June 5, 2023 OCDEL Invites Families to Participate in Free Professional Photo Session The Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) Team at the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) invites pregnant and parenting families of children birth to age six to participate in a free professional photo session. Each participating family will receive a stipend of $150 and associated travel/mileage reimbursement for completing the approximately one-hour photoshoot. Families will also receive copies of their photos. About Photo Sessions Why is OCDEL providing this opportunity? Photos of Pennsylvania children and their families play an instrumental role in conveying the importance of high-quality maternal and early childhood services in Pennsylvania. Additionally, they aid in outreach to families, professionals, legislators, business leaders, and other partners throughout the state. By capturing photos of Pennsylvania families, OCDEL can better serve and advocate for them and the care of their children. How will OCDEL use the photos? OCDEL may use the photos for: advertising (i.e. television, online, billboard, and print) social media printed displays and materials, such as annual reports, PowerPoint presentations, etc. In using the photos, OCDEL will never share the names and locations of the families included in them. Who can participate in the photo sessions? All Pennsylvania families with children age six and younger are invited to participate, including those who reflect the diversity of Pennsylvania’s population. OCDEL would like to represent differences in identity such as: race ethnicity gender gender identity sexual orientation age disability geographic location across the Commonwealth Siblings and grandparents are welcome and highly encouraged to participate, too. Why should families participate? Each participating family will receive electronic access to the professionally produced photos of their family taken during the photo session. They will be able to: download and save the photos print them share them on their social media accounts (i.e. Facebook or Instagram) email them to family and friends Additionally, each participating family will receive a stipend of $150 for completing the approximately 1-hour photoshoot. Also, mileage reimbursement will be provided at a rate of 65.5 cents per mile. ECCS is also able to reimburse other modes of transportation utilized to get to the photo session location, such as public transportation, Uber, or Lyft with receipts. ECCS will also reimburse tolls with receipts. Where will photo sessions be held? The ECCS team will host photo sessions: June 27 in King of Prussia, Montgomery County July 17 in Cranberry Township, Butler County July 19 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County July 25 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County How can families sign-up to participate? If you would like to participate, please complete the online registration form no later than June 15. There is no cost to participate with the ECCS photo session. However, space is limited and registration is required. Learn More To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children website. For questions, please contact Sadia Batool at c-sabatool@pa.gov.
April 24, 2023 Youth Producers Meet-Up – Remake Learning Days Calling all songwriters, beatmakers, and mix engineers ages 14-22! Come to the Youth Producers Meet-Up to share your tracks, hear how they sound in a professional studio, get feedback from peers and professionals, eat snacks, and meet other creative young music makers in Pittsburgh. This event is FREE to attend. When: Thursday, 5/4 | 4 – 7:30 p.m. Where: YMCA Lighthouse Project, 7140 Bennett Street, Pittsburgh, PA. 15208 For more information or questions, visit the Remake Learning Days – Southwestern PA event page, or contact K. Bey at kbey@ymcapgh.org.
March 14, 2023 UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation Offering Medical Grants for Children The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) is offering medical grants to families unable to afford child medical expenses not covered, or not fully covered, by commercial health insurance. Families can receive up to $5,000 annually per child ($10,000 lifetime maximum per child), and do not need to have insurance through UnitedHealthcare to be eligible to receive medical grants. About UHCCF Medical Grants UHCCF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides medical grants to help children gain access to health-related services not covered or not fully covered by their family’s commercial health insurance plan. Grants are available for medical costs incurred within 60 days of application and are good for one year following the month in which they are approved. Families can use medical grants to cover the cost of deductibles, coinsurance, copays, and a variety of non-covered services and supports, including therapies, durable medical equipment, hospital stays, medication, mental health services, and most other standard/FDA approved services. Families cannot use medical grants to pay for insurance premiums, home modifications, and experimental or unproven services. Visit the UHCCF website to find a list of other exclusions. Grant recipients awarded less than $5,000 may re-apply for another grant once the current grant funds have been completely exhausted. Applications not approved by the regional board must wait 12 months before re-applying unless the medical condition and requested items have significantly changed from the original request. Grant Eligibility Families are eligible for UHCCF medical grants if: The child for whom they seek financial support is: facing a health-related challenge 16 years of age or younger at the time of application a United States citizen and resides in the U.S. covered by a commercial health plan individually purchased or provided by a caretaker’s employer receiving care in the U.S. from a a licensed medical professional or receiving treatments in the U.S. prescribed by a Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) or Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) Care or treatment administered in U.S. territories including U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are not eligible for UHCCF grant coverage. Their maximum annual income, as reported on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 1040 Tax Form, does not exceed: Family Size of two – $55,000 Family Size of three – $85,000 Family Size of four – $115,000 Family Size of five or more – $145,000 They apply in a timely manor. If families seek a grant for treatment or service that occurred more than 60 days prior to the application, their application will not be considered. Apply for a Grant To apply for UHCCF grant: Ask your child’s physician to complete the Physician Certification of Medical Condition Form and obtain an electronic copy of the completed form. Obtain an electronic copy of your IRS 1040 Tax Form. Obtain an electronic copy of the front and back of your current commercial/private insurance card. Complete the online UHCCF grant application, attaching electronic copies of the completed and signed Medical Condition Form, IRS 1040 Tax Form, and commercial/private insurance card. Learn More UHCCF’s funding is provided by contributions from individuals, corporations, and UnitedHealth Group employees. To learn more, visit the UHCCF website.
