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December 9, 2020

COVID-19: Resources for Parents and Caregivers

If you are a parent, caregiver, or family member living in Pennsylvania, it’s important to remain calm, prepare, and take precautionary measures to maintain the health and wellbeing of yourself, your family, and the community. Continue reading below for a brief overview of COVID-19 and a list of family and caregiver resources.

 

PA 2.1.1 Southwest

If you require assistance and would like to access an extensive list of family and caregiver resources, please call 2.1.1 or text your zip code to 898.211 to receive text alerts. For more information or to receive support, visit the 2.1.1 website.

PA 2.1.1 Southwest seeks to provide an easy-to-remember phone number and web resource for finding health and human services for everyday needs and in crisis situations, serving the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland.

 

An Overview of COVID-19

COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus not previously seen in humans. Because the virus impacts the respiratory system, 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.

To learn more about COVID-19 and the steps you can take to reduce your family’s risk of infection, read our recent news post. This post also includes information about what to do after infection, information on how it spreads, and links to several other organizations and entities that can provide more information.

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.

Search for Child Care

If your family is in need of child care, visit the Allegheny Child Care website to search for programs in Allegheny County or visit the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website to search for programs throughout Pennsylvania.

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.

 

 

 

Resources

Information about COVID-19

Talking with Children

Prevention

After Infection

Impacts on Child Care, School, and Work

At-Home Activities

Fact Sheets and Guides

Informational Flyers

Recorded Webinars

Mental Health

Receiving Support

Multilingual Resources

Curated Lists

Contacts and Information

More Information

For more information about COVID-19, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or World Health Organization (WHO) websites.

News

November 20, 2020

Stay-At-Home Advisory in Allegheny County

On November 18, the Allegheny County Health Department issued a stay-at-home and stop social gatherings advisory to slow the rapid spread of COVID-19. If left unchecked, the spread of COVID-19 poses a risk to communities and healthcare systems in Allegheny County.

About

Beginning immediately, Allegheny County residents are asked to stay at home and stop social gatherings to stem the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the county. Residents are advised to only leave home to go to work or school, for essential needs such as seeking medical care, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, getting food, or the like.

Residents must always wear a face mask and practice physical distancing by staying at least six feet away from others in accordance with the November 17 state masking order. Additionally, residents are strongly encouraged to:

    • not have guests in their homes unless they are essential workers (e.g., home healthcare providers, child care workers, or educators),
    • cancel traditional Thanksgiving celebrations and celebrate virtually with non-household members,
    • avoid unnecessary travel, and
    • limit social event gatherings.

This advisory will remain in place for 30 days or until such time as the Health Director determines a change to the guidance is appropriate. All restrictions put in place by the Commonwealth and the Pennsylvania Department of Health remain in effect.

More Information

To view the full list of recommendations, please read the full advisory.

News

November 19, 2020

ELRC Region 5 Office to Close November 23

Due to rising COVID-19 cases and the stay-at-home advisory in Allegheny County, the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 downtown office on Wood Street will be closed to the public beginning Monday, November 23.

About

On November 18, a stay-at-home and stop social gatherings public health advisory was issued by the Allegheny County Health Department. Due to this advisory and the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Allegheny County, ELRC Region 5 will close its downtown office to the public.

The downtown and satellite offices will remain closed through December 31, 2020. ELRC Region 5 staff will continue to provide high-quality customer service via phone and video conferencing.

More Information

For more information, read this news post from ELRC Region 5.

News

November 10, 2020

Free COVID-19 Testing Available in McKeesport

If you or someone you know needs to get tested for COVID-19, free testing is available in McKeesport for people ages three years old or older. This is a drive-through testing site that utilizes self-administered tests. Insurance is not required, however, you must have an appointment.

About

Allegheny County is offering free COVID-19 testing, for ages three and up, at 455 Industry Road in McKeesport. Testing is available by appointment only and will be completed as a self-administered test in each individual’s car. Masks are required. Those who are unable to drive to the site can contact the COVID-19 Hotline at 1.888.856.2774 or 2.1.1 for additional testing options and resources.

For a demonstration of what to expect with self-administered testing, watch this video. If you know in advance that you will be unable to self-administer the test, contact the COVID-19 Hotline or 2.1.1 for other options to be tested.

Make An Appointment

Appointments can be scheduled online and by phone. To make a next-day appointment, please use the online registration site. Online appointments are accepted Sunday through Thursday for testing Monday through Friday.

To make an appointment by phone, call 412.209.2262. This line is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday appointments can be scheduled on Friday over the phone. Same-day appointments may be made, when available, by phone.

Location Closures

This testing location will be closed on the following dates:

    • Veterans Day (November 11, 2020)
    • Thanksgiving Day (November 26, 2020)
    • Day After Thanksgiving Day (November 27, 2020)

More Information

To view additional testing locations and for answers to frequently asked questions, visit the Allegheny County website.

