March 19, 2024 Apply for the Educators’ Neighborhood 2024-2025 Cohort Early childhood educators and leaders are invited to apply for the Educators’ Neighborhood 2024-2025 cohort, where they will take part in a year-long program to learn how to apply Fred Rogers’ work and theory to their work with children. An initiative of the Fred Rogers Institute, Educators’ Neighborhood is a community of educators – defined broadly to include any adult who directly serves children, youth, families, or other educators – from around the world who learn together, for the most part through virtual meetings, and are inspired by the work of Fred Rogers. Who Should Apply Educators in early childhood education programs, family child care, preschool, or early intervention Directors of early childhood education programs, family child care, preschool, or early intervention K-12 teachers, guidance counselors, reading specialists, or school librarians Principals or superintendents at K-12 schools Educators or directors at programs that serve children or youth outside of school such as staff at a library, museum, after school or summer program, religious organization, or environmental educationhttps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ENapplication2024 Educators serving adults who work with children, youth, or families (for example, higher education, professional development, quality improvement, or families) Home-based educators Fees and Scholarships The cost to participate for those selected is $595, which includes 30 hours of learning as well as lifetime access to the Educators’ Neighborhood community and access to alumni opportunities. Full and partial scholarships are available, and can be completed in the Educators’ Neighborhood application. This year’s scholarships include ones for: Educators and helpers who serve children through music, art, or reading education Educators in Greene, Fayette, or Westmoreland counties. Professionals from informal learning environments such as libraries and museums Educators’ Neighborhood participants in any context or location who are eligible for the needs-based General EN scholarship All participants will receive a certificate of participation at the end of the cohort year. Pennsylvania educators can receive ACT 48 credits for participation, while educators outside of Pennsylvania who are interested in transferring credits can receive additional documentation of completed learning hours. Application Details Apply online by May 3 at 5 p.m. For more information, check out the Educators’ Neighborhood Information Guidebook. To ask questions, email educators.neighborhood@stvincent.edu.
July 7, 2023 Employment Opportunities and Resources Trying Together has compiled a listing of recruiting events, open positions, and resources to help community members navigate the multitude of post-secondary and employment opportunities throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area. The listings below have been updated as of April 5, 2024. Check back regularly for new job posts, events, and resources. Upcoming Hiring/Recruitment Events Amazon Virtual Hiring and Information Event Tuesday, 04/09 | 10 a.m. | Virtual University of Pittsburgh Virtual Info Session Thursday, 04/11 | 11 a.m. | Virtual HOT JOB$ Virtual Event Tuesday, 04/16 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Virtual ConnectiveRX Virtual Information Session Wednesday, 04/17 | 11 a.m. | Virtual HOT JOB$ Virtual Event Tuesday, 04/30 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Virtual Post Secondary Opportunities Everyday Interactions Matter Coaching and Mentoring Trying Together Apprenticeship Program Trying Together Child Development Associate Program Trying Together Teacher Induction and Certification Trying Together Professional Development Event Calendar Employment Opportunities APOST OST Job Openings Child Care Career Openings in Pittsburgh Familylinks, Inc. Job Opportunities Hello Neighbor Job Openings Literacy Pittsburgh Open Positions Pittsburgh Regional Transit Job Openings Next City Job Openings The Children’s Institute Job Openings Trying Together Job Openings Vibrant Pittsburgh Job Postings Landforce Crew Application Training and Apprenticeship Programs BankWork$ Training Program Building Trades Apprenticeships Pittsburgh BuildWPA Apprenticeship Literacy Pittsburgh Computer Classes Calendar, Allegheny County Schedule Literacy Pittsburgh Computer Classes Calendar, Beaver County Schedule Pennsylvania Women Work (PWW) 3 Cups of Coffee Program UPMC Construction and Community Resource Center UPMC Nursing Assistant/Patient Care Technician Training Program Per Scholas Certification Training TEKsystems Technology Industry Courses Software Engineer Cybersecurity IT Support Additional Resources BuildWPA Resources Career Services at Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania Own Our Own Pennsylvania Women Work (PWW)
