Early childhood education professionals interested in attending college for the fall semester can submit applications to receive a T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) Scholarship.
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:
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- work a minimum of 25-30 hours per week directly with children in a DHS-certified child care program;
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- make $19 or less an hour ($25 or less per hour for directors); and
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- be interested in pursuing coursework at a participating college toward a degree or credential in early childhood.
Scholarship awards are dependent upon the availability of funds and priorities of funders. Other eligibility criteria may apply are subject to change without notice. See the brochure.
Application Details
To be considered for the Fall 2020 semester, T.E.A.C.H. applications must be completed and submitted with all required documentation by Friday, August 7, 2020. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis, however, incomplete applications and applications received after this date will not receive priority for consideration. New scholarship awards for the Fall 2020 semester will be dependent upon funding availability at that time.
Interested applicants should also begin the college admissions process now and contact an early childhood education (ECE) advisor at their intended college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants are 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.
Submit an Application
To download a scholarship application, visit the PACCA website. Completed applications must be submitted to PACCA by Friday, August 7 through one of the following methods:
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- Mail: 20 Erford Road, Suite 302
Lemoyne, PA 17043
More Information
For questions about scholarship eligibility and requirements, contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at 717.657.9000.
To support family-facing providers in their online work with children and families, Brazelton Touchpoints Center is offering a series of free one-hour webinars and an online learning community that will explore how to manage the challenges posed by virtual service delivery and share strategies providers have found for building and sustaining strong relationships with families virtually.
About
In partnership with Parents as Teachers and the Rapid Response Virtual Home Visiting (RR-VHV) Collaborative, Brazelton Touchpoints Center will build on lessons learned from virtual home visiting, adapted for all family-facing providers.
All professionals who work with families of young children—including those who work in health care, early care and education, early intervention, child welfare, and family support—are encouraged to attend these webinars. Brazelton Touchpoints Center is pairing the webinars with an online learning community where webinar participants can engage with one another and BTC facilitators on topics and strategies discussed in the webinars.
Featured Webinars
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- Engaging Families Using a Strengths-Based Approach in the Virtual World
Wednesday, July 22 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register
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- Partnering with Families Virtually
Wednesday, August 5 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register
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- Providing Staff Support and Supervision Virtually
Wednesday, August 19 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register
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- Developmental Screenings on Your Screen
Wednesday, September 2 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register
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- Challenging Conversations with Families Virtually
Wednesday, September 16 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register
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- Taking Care of Yourself as a Virtual Service Provider
Wednesday, September 30 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register
Registration
To register and learn more, visit the Brazelton Touchpoints Center website. Participants can register for the entire series or for individual webinars.
More Information
For questions, email touchpoints@childrens.harvard.edu.
Are you interested in learning about the latest early childhood research and connecting with thousands of fellow educators from around the world? Join ZERO TO THREE from October 5-9 for their Virtual Annual Conference!
About
This year’s virtual conference will give participants the added flexibility to be connected safely to thousands of colleagues from around the world; be inspired through an immersive experience into the latest research and education; and be prepared to move their practice forward in our changing and challenging world.
The conference package includes five days of exceptional programming and 30 days of exclusive, on-demand access to recorded sessions. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are included. Pre-Conference Forums will be available as well from September 22 to October 1 for an additional fee. Each Forum package includes a single two-day Forum event and 30-day access to the recorded session. CEUs are included.
Featured Sessions
The conference features many presentations and breakout sessions, including, but not limited to the following:
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- Bringing Self-Compassion and Care Home: Learning by Nurturing
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- Supporting Healthy Development Through Meaningful Relationships With Mother Nature, a Growing Global Movement
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- Operation HealthySteps: Promoting Safe Childcare Practices Across a Large Medical System
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- Where Trauma and Grief Collide: CPP With Child Traumatic Grief
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- How to Incorporate Mindfulness Techniques Into Family-Based Practices With Infants and Toddlers
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- Interrogating Whiteness in Early Intervention
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- Equity and Inclusion in Family Engagement Programs
See the full schedule.
Registration
To register and learn more, visit the event webpage. Member and group discounts are available. If you require any assistance with your registration, contact the Customer Support team at 855.868.1192
Are you interested in celebrating and exploring the field of family child care? Join the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) on July 17 and 18 for the 30th National Family Child Care Conference!
