February 21, 2023 2023 Food Resources Organizations throughout Allegheny County will provide meal distributions and resources to serve those needing food assistance through March 2023. (This article was updated on February 16, 2023 to reflect the latest distribution events and schedules). UPDATE: SNAP Emergency Allotment Ending After February 2023 Food Distribution Events Free Store & Food Distribution – Propel Northside Community Wellness Center Propel Northside Community Wellness Center, 1805 Buena Vista, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 | Saturday, 02/25 | 10 a.m. Food distribution runs until supplies are gone. View the event flyer for more details. Pittsburgh Military Share Food Distribution 2934 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 | Monday, 03/13 | 12 p.m. Fresh produce, meat, milk, and shelf-stable goods will be handed out at noon. For more information, visit the event page. Braddock, East Pittsburgh, and North Braddock Community Dinner – Grounded Strategies Braddock’s Battlefield History Center, 609 6th Street, Braddock, PA 15104 | Wednesday, 03/22 | 6 – 8 p.m. Take part in a catered feedback session on how to turn vacant land into a creative placemaking opportunity in the B.E.N. region. For more information, visit the event page. Fresh Fridays on the Hilltop Food 2023 Distribution Schedule St. John Vianney Parking Lot (Corner of Climax and Allen Street) | Second Friday of each month from April through November 2023 | 3 p.m. – while supplies last. View the schedule flyer for more information and contact. Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Distribution Schedules Allegheny County Drive-Up Distribution Schedule Allegheny Valley JC Penney at the Galleria, 590 Pittsburgh Mills Blvd., Tarentum, PA 15084 Tuesday, 03/14 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. McKeesport Founders Hall Middle School, 1960 Eden Park Blvd., McKeesport, PA 15132 Saturday, 03/18 | 4:30 – 6 p.m. West End Ascension Church, 114 Berry St., Pittsburgh, PA 15205 Tuesday, 02/21 | 4 – 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, 02/21 | 4 – 5:30 p.m. Wilkinsburg (This distribution will have pre-packed boxes) 225 Penn Ave. (Intersection of Penn Ave. and N. Trenton), Pittsburgh, PA 15221 Saturday, 02/25 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. Saturday, 03/25 | 10 – 10:30 a.m. Allegheny County Walk-In Distribution Schedule Homewood Faison K-5, 7430 Tioga St., Pittsburgh, PA 15208 Saturday, 03/11 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Northside Pittsburgh King PreK – 8, 50 Montgomery Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Saturday, 03/11 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. South Side (This distribution will have pre-packed boxes) Southside Market House, 12th and Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 Wednesday, 02/22 | 5:30 – 7 p.m. Find food resources based on zip code or region by visiting the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Find Food online tool. The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Market is an onsite pantry where eligible neighbors can shop for grocery items at no cost. Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. *Please arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to closing. Find more information and the 2023 distribution calendar, visit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank website.
September 22, 2022 RADical Days 2022 RADical Days is featuring free events and activities for people of all ages through October 16, 2022. About RADical Days RADical Days, the Allegheny Regional Asset District’s annual “thank you” to taxpayers, includes free events at more than 65 entities that receive RAD funding. From free admission to top-level attractions to free performances by world-class musicians, RADical Days 2022 provides something for everyone. Highlights include free admission days to local institutions, including: Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (Oct. 2) Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (Oct. 3) Carnegie Science Center (Oct. 9) The Frick Pittsburgh (Oct. 16) Arts and culture organizations like City Theatre (Clyde’s – Sept. 25), South Park Theatre (The 39 Steps – Sept. 24), New Hazlett Theater (Somewhere Strange – Oct. 14) Pittsburgh Opera (Sept. 11 & Oct. 8), Pittsburgh Public Theater (A Raisin in the Sun – 7PM on Oct. 16) and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (Oct. 11) are among the assets providing free tickets. The RADical Days calendar of events is available to view at radworkshere.org/events.
June 27, 2022 Apply: Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) Waiting List The Allegheny County Housing Authority will accept applications for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) waiting list from Tuesday, July 12, through Thursday July 14. About the Housing Choice Voucher Program The ACHA provides safe and decent affordable housing for low-income residents of Allegheny County and offers two main housing programs: the Housing Choice Voucher Program and Public Housing. The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a rental assistance program where residents rent directly from private landlords and their rental payments are subsidized through the voucher program. Eligibility Applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements for admission into the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program: qualify as a family; have an income within the federally mandated income limits; meet citizen/eligible immigrant criteria; provide documentation of valid Social Security numbers; sign consent authorization documents the ACHA will perform criminal background reviews for each adult household member Apply Applications will be accepted from 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 12, to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday July 14. Individuals can apply online at www.achsng.com; computers also will be available at the ACHA office at 301 Chartiers Ave, McKees Rocks, PA. All applicants are processed and placed on a waiting list. Results of the waiting list order will be posted online by July 22. Applicants MUST keep their confirmation number in order to access status. For details, visit the ACHA website.