July 5, 2023 New Nationwide Report Ranks Pennsylvania 22nd in Child Well-Being The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently released its 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book on state trends in child well-being. The 50-state report ranks Pennsylvania 22nd overall in child well-being, showing declines in major indicators of child health, safety, education, support, and happiness. About the Kids Count Data Book Since 1990, the Casey Foundation has ranked states annually on overall child well-being using a selection of indicators. Called the KIDS COUNT index, these indicators capture what children and youth need most to thrive in four domains: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. Each domain has four indicators, for a total of 16. These indicators represent the best available data to measure the status of child well-being at the state and national levels. Indicators include: Economic Well-Being children in poverty children whose parents lack secure employment children living in households with a high housing cost burden teens not in school and not working Education young children (ages 3 and 4) not in school fourth-graders not proficient in reading eighth-graders not proficient in math high school students not graduating on time Health low birth-weight babies children without health insurance children and teen deaths per 100,000 children and teens (ages 10-17) overweight or obese Family and Community children in single-parent families children in families where the household head lacks a high school diploma children living in high-poverty areas teen births per 1,000 This year’s Data Book presents a picture of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted child well-being in the United States. Foundational Information & Report Context Importance of Child Care According to one estimate, shortcomings of the child care system cost the U.S. economy $122 billion a year through lost earnings, productivity and tax revenue. Access & Barriers to Child Care Despite gains in recent years, the United States is still failing to deliver early childhood education to more than half of its children (54%). The National Survey of Children’s Health reports that 13% of children birth to age 5 (2.8 million) had a family member who faced work challenges due to child care. More than half of working parents with infants or toddlers reported having been late to work or leaving early at least once in the previous three months due to child care problems, and almost a quarter (23%) have, at some point, been fired for it. According to an analysis by the advocacy organization Child Care Aware, the average annual cost of care for one child in America was $10,600 in 2021—one-tenth of a couple’s average income or more than a third (35%) of a single parent’s income. Child Care Aware also has estimated that center-based infant care costs more per year than in-state tuition at a public university in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Child care costs have risen 220% since the publication of the first KIDS COUNT Data Book in 1990, significantly outpacing inflation. Issues & Inequities Within Child Care Of children eligible for subsidies under federal rules, only 1 in 6 receives them. The shortcomings of the child care system disproportionately affect the financial well-being of women, single parents, parents in poverty, families of color, and immigrant families. Parents tend to need child care earlier in their career when lower salaries match their limited experience. Young parents spend an average of 14% of their household income on child care, twice the share the federal government recommends. Researchers estimate women were five to eight times more likely than men to experience negative employment consequences related to caregiving in 2022. Cost of Providing Child Care Labor costs can account for more than 80% of a child care provider’s expenses. Child care workers make less than workers in 98% of our nation’s other professions, despite the vital role they play in preparing the next generation to thrive. The median pay for child care workers, who typically must hold a range of credentials, was $28,520 per year or $13.71 an hour in 2022. That’s less than the median pay for: customer service representatives ($18.16), retail sales positions ($14.26), and restaurant jobs ($14) that don’t require the same level of education. Ninety-four percent of child care workers are women; 14% are Black and 4% are Asian, and across all races, 24% described their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino. Staffing shortages have left those within the field “more stressed” (85%) and “exhausted/burnt out” (75%). These shortages were a factor for the more than one-third of owners and operators who said they were considering shutting down. Key Findings Nationwide Data Negative Trends Half of the indicators tracked in the 2023 Data Book worsened since before the pandemic, while four stayed the same, and only four saw improvement. The most recent data available show that fewer parents were economically secure, educational achievement declined, and more children died young than ever before. In 2022, 74% of eighth-graders were not proficient in math, the worst figure in the last two decades. Also, more young children did not attend school, and the percentage of high school students graduating on time stalled. In 2021, the child and teen death rate was 30 deaths per 100,000 children and youths ages 1 to 19, the highest rate seen since 2007, with continued increases in deaths by suicides, homicides, drug overdoses, firearms, and traffic accidents. Positive Trends The number and percentage of children without health insurance improved between 2019 and 2021. Thus, efforts to expand access to stable and affordable coverage helped children and families. Over the last two years, the teen birth rate improved, a smaller percentage of children lived with parents who lacked a high school diploma and there was improvement in the number of children living in high-poverty communities. Racial Inequities in Child Well-Being Data suggest that the United States fails to provide American Indian, Black and Latino children with the opportunities and support they need to thrive, and to remove the obstacles they encounter disproportionately