create one. If you are unable to create an account, please contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org for more information. More Information For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org.
September 10, 2020 Pennsylvania’s Child Care Crisis: A Virtual Public Forum Child care providers, teachers, parents, and advocates in Pennsylvania are invited to join Start Strong PA on September 16 for “Pennsylvania’s Child Care Crisis: A Virtual Public Forum.” The Forum will include an important discussion with the congregational delegation regarding Pennsylvania’s child care crisis. About During the Forum, featured speakers will present the following: PennState’s Dr. Philip Sirinides will review major takeaways and recommendations from a new study documenting the financial impact of COVID-19 on the child care sector. Pennsylvania Chamber of Business Industry President and CEO Gene Barr will discuss child care’s vital role in Pennsylvania’s economic recovery. Providers, advocates, and others will detail the changing face of child care and challenges caused by COVID-19, the essential role that child care will have for working families in a recovering economy, and the need for additional financial stabilization assistance to prevent the collapse of the sector. A question and answer session with panelists and members of Congress will follow these presentations. Registration To register for the Forum, visit the event webpage. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
