August 16, 2022 Free Developmental Screenings for Children The ELRC Region 5 is hosting four Ages & Stages Questionnaires® developmental screening events during the month of September. Families with children ages two months to five years are invited to participate on the following dates: Monday, September 12: 304 Wood Street, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Wednesday, September 14: Highlands Family Center, 415 E 4th Avenue, Tarentum, PA 15084 Wednesday, September 21: Hosanna House, 807 Wallace Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 Thursday, September 22: Allegheny Family Network, 1600 Pacific Avenue, Natrona Heights, 15065 Screenings will be done every hour on the hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The screening takes 60 minutes, and results are immediately provided. If necessary, staff can offer referrals for full evaluations and developmental resources. Families should call 412.350.3577 or email elrc5@alleghenycounty.us to make an appointment. Share this flyer with your networks.
Free Developmental Screenings for Children The ELRC Region 5 is hosting four Ages & Stages Questionnaires® developmental screening events during the month of September. Families with children ages two months to five years are invited to participate on the following dates: Monday, September 12: 304 Wood Street, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Wednesday, September 14: Highlands Family Center, 415 E 4th Avenue, Tarentum, PA 15084 Wednesday, September 21: Hosanna House, 807 Wallace Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 Thursday, September 22: Allegheny Family Network, 1600 Pacific Avenue, Natrona Heights, 15065 Screenings will be done every hour on the hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The screening takes 60 minutes, and results are immediately provided. If necessary, staff can offer referrals for full evaluations and developmental resources. Families should call 412.350.3577 or email elrc5@alleghenycounty.us to make an appointment. Share this flyer with your networks.
Free Developmental Screenings for Children The ELRC Region 5 is hosting four Ages & Stages Questionnaires® developmental screening events during the month of September. Families with children ages two months to five years are invited to participate on the following dates: Monday, September 12: 304 Wood Street, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Wednesday, September 14: Highlands Family Center, 415 E 4th Avenue, Tarentum, PA 15084 Wednesday, September 21: Hosanna House, 807 Wallace Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 Thursday, September 22: Allegheny Family Network, 1600 Pacific Avenue, Natrona Heights, 15065 Screenings will be done every hour on the hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The screening takes 60 minutes, and results are immediately provided. If necessary, staff can offer referrals for full evaluations and developmental resources. Families should call 412.350.3577 or email elrc5@alleghenycounty.us to make an appointment. Share this flyer with your networks.
Free Developmental Screenings for Children The ELRC Region 5 is hosting four Ages & Stages Questionnaires® developmental screening events during the month of September. Families with children ages two months to five years are invited to participate on the following dates: Monday, September 12: 304 Wood Street, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Wednesday, September 14: Highlands Family Center, 415 E 4th Avenue, Tarentum, PA 15084 Wednesday, September 21: Hosanna House, 807 Wallace Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 Thursday, September 22: Allegheny Family Network, 1600 Pacific Avenue, Natrona Heights, 15065 Screenings will be done every hour on the hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The screening takes 60 minutes, and results are immediately provided. If necessary, staff can offer referrals for full evaluations and developmental resources. Families should call 412.350.3577 or email elrc5@alleghenycounty.us to make an appointment. Share this flyer with your networks.
May 11, 2022 Mental Health Awareness Month May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health is the overall wellness of how people think, regulate feelings, and behave. Mental health is important at every stage of life, including childhood. Mental health disorders in children are generally defined as delays or disruptions in developing age-appropriate thinking, behaviors, social skills or regulation of emotions. These disorders can cause distress to children and disrupt their ability to function well at home, in school, or in other social situations. Childhood Mental Health DAP Series As part of the 12-part Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series, Trying Together highlights several resources to support parents and caregivers who are caring for young children with mental health disorders. Topics include common childhood mental health disorders, children’s books about mental health, the impact of parental mental health on children, and more. Hope Day Block Party Staunton Farm Foundation is hosting a Hope Day Block Party on Saturday, May 21 at The Kingsley Association in East Liberty. The block party will have live performances, education about mental health, free food, and an art exhibit coming from Maine focusing on youth voice. Learn more. Mental Health in Afterschool The National Afterschool Association curated 15 resources to support mental health in all aspects of social and emotional learning in out-of-school-time programs. Mental Health Month Toolkit The theme of Mental Health America’s 2022 Mental Health Month Toolkit is “Back to Basics.” After the last two years of living with the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are realizing that stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taken a toll on their well-being. The toolkit provides information about mental health and what people can do if their mental health is a cause for concern. Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultation Program Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultation is a free resource that supports children’s social- emotional development from birth through age five within early learning programs participating in Keystone STARS. Mental health consultants work with parents and early care and education caregivers to facilitate healthy growth and development for infants and young children. IECMH consultation provides support for parents and childcare professionals who work with children experiencing persistent or puzzling challenges. Learn more.