on the road to adulthood. Nearly all index measures show that children with the same potential are experiencing disparate outcomes by race and ethnicity. A few notable exceptions: Black children were more likely than the national average to be in school as young children and to live in families in which the head of the household has at least a high school diploma. American Indian and Latino kids were more likely to be born at a healthy birth weight. Latino children and teens had a lower death rate than the national average. However: Black children were significantly more likely to live in single-parent families and in poverty. American Indian kids were more than twice as likely to lack health insurance and almost three times as likely to live in neighborhoods with more limited resources than the average child. And Latino children were the most likely to be overweight or obese and live with a head of household who lacked a high school diploma. State Data New Hampshire ranks first in overall child well-being, followed by Utah and Massachusetts. Mississippi (at 48th place), Louisiana (49th) and New Mexico (50th) are the three lowest-ranked states. States in Appalachia, as well as the Southeast and Southwest (where families have the lowest levels of household income) populate the bottom of the overall rankings. In fact, except for Alaska, the 15 lowest-ranked states are in these regions. Although they are not ranked against states, children in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico experienced some of the worst outcomes on many of the indicators the Foundation tracks. Pennsylvania Data Negative Trends The number of children whose parents lack secure employment and the number of teens not in school and not working increased over the last two years. Additionally, fewer than half of: young children are in school, fourth-graders are proficient in reading, and eighth-graders are proficient in math. Statistically: 55% (up from 53% in 2016) of 3-4 year olds are not in school. 66% (up from 60% in 2019) of fourth-graders are not proficient at reading. 73% (up from 61% in 2019) of eighth-graders are not proficient in math. More children and teens are: dying, overweight or obese, and in families where the household head lacks a high school diploma. Positive Trends Though Pennsylvania’s rate of uninsured children is 4% and approximately 126,000 children cannot access affordable, quality health care coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), more Pennsylvania children are insured now than in 2019. Additionally, the percentage of low birth-weight babies is down from 2019. Fewer children are: living in households with a high housing cost burden (25% from 27% in 2019), in single-parent families (34% from 35% in 2019), and living in high-poverty areas (9% from 12% in 2016). Also, fewer teenagers are giving birth (12% from 13% in 2019). Despite significant drops in indicators, Pennsylvania outranked most states in education. For more detailed Pennsylvania data, view the KIDS COUNT Data Book state profile. Policy Recommendations The Annie E. Casey Foundation encourages policymakers to take the following actions: Federal, state and local governments should invest more money in child care. Public and private leaders should work together to improve the infrastructure for home-based child care, beginning by increasing access to startup and expansion capital for new providers. To help young parents, Congress should expand the federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School program, which serves student parents. Learn More To learn more, read the full report or visit the Annie E. Casey Foundation website. Source Information for this post was taken directly from the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book. Some text may have been added, paraphrased, or adapted for readability and comprehension. Related Content & Resources Support Resources for Families The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center 2023 Food Resources State Departments Asking Child Care Providers to Complete Insurance Survey Allegheny County Family Resource Map Highlights Supports for Locals Housing Resources Available for Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Families Trying Together Shares Advocacy Tools for Families and Child Care Providers ELRC Region 5 Now an Infant Formula Bank
June 28, 2023 Allegheny County Family Resource Map Highlights Supports for Locals Did you know the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 offers an interactive, online tool to help families navigate area programs and services? The Allegheny County Family Resource Map provides caregivers of young children and other residents in Allegheny County the opportunity to locate available supports closest to them. About the Allegheny County Family Resource Map Launched in 2020, the map highlights the addresses, phone numbers, and websites of a variety of family supports, including those on: aging care and education employment family activities food health housing new parents outdoors and recreation transportation, and wi-fi locations Through the map, families can find countywide resources and services closest to them, such as senior community centers, family centers, early learning programs, public schools, WIC offices, parks, libraries, food pantries, diaper banks, clinics, public housing, Port Authority bus stops, and more. Access the Map Access the map here or visit the ELRC Region 5 website. Learn More For questions or to submit a map suggestion, please contact ELRC Region 5 at 412.350.3577 or elrc5@alleghenycounty.us.
