December 24, 2020 Housing Resources for Families in Allegheny County If your family is at risk for eviction, local resources and programs are available to help. Housing and Eviction Resources 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, be at or below 50 percent of the Average Monthly Income if a renter, be at or below 80 percent of the Average Monthly Income if a homeowner, and develop a stability plan with a service provider. Apply For This Program If you are eligible, contact United 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@mysite.com. 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, Inc. 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 an individual experiencing homelessness, visit the Homeless Services page.
December 17, 2020 COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan for Pennsylvania On December 11, 2020, the Pennsylvania COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force and Pennsylvania Department of Health released a COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan for Pennsylvania (PDF). The goal of the interim COVID-19 vaccination plan is to provide a transparent strategy to vaccinate all Pennsylvanians who want to be vaccinated so that Pennsylvanians can return to everyday activities as quickly and safely as possible. At this time, early childhood education professionals including teachers, school staff working directly with students, child care employees, and early intervention staff fall under the 1B category (page 14), defined as essential business personnel who cannot work remotely or maintain social distancing. A variety of factors influence the distribution of vaccinations, including vaccine supply levels, number of critical personnel requiring the vaccine, and vaccine storage requirements. The vaccine supply is projected to increase quickly over the proceeding months, allowing vaccination efforts to be expanded to additional critical populations and the general public. It is important to note that recommendations on the various population groups to receive initial doses of the vaccine could change after the vaccine is available, depending on each vaccine’s characteristics, vaccine supply, disease epidemiology, and local community factors. The Pennsylvania Department of Health will follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) ACIP recommendations in identifying populations of focus. More Resources for COVID-19 To best support these community members and the young children in their lives, Trying Together has created two resource lists, featuring helpful resources that families and educators can use to maneuver this difficult time. COVID-19 Resources for Families and Caregivers COVID-19 Resources for Early Care and Education Professionals For more information about COVID-19, visit the Allegheny County Health Department, World Health Organization (WHO), or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites.
December 16, 2020 Safe and Healthy Homes Program in Allegheny County Would you like to receive a free visual inspection of your home to check for potential health or safety hazards? Apply for the Allegheny County Health Department’s Safe and Healthy Homes Program! About The Allegheny County Health Department’s Safe and Healthy Homes (SHHP) Program provides free in-home health and safety assessments to qualified participants in Allegheny County, as well as Beaver, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. The purpose of this program is to reduce hospitalizations, injuries, illnesses, or deaths from preventable home health or safety hazards. The program will include a free visual inspection for potential dangers in the home such as asthma triggers, allergens, mold, moisture, inadequate ventilation, lead-based paint, pest infestations, fall hazards, and child safety hazards. The program will also offer educational materials, information on follow-up medical care if threats to health are identified, and referrals to community organizations that can offer further assistance. Eligibility To qualify, households must: include at least one pregnant woman or a child/dependent under the age of 22, meet applicable income limits, and live in Allegheny, Beaver, Washington, or Westmoreland counties. Application To apply, complete the online application. Individuals may also apply by calling 412.350.4048. More Information For more information, visit the Allegheny County Health Department website. A Healthy Homes Maintenance Checklist is also available. Share this brochure with your network. Information provided by the Allegheny County Health Department.
December 15, 2020 Hotspots Available in Allegheny County Do you know a student or teacher who needs internet access? The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is offering a hotspot lending program for remote learners in Allegheny County! About After providing general information to determine eligibility, adult learners, teachers, and the parents, guardians, or caregivers of PreK-12 students will be able to pick up a hotspot at a Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch location. Participants will be able to borrow the hotspot through June 2021. More Information For more information, call the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh at 412.622.3114 or use the chat function offered on their website. Share this flyer with your network.