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News

September 24, 2020

KidSMART Club At Home Program

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Citiparks will offer its KidSMART Club as an at-home program for children in grades three, four, and five. An option for pre-kindergarten children is also available.

About

KidSMART Club is an afterschool program developed by Citiparks for children in grades three, four, and five. A pre-k option is also available and is best suited for children ages three to five years old. The program features a series of activities that explore science, math, art, reading, technology, and more! This year, the Club will be offered as an at-home program for 11 weeks with each week offering a new theme of learning.

Themes and Dates

Club members who complete six weeks or more of STEM/STEAM projects will be eligible for a chance to win cool prizes! View the full list of upcoming sessions below.

    • Week 1: Art Explosion, Multimedia Art Studio 
      October 5 – 9, 2020
    • Week 2: Wide World of Sports
      October 12 – 16, 2020
    • Week 3: Urban Adventures
      October 19 – 23, 2020
    • Week 4: DIY Maker Lab, “I Made It With Citiparks”
      October 26 – 30, 2020
    • Week 5: Comic Central
      November 2 – 6, 2020
    • Week 6: X-Treme Science
      November 9 – 13, 2020
    • Week 7: Create With The Masters
      November 16 – 20, 2020
    • Week 8: Junior Chef – Holiday Kit
      November 23 – 27, 2020
    • Week 9: Space Station Pittsburgh
      November 30 – December 4, 2020
    • Week 10: Holidays Around The World
      December 7 – 11, 2020
    • Week 11: KidSMART – Holiday Kit
      December 14 – 18, 2020

Registration

Registration is required to participate. When registering, you must select a pickup location for your weekly at-home kits. Kit pickup will occur every Monday (beginning October 5) from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at one of the following Citipark Recreation Center locations:

To register, complete the KidSMART Club Registration Form. This registration reserves your kit for an 11-week period through the end of 2020. Space is limited.

More Information

For more information, visit the KidSMART Club webpage.

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News

September 21, 2020

November 3 Election Reminders

With the November 3 election quickly approaching, do you have a voting plan? Dedicate time today to check your voter registration status, review what options you have to cast your vote, and create your personal voting timeline.

 

Save The Dates

Use the dates listed below to create your personal voting timeline. If you would like to receive ballot deadline reminders, election date reminders, and more, sign-up to receive emails from Votes PA.

 

Register To Vote

To participate in the November 3 election, voter registrations must be submitted by October 19, 2020. Interested community members can register to vote by:

Check Your Voter Registration

To check your voter registration status and polling place address, visit the PA Voter Services website.

 

 

Voting In-Person

On November 3, polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line when the polls close, you are entitled to vote. Visit the PA Voter Services website to find your polling place.

If you have voted at your polling location before, you will not need to bring an ID to vote. Only voters who are voting for the first time in their election district need to show their ID (driver’s license, U.S. passport, voter registration card, current utility bill, etc.).

Over-The-Counter Voting Offices

On September 17, the Allegheny County Board of Elections approved a proposal to open additional over-the-counter voting offices on weekends leading up to the November 3 election. Registered voters can visit these secure offices to cast their vote or submit their completed ballots.

Office Locations

Planned dates, locations, and hours include the following:

    • Saturday, October 10  |  9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
      County Office Building, Downtown; North Park Ice Rink; South Park Ice Rink; #2 Department of Public Works Garage, Carnegie; and the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), Homewood Location
    • Sunday, October 11  |  11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
      County Office Building, Downtown; North Park Ice Rink; South Park Ice Rink; #2 Department of Public Works Garage, Carnegie; and the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), Homewood Location
    • Saturday, October 17  |  9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
      County Office Building, Downtown; South Park Ice Rink; CCAC South; Boyce Park Ski Lodge; and Shop ‘N Save, Hill District
    • Sunday, October 18  |  11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
      County Office Building, Downtown; South Park Ice Rink; CCAC South; Boyce Park Ski Lodge; and Shop ‘N Save, Hill District
    • Saturday, October 24  |  9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
      County Office Building, Downtown; Boyce Park Ski Lodge; CCAC South; CCAC Allegheny; and North Park Ice Rink
    • Sunday, October 25  |  11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
      County Office Building, Downtown; Boyce Park Ski Lodge; CCAC South; CCAC Allegheny; and North Park Ice Rink

Absentee Ballots

If you expect to be out of the municipality on election day or if you have a disability or illness, you can request an absentee ballot. Voters will be required to list the reason for submitting this ballot type. This ballot type is best suited for:

    • college students who are not registered to vote at their school address,
    • people whose work or vacation take them away from the municipality where they live,
    • people with a physical disability or illness that prevents them from going to the polling place,
    • members of the military,
    • people who may have a conflict due to the celebration of a religious holiday, and
    • people who are incarcerated who haven’t been convicted of a felony.