June 7, 2023 Organizations Publish New Education and Equity Resources for Families and Educators The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice and the Erikson Institute have recently published new education and equity resources for parents, caregivers, teachers, policy makers, and child care providers. Find a list of these resources below. Recently Published Resources on Education & Equity Resource on Confronting Racial Discrimination in Student Discipline – U.S. Departments of Education and Justice About The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice share with educators around the country the goal that all students attend schools where they are supported, safe, and able to access an excellent education. A school environment that is free from discrimination is essential to meeting that goal. However, decades of enforcement activity have demonstrated that discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in student discipline was, and continues to be, a significant concern. Discrimination in student discipline forecloses opportunities for students, pushing them out of the classroom and diverting them from a path to success in school and beyond. Significant disparities by race—beginning as early as preschool—have persisted in the application of student discipline in schools. The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice created this resource to to support schools’ efforts to confront the issue of race discrimination in student discipline effectively. Content In it, the authors: provide examples of the Departments’ investigations of discrimination over the last 10 years; describe how the Departments resolved investigations of 14 school districts in 10 states; discuss concerns of discrimination in schools’ use of: out-of-school suspensions expulsions school-based arrests referrals to law enforcement involuntary discipline transfers informal removals and other discipline against Black, Latino, and/or Native American students; demonstrate the Departments’ ongoing commitment to the enforcement of laws that protect students from discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in student discipline; and demonstrate ways school districts can take steps to proactively improve their administration of student discipline Access this resource or learn more about it on the U.S. Department of Education website. Pre-K in Family Child Care Project: Strategies Toward the Equitable Implementation of Pre-K in Family Child Care – The Erikson Institute About The Pre-K in Family Child Care (PKFCC) Project explores strategies, successes, and challenges in the implementation of public pre-kindergarten (pre-k) in family child care (FCC) settings across states and locals in the U.S. through an equity lens. This brief presents key findings about how pre-k systems address curriculum, assessment, developmental screening, and monitoring requirements to ensure FCC settings are equitably included in pre-k delivery. Findings are based on data collected through focus groups in November 2022. These groups included 14 state and local pre-k administrators representing seven states and three cities or locals. Content Highlights from the report include: Many pre-k systems that include FCC require educators to use designated curriculum, assessment, and/or screening tools and to participate in monitoring. Some pre-k systems allow FCC educators to select a curriculum, assessment, or screening tool from the same approved lists offered to center-based preschools. Pre-k systems generally do not offer FCC-specific curriculum options that address mixed-age groups or are culturally representative. Few pre-k systems differentiate requirements for FCC educators or intentionally include FCC educators’ voices and perspectives in decision making. Approved or vetted tools are often not available in providers’ or children’s home languages. Additionally, they do not often represent the culture of the FCC educators and children they serve. Requirements for FCC educators implementing pre-k are often the same as center-based pre-k settings. Pre-k systems invested in including FCCs offer individualized supports to meet curriculum, assessment, developmental screening, and monitoring requirements. Coaching and professional development are provided through some pre-k systems to support FCC implementation of curriculum and assessment standards and requirements. Fiscal supports are provided in some pre-k systems to offset the costs of curriculum, assessment, and developmental screening requirements. However, more supports are offered for curriculum implementation than for assessments and developmental screening. Access this resource or learn more on the Erikson Institute website. Learn More To learn more, visit the U.S. Department of Education and Erikson Institute websites.
Organizations Publish New Child Safety and Development Resources for Families and Educators Sesame Workshop and Trying Together have recently published new child development or safety resources for parents, caregivers, teachers, policy makers, and child care providers. Find a list of these resources below. Recently Published Resources on Child Development & Safety School Readiness: Simple Ways to Lay the Foundation for Learning – Sesame Workshop In an effort to bridge the gap between home and school and to help children feel safe and secure in the classroom, Sesame Workshop has curated a list of articles, activities, videos, and more. This guide can help children learn to celebrate classroom communities and support families as they get ready for school and life with their children. Access the interactive guide on the Sesame Workshop website. Lead Remediation Resources for Child Care Providers – Trying Together In November 2021, the city of Pittsburgh adopted a lead safety ordinance that aims to prevent potential lead exposure in young children. Recognizing the significant health and developmental concerns linked to lead exposure in young children and the potential financial cost for providers, Trying Together compiled a list of lead remediation resources for child care programs. Access the list on the Trying Together website. Learn More To learn more, visit the Sesame Workshop and Trying Together websites.