December 3, 2020 COVID-19 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children, families, and early learning professionals have had to transition to new methods of work, play, interaction, and learning. To offer support, Trying Together is providing updates on the status of COVID-19, available resources, and more. If you are interested in learning more about COVID-19, including information on symptoms, testing, and infection rates, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health website. To view additional resources for families and early childhood professionals, please continue reading below. COVID-19 Resources To best support these community members and the young children in their lives, Trying Together has created two resource lists, featuring helpful resources that families and educators can use to maneuver this difficult time. COVID-19 Resources for Families and Caregivers COVID-19 Resources for Early Care and Education Professionals Guidance for Pennsylvanians As of May 31, COVID mitigation orders are lifted in Pennsylvania. The order requiring universal face coverings was lifted statewide on June 28, 2021. The Pennsylvania Department of Health still urges Pennsylvanians to follow CDC guidance on wearing masks where required by law, rules, and regulations, including healthcare, local businesses, and workplace guidance. Meals for Children The Summer Food Service Program distributes free Grab ‘n Go Meals to children at 13 CitiPark and 34 partner locations in Pittsburgh. Meals are available to children up to the age of 18, and to individuals with disabilities up to 21 years old. This program runs from June 11 through August 13, 2021 (dates vary by location). To learn more, visit the program webpage or call 412.571.3291. What is COVID-19? According to the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), “COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus not previously seen in humans.” While this strain of coronavirus is new, coronaviruses are actually a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others circulating among animals, including camels, cats, and bats. While it is rare for animal coronaviruses to infect people who are exposed to infected animals, it has happened in the past as seen with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). COVID-19 Vaccines Currently, all Pennsylvanians age 12 and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. For more information on where you can get vaccinated, vaccine safety, and more, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health website. For questions about COVID-19 vaccines, call the PA Health Hotline at 1.877.724.3258. Symptoms As COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, common symptoms of infection include fever, dry cough, tiredness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. However, WHO states that some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and diarrhea. After being infected with COVID-19, individuals generally display mild symptoms that begin gradually, but some people who become infected may not develop any symptoms at all and may feel healthy. 80 percent of the individuals who become infected recover from the disease without needing special treatment. However, one out of every six people who get COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Elderly individuals, immunocompromised individuals, and individuals with underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney diseases, hepatitis B, and cancer are particularly at risk of developing serious illness if infected with COVID-19. Because of this, it’s important to limit possible contamination and reduce the spread of the virus. How It Spreads COVID-19 spreads through person-to-person contact (within about six feet) or by touching your mouth, nose, or eyes after coming into contact with surfaces that have been contaminated with respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. WHO states that “studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days.” The risk of getting infected by COVID-19 depends on where you are and if there is an outbreak currently happening in that area. Individuals living in or visiting cities or areas that are experiencing an outbreak have a higher risk of becoming infected. There is a higher risk of infection and serious complications for elderly individuals, immunocompromised individuals, and individuals with underlying medical conditions. With this, WHO states that it’s important to “comply with any local restrictions on travel, movement, or large gatherings” and to cooperate with disease control efforts to reduce your risk and potential spread. How to Protect Yourself and Others Currently, the most effective ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to protect both yourself and others against infection are to: receive a COVID-19 vaccine if you are able to do so; avoid touching your face, nose, and mouth; frequently wash your hands, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, especially if you come into contact with commonly used items and frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, handles, faucets, desks, sinks, and tables); if water and soap are not available, sanitize your hands regularly with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol; clean and disinfect commonly used items and frequently touched surfaces such as the items listed above with household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants that are appropriate for the surface, following the label directions appropriately; practice social distancing from others, especially avoiding individuals who are exhibiting symptoms, coughing, or sneezing; wear a face mask when shopping at essential businesses, visiting your health care provider, on public transportation, interacting with others at essential business, and when feeling sick, coughing, or sneezing; and comply with any local restrictions and recommendations on travel, movement, or large gatherings. Visit the CDC website for more information on how to properly clean and disinfect the areas around you. While this resource is primarily intended for individuals and households with suspected or confirmed cases hygienic practices can help reduce the spread of the virus. Watch this video for proper handwashing techniques. RESOURCE FOR AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS The CDC also has a resource highlighting precautions and preparation tips for individuals at risk of developing serious complications from COVID-19, such as elderly individuals, immunosuppressed individuals, and individuals with underlying medical conditions. Visit the CDC website to learn more. What to Do After Infection If symptoms are mild: Most people with mild COVID-19 symptoms can recover at home. To get tested for COVID-19, find a testing location near you or contact your health care provider. If you do not get tested, stay home, isolate yourself, and avoid contact with others. People who test positive for COVID-19 should self-isolate in their home for 14 days, or 10 days if they are not experiencing symptoms. People living with you will also need to quarantine unless they are fully vaccinated. Wear a tight-fitting mask if you must be around others and make a list of people you have come into close contact with (within six feet) from two days before testing positive. Close contacts should monitor for any symptoms for 14 days after exposure. If symptoms become worse, contact a healthcare provider. For information about isolating, quarantine periods, and more, read this document from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. If symptoms are severe: If you are experiencing severe symptoms (including a fever above 100 degrees Fahrenheit), call your healthcare provider or the nearest hospital/urgent care to schedule an appointment. If it is an emergency, call 9.1.1. Signs of an emergency include trouble breathing, new confusion, persistent pain/pressure in the chest, inability to wake or stay awake, and/or bluish lips/face. For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health website or CDC website. More Information For more information about COVID-19, visit the Allegheny County Health Department, World Health Organization (WHO), or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites.
