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.
September 22, 2021 Free or Reduced-Cost Lead Testing Individuals who have concerns about lead levels in their water supply may be eligible to receive free or reduced-cost assessments of paint, dust, soil, and water. Obtaining an Assessment As part of the local “Get the Lead Out, Pittsburgh” initiative, coordinated by the nonprofit Women for a Healthy Environment, individuals may be eligible for a free or reduced-cost lead risk assessment. Fill out this form to register. The Allegheny County Health Department also provides some free resources to qualifying households. These resources include blood lead level testing for children who are uninsured or underinsured and free full home lead assessments for households with children whose blood lead levels are elevated by the Center for Disease Control’s standards (above 5 ppb). The ACHD’s “Get Ahead of Lead” resource list contains more information and instructions for who to contact. Additional Information Individuals who are not able to qualify for free or reduced-cost can access a list of water authorities that said they offer or help to facilitate residential drinking water tests. Public Source Pittsburgh has information on how to read these findings and private companies who perform lead tests.
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.
January 11, 2021 Fund My Future Information Session Attend this online information session to learn about Fund My Future, a savings program that offers chances to win prizes and cash in monthly raffle drawings by depositing small amounts into your child’s savings account. About With the support from the Pennsylvania State Treasurer, Fund My Future is now available to all families in Pennsylvania to save for college and other post-secondary goals. Fund My Future provides a prize pool that makes the saving experience fun. This program is open to Pennsylvania residents who have children or grandchildren between the ages of birth to 18. Your child will benefit from the savings, and you benefit from the fun! Participants will have the chance to win a door prize. Registration To register, complete the online registration form. More Information For questions, please contact Fund My Future at 833.728.3946 or via this online form.