February 2, 2022 Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program Are you a homeowner or renter in Allegheny County? Do you live with a pregnant person or a child age six or younger? If so, you might qualify for free home repairs from the Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program to keep your family safe from lead paint. Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program Lead is most dangerous to children under age six because their brains and nervous systems still are developing. When they put their hands and other objects in their mouth, they can swallow lead-paint dust, which can be invisible to the naked eye. Children also can be exposed to lead by ingesting soil, food, or water containing it. Even low levels of lead can cause behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, and hearing problems. 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. Examples of work include repair and repainting of chipping and peeling lead-painted surfaces, window and door repair or replacement, and enclosing exterior trim and components. Apply If you’re interested in participating, please call ACTION-Housing at 412-227-5700, email alleghenylead@actionhousing.org or fill out the online form. More Information More information, including eligibility, can be found on the information sheet and on the program’s website.
February 1, 2022 Communities of Practice: Available Behavior and Mental Health Resources ELRC Region 5 offers Communities of Practice (COP) for early learning professionals to discuss topics of interest, current trends in the field, and offer insight and inspiration to one another. In March, ELRC Region 5 will provide information about several of the behavior and mental health resources available to support their programs. We will briefly discuss with participants the importance of behavior, emotional, and mental health support for our youngest children to thrive as well as their ideas to help a scenario classroom. Representatives from the Rapid Response Team, Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC), the Alliance for Infants and Toddlers, and DART will share information about their programs with the participants in breakout rooms. Participants will have the opportunity to rotate through the breakout rooms to ask specific questions and learn about each organization. Registration is required for this session. 1.5 PQAS credit hours will be available. To receive credit, participants must complete the PD Registry Credit Request Form (in addition to the registration form). Registration Thursday, 03/17/22 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Registration For questions, please contact Holly Cessna at holly.elrc5@alleghenycounty.us or 412-812-1544. If you have any questions about receiving credit, please contact Allison Hritz at allison@tryingtogether.org.
2022-23 Kindergarten Registration Open Kindergarten registration has opened in Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Fayette, Greene, and Westmoreland counties for the 2022-2023 school year. Registering Your Child If your child is five, it’s time to register them for kindergarten. View details about Kindergarten registration in the Pittsburgh Region and find your district’s information in the following documents: Kindergarten Registration Information for the 2022-23 School Year: Allegheny County Kindergarten Registration Information for the 2022-23 School Year: Westmoreland, Fayette, Armstrong, Greene, and Butler Counties Hi5! is a kindergarten readiness and registration campaign coordinated by The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, and Trying Together. Early and on-time registration allows schools and districts to plan for classroom materials, resources, and staff as they prepare to welcome a new group of students. It also enables families to establish relationships with teachers and administrators that are so important for easing the stress and anxiety of children (and their families) as they begin elementary school. More Information For more information about the Hi5! project, transition teams, and activities, please email hi5@tryingtogether.org, or view the Hi5! overview (PDF) and the Kindergarten Transition Whitepaper (PDF). To receive the the Hi5! Kindergarten Transition newsletter, visit our sign up page! For more information about helping your child make the move to Kindergarten, visit the Kindergarten Transition: A Guide for Families resource.
January 20, 2022 Rapid Response Team: Reducing Expulsions and Suspensions in Early Childhood Education Join Trying Together for an upcoming professional development session, “Rapid Response Team: Reducing Expulsions and Suspensions in Early Childhood Education”. This session will discuss the ongoing and growing issue surrounding expulsion and suspension in early childhood education that have been linked to staff implicit bias, challenging behaviors, and staffing issues. The presentation will guide parents, caregivers, directors and staff working with children ages 0-5 on how to prevent expulsion and suspension in early childhood education. The session will discuss ways to implement evidence-based strategies to promote positive behavior support, self-regulation, and positive mental health. We will share community resources and programs for children and families in Allegheny County. UnConference: Creating a Safe Place with Trauma-Informed Care This session is a part of Trying Together’s upcoming UnConference. Between February 8-18, expert-led workshops will share content related to trauma-informed care. We begin the UnConference with keynote speaker Dr. Veirdre Jackson and dive into how we can create an environment of healing through equity and trust. Following the keynote, workshop sessions include how to identify family stressors, how to provide responsive care-giving for children experiencing trauma, and an overview of the recently launched Rapid Response Team from Trying Together. Individuals can learn more and register on Trying Together’s website.
