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.
July 31, 2020 New Process to Prevent Suspensions and Expulsions Effective August 1, a new process to request support for a child with unique needs or challenging behaviors to prevent suspension and/or expulsion from early learning programs is available for families and early learning professionals. How to Request Support To request assistance from the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), early learning professionals and families can complete a new online form entitled, “PA Key Expulsion/Suspension Support Request.” Circumstances for Alternative Support If a family has an established relationship with their local Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC), the family or case provider can reach out directly to their ELRC to receive program support. If the child is already receiving Early Intervention (EI) Services, providers can reach out to the child’s local EI program to request assistance with parent permission. If the child has not previously been evaluated and the family and/or early learning provider believes the child may be eligible for EI Services, call the CONNECT Helpline at 1.800.692.7288. If the child has been evaluated and does not qualify for EI Services, request assistance from the local ELRC to receive appropriate supports. More Information For more information, view the Developing Suspension and Expulsion Policies document.
July 1, 2020 Keystone STARS 2020 Program Survey The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) invites all certified child care facilities to complete the Keystone STARS 2020 Program Survey. About the Survey This anonymous survey will help OCDEL to better understand how program leadership in Keystone STARS programs have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Your participation in the survey can inform how OCDEL provides support to the field moving forward. July 10, 2020 is the deadline for submitting surveys. More Information The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning supports families and their children, from prenatal through school age, by using data, research and stakeholder guidance to assure high quality services. You can learn more about OCDEL by visiting their website.
September 26, 2019 SEL: The Importance of Strategy and Practice Join Remake Learning, educators, researchers, and leaders across the Pittsburgh region in discussing the research, application, and benefits behind SEL in the classroom, out of school, and at home. About The event will feature keynote speakers Felicia Savage Friedman of YogaRoots on Location and Kevin McNair and his team from 1 Nation Mentoring (PGH). Attendees will choose two breakout sessions (one morning and one afternoon) to attend during registration. Each session has a maximum of 30 attendees. If the session you choose is full, you may be placed in another. Breakfast and lunch provided. Session Topics The Whole Child with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh SEL for Older Youth with Sevenzo Research and Practice with RAND and Trying Together Parents and Families with Pitt School of Education Pre-Service Training with the Pitt Office of Child Development State Policy with Judd Pittman Registration To register, visit the Eventbrite page. Accessibility The bottom and top floors of the Education Partnership are not ADA approved. Please email allie@remakelearning.org if you have any questions, requests, or concerns regarding building access, general accessibility, or assistive devices and resources. More Information For more information, contact Remake Learning at allie@remakelearning.org. *Information provided by Remake Learning
February 25, 2019 Trying Together 2019-2020 Public Policy Agenda Released Trying Together is pleased to announce the release of its 2019-2020 Public Policy Agenda. The objectives listed build upon our successes and expand to include new areas of focus. The 2017-2018 agenda called for several action items which were positively advanced in the past two years. While there is still work to do, Trying Together helped to achieve several key accomplishments in support of these goals including: Advance the use of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP). released a Kindergarten Transition white paper; formed a Recess Advocacy Team in partnership with the playful Pittsburgh Collaborative to elevate the importance of free play and promote recess best practices for children in pre-k through sixth grade; released a DAP white paper and guide for parents; hosted a DAP webinar; developed custom professional development on DAP for early childhood professionals; and presented information on the role of DAP to an assembly of school superintendents. End early childhood suspensions and expulsions*: released a white paper and guide for families; hosted a lunch and learn with the Remake Learning Council; presented at The Early Childhood Education Summit in 2017 and 2018; and sits on the state workgroup in Pennsylvania *Notably, Pittsburgh Public Schools ruled in 2017 that suspensions and expulsions for minor, non-violent infractions for K-2 students would be ended, after which Philadelphia followed. Additionally, The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) released a policy announcement and provided resources on how to do reduce suspensions and expulsions. Increase access to high-quality pre-kindergarten (pre-k) programs. partnered on the Pre-K for PA campaign which successfully advocated for an increased investment of $55 million dollars in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 budgets collectively. Increase access to high-quality infant toddler care. successfully advocated for an increased investment of $26.8 million dollars in child care services as of the 2018-19 budget; and convened and partnered on a workgroup to launch the Start Strong PA campaign in January 2019 to advocate for high-quality child care for infants and toddlers. Transform the early childhood profession. provided several dozen Level 1 Teachers their Induction program; hosted the ECE Advocacy Fellowship for more than 20 early childhood professional; and successfully updated language state statute and regulations to use the term ‘child care’ instead of ‘day care’. Leverage resources and partnerships. has continued its partnership with the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University to provide professional development to 1,000 early care and education professionals who utilize the Message From Me digital tool, allowing 20,000 children to consistently communicate about their day with caregivers. In 2019, we, along with our partners, will develop an Advisory Board to bring this to PNC markets nationwide; and partners with the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU3) to lead the Hi5! Kindergarten Readiness and Registration campaign – working with nearly all 43 school districts in Allegheny County to facilitate roundtables and networking for best practices in supporting young children as they transition into kindergarten. As a leading advocate for high-quality early childhood care and education in Pennsylvania, Trying Together educates and engages regularly with policymakers on access, affordability, and quality policies that affect the lives of children, families, and professionals throughout the state. Partnering with education, government, business, nonprofit, and philanthropic stakeholders, Trying Together advocates for public policy changes throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, with an emphasis in the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Visit tryingtogether.org to view the full 2019-2020 Public Policy Agenda. Advocates are invited to sign on support for the 2019-2020 Trying Together Public Policy Agenda at tryingtogether.org to begin engaging their legislators today.