Submit An Application

Complete the online application to request your absentee ballot. Applications to receive an absentee ballot for the November 3 election must be received by your County Election Office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

After receiving your ballot in the mail, your completed ballot must be received by your County Election Office no later than 8 p.m. on November 3, 2020. You can submit your ballot in the mail or by visiting your County Election Office.

Mail-In Ballots

If you would like to submit a ballot without visiting a polling location but are not eligible for an absentee ballot, you can apply for a mail-in ballot. Voters will not be required to list a reason for submitting this type of ballot. All registered voters are eligible to request a mail-in ballot.

Submit An Application

Complete the online application to request your mail-in ballot. Applications to receive a mail-in ballot for the November 3 election must be received by your County Election Office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

After receiving your ballot in the mail, your completed ballot must be received by your County Election Office no later than 8 p.m. on November 3, 2020. You can submit your ballot in the mail or by visiting your County Election Office.

 

More Information

Visit the Votes PA website for more information on mail-in and absentee ballots, registering to vote in Pennsylvania, what to expect as a first-time voter, upcoming elections, and more.

News

State Office Candidate Conversation: Child Care

In Allegheny County, 48 percent of eligible children do not have access to publicly funded pre-k programs and 67 percent of Child Care Works subsidy-eligible children under age five remain unserved. Before you vote on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, find out what your candidates think about early childhood education.

Registration

Join the Children Matter Action Fund on September 23 for an online conversation about child care with Allegheny County candidates for state office in House Districts 28, 30, 44, and 45! To register, visit the event webpage.

Unable to attend? Check out each candidate’s views on the Children Matter Action Fund website.

News

September 17, 2020

Allegheny County Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Plan

In September 2020, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Behavioral Health released a plan and guidance on in-person Early Intervention (EI) services for infants and toddlers in the county. These documents were developed to inform EI program providers and participants of the strategies that will be implemented to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as in-person services resume.

About

Because in-person Early Intervention services are provided in people’s homes and communities, the successful implementation of in-person services relies heavily on the team effort or EI professionals and participating families to follow the health and safety guidelines detailed in the Allegheny County Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Health and Safety Plan for Resuming In-Person Services. Program staff will work with families to offer quality Early Intervention services in the safest manner feasible.

In addition to this plan, Allegheny County EI Providers and the EI SC Entity are expected to follow the Allegheny County Guidance for Conducting In-Person Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Services which outlines how and when EI in-person service provision will be carried out in Allegheny County during the Red, Yellow, and Green phases of reopening in Pennsylvania.

These plans and guidelines were informed by existing best practice guidance from numerous sources, including the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Office of Governor Tom Wolf, and local Allegheny County government officials.

Featured Topics

The Allegheny County Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Health and Safety Plan for Resuming In-Person Services features information on numerous topics, including the following:

    • required training and education;
    • health screenings and responses;
    • conducting in-person visits; and
    • EI Intervention Therapist and Provider caseload and staffing reviews.

More Information

For more information, read the full plan and guidance. Early Intervention providers are encouraged to share this document and its content on their websites and social media platforms.

News

September 14, 2020

Hello Baby: A New Website for Parents in Allegheny County

For many new parents, particularly those with limited resources and support, welcoming a child to the family can be both a joy and a challenge. That’s why the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) created Hello Baby, a voluntary program for any Allegheny County family with a newborn or young child.

What is Hello Baby?

Hello Baby is a voluntary program for parents of new babies that is designed to strengthen families; improve children’s outcomes; and maximize child and family well-being, safety, and security.

Every new mother in Allegheny County will receive information about Hello Baby and may receive an initial visit from a nurse to talk about the program in more detail. Information will be available at primary birthing hospitals, obstetrician/gynecologist offices, and pediatric practices, and will be mailed to new mothers as a postcard.

Hello Baby will reach families with moderate to high levels of need through the existing network of Family Centers. However, any family can request services from a Family Center through the Hello Baby website, 2.1.1 warmline, or texting service. All services are voluntary.

Featured Information

The Hello Baby website was created for parents to quickly and easily find local resources and information on the following topics:

To learn more and view the full range of services, visit the Hello Baby website.

More Information

Hello Baby is a collaborative effort among family-focused organizations in Allegheny County including Allegheny County DHS, Health Department, Healthy Start, Family Centers, NurturePA, and the United Way of Southwestern PA. For more information, visit the DHS website or view answers to frequently asked questions.

News

July 30, 2020

Reopening Plans for Allegheny County Districts

Allies for Children has compiled and will update information about reopening and health and safety plans for school districts in Allegheny County. Find the information for your school district in their Google spreadsheet.

School Reopening Guidance

Please utilize the following state and national resources for more information about guidance for schools that are reopening.

Pennsylvania State Guidance

National Guidance

More Information

More resources related to COVID-19 are available for families and professionals on the Trying Together website. To learn more about Allies for Children, please visit their website.