November 5, 2020 Early Childhood Job Openings: 11/5 – 11/11 Are you looking to start or transition your career in the early childhood field? You’re in luck! Early learning programs in Pennsylvania are currently looking to fill positions. To view this week’s featured job descriptions, see the list below. Featured Jobs Lead Pre-K Teacher Hilltop Children’s Center is looking to hire a Pennsylvania-licensed early childhood educator for their pre-k classroom. This is a year-round position. Interested professionals must be nurturing, empathetic, and dependable. Excellent classroom management skills desired. To apply for this position, please contact lisazappa@hilltopccc.org or submit the online application. Teacher/Assistant Teacher Beulah Christian Preschool and Child Care is looking to hire an experienced, positive educator to successfully lead a team or to work with an established team in providing engaging, developmentally appropriate activities based on the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards within NAEYC high-quality criteria. Successful candidates should be comfortable with all ages and available for an eight-hour shift from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, year-round. To apply for this position, please email Tracy Belmonte at tbelmonte@beulahpresby.org. Young Toddler Teacher Helping Hands Childcare is looking to hire a passionate teacher to work with one- and two-year-old children. Applicants should have two or more years of experience working with children and/or an early childhood degree. Applicants must be able to work between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., and must have or be able to obtain clearances for working with children. This position will start in November. To apply for this position, call 724.695.9200 or email helpinghands001@verizon.net. Please ask for Lori or Melissa. Assistant Group Supervisor Stubblefield’s Childcare and Early Head Start is looking to hire an Assistant Group Supervisor to supervise children ages six months to 12-years-old. To apply for this position, please email stubblefielddaycare@yahoo.com. Metropolitan Preschool and Nursery Metropolitan Preschool and Nursery is looking to hire Group Supervisors and Assistant Group Supervisors to ensure that all children are actively supervised and that their individual needs are met. To apply for this position, contact Dawn Fowler at 412.281.8315 or info@pghchild.care. Early Learning Program Certification Representative The Allegheny County Department of Human Services is looking to hire an Early Learning Program Certification Representative to conduct inspections of child care facilities and assess compliance with regulations that are in place to ensure the health and safety of children in regulated child care settings. This is a full-time position. This professional must be willing to travel. To qualify, applicants must meet a Pennsylvania residency requirement and have at least two years of professional experience providing direct services to children and youth and a bachelor’s degree that includes 24 semester hours of college-level courses related to early childhood, or have an equivalent combination of professional experience and training. Before you apply, please read the full job description. If you qualify, please contact Abigail O’Shura at 717.772.2219 or aoshura@pa.gov to apply. Submit a Job Description Each week, Trying Together publishes a news post that features employer-submitted job positions from early learning programs across Pennsylvania. Trying Together shares these posts online through our website, social media channels, and newsletter. To make it into next week’s post, please submit the Child Care Provider Job Post Submission Form no later than Wednesday, November 11. This form is intended for positions in the early childhood field. Job descriptions not related to the early childhood field will not be included. All job descriptions submitted after November 11 will be published in the next week’s news post. Please note that news post publication dates may vary due to state and federal holidays. For questions, contact Lainey Yockey at lainey@tryingtogether.org. Search Additional Jobs Are you interested in starting or shifting your career in early childhood care and education? Visit the ECE Hire website or sign up for their weekly newsletter for current job listings and helpful tips on interviewing, resumes, and more. To stay up to date on our featured positions and more, follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter.
October 13, 2020 CARES Funds Available For Eligible Families Individuals and families who are unable to meet basic and urgent needs on their own due to loss of income, reduced income, or insufficient income caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible to receive Community Services Block Grant CARES Act supplemental funds. About Assistance is available to help individuals and families cover costs associated with rent or mortgage, utilities, transportation, home repairs, food, child care, household supplies, and other needs as identified by the eligible individual/family. This assistance is capped at $1,000 and payments will generally be made to third parties on behalf of the eligible individual or family. Eligibility Criteria To qualify, applicants must live in Allegheny County outside of the city of Pittsburgh and be 18 years of age or older. Additionally, their household income for the 30-day period prior to applying must not exceed 200% Federal Poverty Level. For a household of one, this equates to $2,127 per month or $25,520 annually. For a family of four, this equates to $4,367 per month or $52,400 annually. More Information For more information, contact the appropriate community service agency below: For residents of Allegheny Valley communities: Allegheny Valley Association of Churches; Beth Kendra; 724-226-0606, ext. 10; beth@avaoc.org For residents of Mon Valley and eastern suburban communities: Human Services Center Corporation, Anna Hudson, 412-436-9537, ahudson@hscc-mvpc.org For residents of northern and western communities: North Hills Community Outreach, Stephanie Kobert, 412-408-3210, sdkobert@nhco.org For residents of southern communities: South Hills Interfaith Movement, Elizabeth Henninger; 412-854-9120, ext. 104; ehenninger@shimcares.org
September 24, 2020 Walk-In Flu Vaccines Available in Pittsburgh The Allegheny County Immunization Clinic is offering walk-in flu vaccinations at their location in Pittsburgh from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The CDC recommends that every person aged six months and older receive an annual flu vaccination to reduce their risk of experiencing and spreading illness during flu season. About The flu vaccine is available to insured, underinsured, and uninsured Allegheny County residents. The walk-in clinic is for flu vaccines only. An appointment is required for all other vaccinations and services. To schedule an appointment, please call 412.578.8062. Anyone wishing to receive a flu vaccine should bring a form of identification and their insurance card (if applicable) with them. Face coverings are required. Additional evening hours will be available on Thursdays from 4 – 7 p.m. Clinic Location The Allegheny County Immunization Clinic is located on the fourth floor of the Hartley-Rose Building at 425 First Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh. The entrance to the building is on Cherry Way. Clinic Closures The clinic will be closed on the following days: Monday, October 12, 2020 (Columbus Day) Wednesday, November 11, 2020 (Veteran’s Day) Thursday, November 26, 2020 (Thanksgiving) More Information For more information on the clinic, please visit the Allegheny County website.