About
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NAFCC will host its annual National Family Child Care Conference virtually on the evening of Friday, July 17 and all day on Saturday, July 18. The conference will feature:
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- live and on-demand workshops,
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- an opportunity to earn up to 24 hours (or 2.4 continuing education units) of training credit,
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- a Spanish track with four live sessions presented in Spanish,
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- a Black and Latina caucus where participants can discuss the things that are important to them, and
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- a virtual exhibit hall where participants can view vendors without leaving their homes.
Featured Topics
Live and on-demand workshops will cover a variety of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:
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- record-keeping and tax implications of COVID-19,
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- organizing a sustainable daily routine that supports health and wellbeing,
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- how to make your home a place of inquiry, play, and experimentation,
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- strategies for creating an environment that promotes a variety of social-emotional skills,
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- finding out and improving your business’ profit margin, and
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- recognizing early signs of mental illness in young children.
View the schedule and full workshop descriptions.
Registration
To register and learn more, visit the event webpage. For questions, submit NAFCC’s online contact form.
Are you interested in learning about the important role authentic relationships play in the early learning and development of young children? Join Trying Together on August 5 at 6 p.m. for our online session, “Connections and Conversations: The Power of Self-Compassion.”
About
Connections and Conversations Virtual Check-Ins are interactive sessions that highlight topics of interest to the field of early childhood education. Participants will engage in virtual discussions via Zoom with child development experts while interacting with early learning practitioners to share questions, experiences, and expertise about the highlighted topic.
This session will highlight how children benefit greatly from authentic relationships with the adults in their lives. It will explore how the critical messages we learned from our childhood affect our interactions and relationships with children in our care. We will utilize self-reflection as a tool to develop self-compassion to build our intentional use of compassion in early learning environments.
Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. For questions, contact Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org or Sarah Grubb at sarah.elrc5@alleghenycounty.us.
Session Details
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- Session Date: Wednesday, August 5 | 6 – 7 p.m
- Instructors: Mimi Loughead
- CKC: K6.4 C2
- CDA Subject Area: Supporting children’s social and emotional development.
- Registrations must be submitted by Monday, August 3. Space is limited.
- Sessions will be offered biweekly and will offer one hour of PQAS credit. Act 48 credit will not be offered.
Registration
To register and learn more, visit the course webpage.
Session Rules and Guidelines
These virtual discussions are designed to provide educators the opportunity to grow professionally and share knowledge on early childhood topics. During the meeting, participants should follow the guidelines below to ensure a successful virtual meeting for all participants.
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- Please allow all participants a chance to speak. Listen respectfully and actively.
- Commit to learning about each other, not to debating the topic.
- Embrace differences of opinion as healthy and support each person’s authentic self-expression.
- Participants will be muted for the beginning portion of the session.
- Participants may use the “Raise Hand” feature in Zoom to request an opportunity to comment or ask a question. Individuals will be temporarily unmuted by the moderator.
- Participants may type a comment or question in the Chat or may send comments or questions directly to the moderator for them to share.
- To receive PQAS credit, you must complete an evaluation at the end of the session and include your PD Registry number.
- Have fun, make connections, and engage in the conversations!
More Information
For questions or more information, please contact Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org.
Are you interested in learning about the budget process and state government in Pennsylvania? Join Trying Together on July 22 at 6 p.m. for our online session, “Connections and Conversations: Advocacy 101.”
About
Connections and Conversations Virtual Check-Ins are interactive sessions that highlight topics of interest to the field of early childhood education. Participants will engage in virtual discussions via Zoom with child development experts while interacting with early learning practitioners to share questions, experiences, and expertise about the highlighted topic.
This session will highlight the budget process and state government in Pennsylvania. Participants will receive an overview of the Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA) campaigns, how early childhood education programs are impacted by the budget process, and ways professionals and families can use their experiences and knowledge to advocate. This session will also identify advocacy actions attendees can participate in or lead to advocate for early childhood.
Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. For questions, contact Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org or Sarah Grubb at sarah.elrc5@alleghenycounty.us.
Session Details
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- Session Date: Wednesday, July 22 | 6 – 7 p.m
- Instructors: Emily Neff, Cristina Codario, and Lindsey Ramsey
- CKC: K6.10 C1
- CDA Subject Area: Maintaining a commitment to professionalism.
- Registrations must be submitted by Monday, July 20. Space is limited.