January 25, 2022 Deadline Extended: Spring 2022 Child Development Associate (CDA) Looking to receive a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential? The deadline for the Spring 2022 CDA has been extended to January 31, 2022. What is a CDA Credential? A CDA Credential is the most widely recognized credential in the early childhood field and is a key stepping stone on the path to career advancement. The credential enables professionals to work in Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms, in addition to early learning programs across the United States, and provides opportunities for increased pay. Interested applicants may complete the CDA Interest Form to connect with a member of our staff. Please share this flyer with your networks. Trying Together’s CDA Programs Trying Together offers the following CDA programs at no cost to eligible early childhood professionals in Pennsylvania: CDA Credential Preparation Program Spring 2022 Classes: 1/11/22 – 6/14/22 (Deadline to Register: 1/31/22) Fall 2022 Classes: 8/30/22 – 3/28/23 Biweekly Zoom Meetings and Schoology Participants complete 135 hours of professional development to earn their CDA Credential in six to nine months. Participants can matriculate up to nine course credits at Carlow University upon credential completion. CDA Credential Community of Practice Program Fall 2021 Classes: 11/16/21 – 1/4/22 (Deadline to Register: 11/11/21) Spring 2022 Classes: Spring Classes: 3/1/22 – 4/26/22 Biweekly Zoom Meetings and Schoology Participants receive support in building a portfolio and preparing for the CDA Credential Exam. Applicants must have proof of 120 hours of coursework completed via professional development hours, transcripts, etc. CDA Credential Renewal Program Participants review current standards, literature, strategies, and more to meet the criteria for eight early childhood subject areas upon completion. Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis. More Information For more information, visit our CDA Credential page. To ask a question about our programs, contact Theresa Hetler at theresa@tryingtogether.org or Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org. For eligibility questions, contact Judy Graca at judy@tryingtogether.org.
October 13, 2021 Exploring the “Development is a Journey Conversation Roadmap” Are you interested in learning more about early identification and intervention to promote a child’s optimal development? Join Brazelton Touchpoints Center for an upcoming workshop to explore the “Development is a Journey Conversation Roadmap” framework. Registration is available online. More Information The Brazelton Touchpoints Center has developed a new tool to help family-facing providers have collaborative and productive conversations with families about developmental screening results. The Development is a Journey Conversation Roadmap facilitates these conversations with seven simple steps to enhance the provider-parent partnership and engage parents and other caregivers in planning for their child’s developmental needs. This 3-hour, interactive workshop introduces participants to the Roadmap and its focus on honoring families’ knowledge of their child. Participants will explore why providers and families sometimes have differences of opinion about children and screenings. Participants will practice strengths-based ways to invite all perspectives into the conversation and move ahead with equitable shared decision-making. In this workshop, participants will: Explore the seven steps in the Roadmap tool Learn strategies to engage parents and families in the developmental screening process Practice having conversations about developmental screening results that honor families’ perspectives, cultures, and values Learn strategies to elicit parents’ observations of their children’s strengths, as well as their concerns about their children’s behavior and development Practice sharing their own observations of children’s behavior with parents Practice next steps when a developmental screener yields reason for concern
September 2, 2020 August OCDEL Child Care Provider Survey Since March, the COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on child care providers. To better understand the successes and challenges child care providers are experiencing, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is collecting information monthly through online surveys on staffing and enrollment. Complete the survey today to share your experience. About This survey is only intended for child care providers and will be utilized to gain an understanding of the status of child care in Pennsylvania. The August survey will be particularly helpful as it will provide insight into the impact of changes in local school district schedule and school-age child care enrollment. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes and must be completed by Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Participation is voluntary. OCDEL will issue the final survey at the end of September to compare and analyze changes. Take the Survey To submit your experience, complete the survey.
August 17, 2020 CDA Credential Course (North Side): Registration Deadline About Are you an early educator in the North Side of Pittsburgh who is working with young children? Are you looking to take the first step in advancing your career? Join your peers and Trying Together for this nine-month online CDA course where you will: focus on Competency Standards and Best Practices that support healthy early development in young children; complete online coursework; receive support from an experienced instructor; and receive a nationally recognized credential upon completion. Session Details Course Timeline: September 14, 2020 – May 31, 2021 Delivery: Online (Schoology and Zoom) Course Instructor: Theresa Hetler CDA Orientation Date: September 2, 2020 Registration closes on September 2, 2020. Space is limited. Registration To register, complete our online form. Please note that this listing is not a one-day, in-person event. This online course runs from September 14, 2020 to May 31, 2020. More information will be provided after registration. More Information For questions or more information, please contact Theresa Hetler at theresa@tryingtogether.org. Share this flyer with your network.
CDA Credential Course: Registration Deadline Important Note: This course is full. If you are an early learning professional in the North Side of Pittsburgh, please register for our other CDA course that will run from September 14, 2020 – May 31, 2021. About Are you an early educator who is working with young children? Are you looking to take the first step in advancing your career? Join your peers and Trying Together for this nine-month online CDA course where you will: focus on Competency Standards and Best Practices that support healthy early development in young children; complete online coursework; receive support from an experienced instructor; and receive a nationally recognized credential upon completion. Session Details Course Timeline: September 8, 2020 – May 31, 2021 Delivery: Online (Schoology and Zoom) Course Instructor: Theresa Hetler CDA Orientation Date: August 31, 2020 Registration closes on August 31, 2020. Space is limited. Registration This course is currently full. To stay up-to-date on available courses, sign up to receive the Trying Together newsletter and/or follow Trying Together on Facebook and Twitter. Please note that this listing is not a one-day, in-person event. This online course runs from September 8, 2020 to May 31, 2020. More information will be provided after registration. More Information For questions or more information, please contact Theresa Hetler at theresa@tryingtogether.org. Share this flyer with your network.