May 30, 2023 Fall 2023 T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Application Now Open Early childhood education professionals interested in attending college in the Fall 2023 semester can now submit applications to receive a T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) Scholarship and earn their teaching degree at little to no personal cost. Interested applicants must complete and submit their T.E.A.C.H. applications with all required documentation/information by Friday, July 7. About T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships T.E.A.C.H. encompasses several different scholarship programs. These programs help child care professionals complete coursework toward a degree or credential in early childhood and increase their compensation. Every T.E.A.C.H. scholarship has five key components: Scholarship – The scholarship covers most of the cost for tuition and books. Additionally, recipients receive a travel stipend each semester they are enrolled in class. Also, T.E.A.C.H. requires that the sponsoring child care program offer paid release time for the student to attend class, study, or handle personal needs. Education – In one scholarship year, each participant must successfully complete a required number of credit hours (usually 9-15) toward a degree in early childhood education. Compensation – At the end of the scholarship year, if they complete their educational requirement, participants are eligible to receive either a stipend or a raise. Commitment – Participants agree to continue working in their child care program for one year after each scholarship year. Counseling – Each recipient gets assigned a counselor able to assist the student in securing a scholarship, navigating the college processes, setting goals, and monitoring progress and needs. Eligibility The Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) offers a variety of T.E.A.C.H. scholarships to meet the needs of the early care and education workforce in center and home-based settings. Eligible applicants must: work a minimum of 25-30 hours per week directly with children in a DHS-certified child care program; make $19 or less an hour ($25 or less per hour for directors); and remain interested in pursuing coursework at a participating college toward a degree or credential in early childhood. Apply To apply, download a scholarship application on the PACCA website and submit your completed application by Friday, July 7 through one of the following methods: Email: teachinfo@pacca.org Fax: 717.657.0959 Mail: 20 Erford Road, Suite 302, Lemoyne, PA 17043 Additionally, begin the college admissions process and contact an early childhood education (ECE) advisor at your intended college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants get admitted to their college/university and can register for courses if/when they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for early childhood education advisors at partnering institutions if needed. Learn More Scholarship awards are dependent upon the availability of funds and priorities of funders. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis. However, incomplete applications and applications received after Friday, July 7 will not receive priority for consideration. For questions about scholarship eligibility or requirements, contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at 717.657.9000.
February 6, 2023 2023 Allegheny County Legislative Forum on Education Join the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) for this annual panel discussion with state legislators on an array of issues affecting public education in Allegheny County and across Pennsylvania. Event Details Thursday, March 23 | 7 – 9 p.m. Allegheny Intermediate Unit – Central Office 475 East Waterfront Drive Homestead, PA 15120 Register Learn More The event will feature a discussion with state lawmakers on a variety of issues impacting public schools. The conversation will be moderated by KDKA-TV reporter Jon Delano. A remote attendance option is available. (If you select the remote attendance option, a link will be emailed to you within 24 hours before the event.)
February 8, 2022 Pittsburgh Mayor Schedules Community Forums City of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s transition organization announced a series of community meetings, an online engagement portal, and a resident input message center that will allow residents to provide input to help guide the work and policy recommendations of the transition committees. One meeting will focus on education and workforce development. About According to a news release, the meetings, online portal, and message center aim to provide an opportunity to capture and empower the diverse voices of communities across the city. Residents will be able to weigh in on some of the city’s most pressing issues including equitable development, education and workforce development, infrastructure and environment, and community health and safety. Meetings Schedule The schedule of community meetings is as follows: Equitable Development – Monday, February 21, 2022 at 6 p.m. Education and Workforce Development – Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 6 p.m. Community Health and Safety – Monday, February 28, 2022 at 6 p.m. Infrastructure and Environment – Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 6 p.m. All of the community forums will take place virtually. All citizens interested in participating are asked to register through the online portal designed to accommodate multi-lingual residents. Residents who may not have access to technology to participate in online events are invited to call 412.267.7592 and leave a voice message in their primary language to share their ideas. Messages will be transcribed and shared with the transition committees. All community organizations and community advocacy groups are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas on these platforms and via community meetings. The portal also includes a survey that will be updated every two weeks, and an “idea wall” where residents will have the ability to submit ideas through March 15, 2022. More Information For more information, view the full news release or visit Mayor Gainey’s transition website.
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.