November 11, 2021 Child Care Career Openings in the Pittsburgh Area Are you looking for open child care positions? Early learning programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area are hiring! See this week’s featured jobs. Child Care Positions in Pittsburgh Child Care Assistant Group Supervisor Extended Child Care Program is seeking a Child Care Assistant Group Supervisor to assist with the supervision of children, including preparing snacks, assisting with homework, sanitizing toys and tables, and other assigned duties. Apply: To apply, send your resume to lynnleejordan1998@gmail.com. Submit a Job Each week, Trying Together highlights employer-submitted jobs on our website, social media, and in our newsletter. Submit a Job: To make it into next week’s post, submit the Child Care Provider Job Post Submission Form. All jobs submitted after Tuesday each week will be published in the following week’s news post. Publication dates may vary due to state and federal holidays. Unrelated jobs will not be included. For questions, contact Kara Bayer at kara@tryingtogether.org. Other Jobs in Early Childhood ECE Hire Visit the ECE Hire website to view early childhood education job listings and helpful tips on interviewing, resumes, and more. Submit a Job to PACCA Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) offers a Job Board for its members to post jobs for free and sends out submitted jobs via their Facebook page and e-newsletter. PACCA members can submit jobs online after signing into their membership account. For questions, contact Maureen Murphy at maureen.murphy@pacca.org. Receive Jobs in Your Inbox To receive the latest job opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook.
October 29, 2021 Search for Child Care in Your School District The Allegheny Child Care Finder Tool now has a new filter to search for available child care in your school district. When navigating the finder tool, the school district filter can be found by choosing “More Filters”. About Allegheny Child Care Allegheny Child Care is a unique pilot project that was developed to support the care and education needs of families. Caregivers and parents of young children can search available spots at all early learning, after school, summer camp, and virtual programs in Allegheny County in real-time with the Allegheny Child Care, After School, and Summer Camps finder tool. The Allegheny Child Care initiative is: managed by Trying Together in partnership with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, and Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST, an initiative of the United Way of Southwestern PA); with additional support from the City of Pittsburgh; and was developed in collaboration with Child Care Aware of America, The Heinz Endowments, and technology partners Bowtie, BrightHive, and BridgeCare. Additional Information For additional support in finding care and education environments and with funding needs, visit the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 website or call 412.350.3577.
October 20, 2021 Child Care Career Openings in the Pittsburgh Area Are you looking for open child care positions? Early learning programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area are hiring! See this week’s featured jobs. Child Care Positions in Pittsburgh Pre-K Counts Lead Teacher Heritage Community Initiatives is seeking a Pre-K Counts Lead Teacher to provide high quality programming within their assigned classroom of 3-5 year old children. All lesson plans must be based on each individual child’s goals that come from the GOLD assessments and daily observations. The Pre-K Counts Lead Teacher must also be consistent and intentional with helping children learn and develop through play. Apply: To apply, email your resume to nhill@heritageserves.org Pre-K Counts Assistant Teacher Heritage Community Initiatives is seeking a Pre-K Counts Lead Teacher to provide high quality programming within their assigned classroom of 3-5 year old children. All lesson plans must be based on each individual child’s goals that come from the GOLD assessments and daily observations. Apply: To apply, email your resume to nhill@heritageserves.org Director – University of Pittsburgh Child Development Center The University of Pittsburgh is seeking a Director of the Child Development Center. The position will plan, organize, and direct quality early childhood education programs for up to 100 children and their families. The successful candidate will respond to the University’s academic needs by providing laboratory, research, and practicum experiences to University students, faculty. Apply: To apply, please visit the University of Pittsburgh employment website. Submit a Job Each week, Trying Together highlights employer-submitted jobs on our website, social media, and in our newsletter. Submit a Job: To make it into next week’s post, submit the Child Care Provider Job Post Submission Form. All jobs submitted after Tuesday each week will be published in the following week’s news post. Publication dates may vary due to state and federal holidays. Unrelated jobs will not be included. For questions, contact Kara Bayer at kara@tryingtogether.org. Other Jobs in Early Childhood ECE Hire Visit the ECE Hire website to view early childhood education job listings and helpful tips on interviewing, resumes, and more. Submit a Job to PACCA Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) offers a Job Board for its members to post jobs for free and sends out submitted jobs via their Facebook page and e-newsletter. PACCA members can submit jobs online after signing into their membership account. For questions, contact Maureen Murphy at maureen.murphy@pacca.org. Receive Jobs in Your Inbox To receive the latest job opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook.