- Sessions will be offered biweekly and will offer one hour of PQAS credit. Act 48 credit will not be offered.
Registration
To register and learn more, visit the course webpage.
Session Rules and Guidelines
These virtual discussions are designed to provide educators the opportunity to grow professionally and share knowledge on early childhood topics. During the meeting, participants should follow the guidelines below to ensure a successful virtual meeting for all participants.
-
- Please allow all participants a chance to speak. Listen respectfully and actively.
- Commit to learning about each other, not to debating the topic.
- Embrace differences of opinion as healthy and support each person’s authentic self-expression.
- Participants will be muted for the beginning portion of the session.
- Participants may use the “Raise Hand” feature in Zoom to request an opportunity to comment or ask a question. Individuals will be temporarily unmuted by the moderator.
- Participants may type a comment or question in the Chat or may send comments or questions directly to the moderator for them to share.
- To receive PQAS credit, you must complete an evaluation at the end of the session and include your PD Registry number.
- Have fun, make connections, and engage in the conversations!
More Information
For questions or more information, please contact Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org.
Are you interested in learning how to incorporate mindful practices into your early learning classroom? Join Trying Together for our three-week, self-paced course, “The Mindful Mindset.”
About
Through this three-week online course, participants will learn about incorporating mindful practices into their early learning classrooms. Mindfulness has been shown to improve children’s attention spans, social skills, and emotional coping skills. It is also an imperative tool for educators to improve their practice by being more present and understanding with their learners. Even as we face the everyday onslaught of stimuli and emotion, we all possess the capacity for mindfulness.
All registrations must be submitted by Wednesday, July 15. Space is limited.
Course Details
- Timeline: July 20 – August 10, 2020 (Three Weeks, Self-Guided)
- Instructor: Sarah Byrne-Houser and Mimi Loughead
- CKC: K6.4 C2
- CDA Subject Area: Maintaining a commitment to professionalism.
- Three PQAS and ACT 48 hours available.
Registration
To register and learn more, visit the course webpage.
Please note that participants will not have to attend the virtual course every day during the three-week period. Rather, participants can log on to the virtual course platform at any time during the three-week period to complete the session.
More Information
For more information, contact Community Engagement Assistant Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org.
Are you interested in learning about the role creativity plays in your early learning program? Join Trying Together on July 15 for our online course, “Creativity Concepts.”
About
This course will serve as an introduction to creativity and children’s developmental stages with arts learning. The course instructor will share ideas for visual art, music, movement prompts, and activities. A supply list will be shared before class for those interested in participating in hands-on artmaking.
All registrations must be submitted by Monday, July 13. Space is limited.
Course Details
- Session Date: Wednesday, July 15 | 6 – 8 p.m.
- Instructor: Alison Babusci
- CKC: K11.C2
- CDA Subject Area: Advancing children’s physical and intellectual development.
- Two PQAS and ACT 48 hours available.
Registration
To register and learn more, visit the course webpage.
More Information
For more information, contact Community Engagement Assistant Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org.
Are you interested in learning about options for developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for your child as they transition from preschool early intervention (EI) to elementary school? Join the PEAL Center on July 1 for their webinar, “Transitioning Your Child From Preschool Early Intervention to Elementary School.”
About
In this webinar, participants will learn about:
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- the importance of informed decision making in determining educational placement,
- options for developing an IEP as a child transitions,
- the impact of adult perspectives on children’s opportunities, and
- a Student Snapshot tool families can use in preparing for the transition.
Registration
To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
As caregivers, community members, and early childhood educators, we have a responsibility to ensure each child, family and caregiver is safe from racism and discrimination and has equitable opportunities to thrive.
In order to do this, we must begin with ourselves. Set aside time in your day to do a personal inventory. What thoughts, feelings, and behaviors have you contributed to upholding systems of racism? What assumptions are you making? What actions or inactions have you taken that contribute to systems of oppression?
Next, consider your family and your friends—what behaviors, statements, or jokes have gone unchecked? What actions or inactions have you taken within your interpersonal relationships that have contributed to an unsafe community for our black and brown children, neighbors and colleagues? How might you begin to lead by example within your own family or community?
Anti-racism work is something that has to be attended to an ongoing way. In order to support you in this work, we have compiled a new webpage of resources to combat racism.
Learn More with Upcoming Discussions