March 10, 2023 “Unlocking the How” in Building Effective Family-School Partnerships Join Kidsburgh at this webinar to learn about family engagement strategies and Learning Heroes‘ “Unlocking the How” research. Learning Heroes’ Senior Vice President and “Unlocking the How” Researcher, Dr. Eyal Bergman, will guide attendees through the research and discuss family engagement, effective program practice, and strategy planning for schools and families. All Parents as Allies cohort members, along with community members and other school members, are invited to join this free session. Session Details Wednesday, March 22 | 12 – 1 p.m. Virtual via Zoom Register Learn More To learn more, visit the Kidsburgh website.
January 27, 2022 Equity in Action: Prioritizing and Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announces a National Call to Action through the upcoming Information Memorandum (IM), Equity in Action: Prioritizing and Advancing Racial Equity and Support for the Undeserved Communities. The IM promotes racial equity as a critical factor to advance the economic and social well-being of children, youth, families, individuals, and communities through the administration and delivery of human services. Join the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) on February 3, 2022 to learn about the Biden administration’s overall actions to advance racial equity and support for underserved communities through the federal government. Explore the significance of racial equity in the U.S. and discover ways you can make an impact to advance equity. How to Register Registration is required for this free, virtual event. Individuals may register online via Eventbrite. Key Topics Topics for the webinar include: Background information about the significance of and the Biden administration’s actions around racial equity Agency-wide and program-specific actions taken by ACF to advance Equity in Action Ways that stakeholders in the field can advance equity About The Administration for Children and Families The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is a division of the Department of Health & Human Services. We promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals and communities with partnerships, funding, guidance, training and technical assistance.
January 20, 2022 Co-Creating A Healing Community of Equity & Trust Join Trying Together for an upcoming session, “Co-Creating a Healing Community of Equity & Trust”. Communities, however defined, are made up of people who bring a range of experiences and histories. Remaining open, curious, and culturally humble is essential to understanding a community’s resilience, strength, and wisdom. Claudia Woody says, “Inclusion means not ‘just we’re allowed to be there,’ but we are valued there.” Participants will explore the 5 Blocks of Building Restorative Relationships that allow caregivers to create holistic and supportive spaces that are responsive to historical trauma and equity literacy which holds us accountable to doing the work of learning together, seeking understanding, and creating a safe, valued, and heard community. 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.
December 8, 2021 New Pittsburgh Public Schools Board Members and President On December 7, 2021, after new school board members Jamie Piotrowski, Tracey Reed, and Eugene Walker were sworn in, Sala Udin (School Board District 3) was elected President of the Board. Devon Taliaferro (District 2) was named 1st Vice-President and Pam Harbin (District 4) was named 2nd Vice-President. One of the first major actions the board will need to take will be to approve the 2022 budget of $690.3 million. Since 2017, spending in Pittsburgh Public Schools (district and charter) has grown by $99.3 million while revenues have grown by $45.6 million. The board will also need to approve a plan to spend $100 million in American Rescue Plan dollars by the end of the year as well (which called for money for tutors, out of school partnerships, operational excellence, and more). The biggest challenge facing this board is that overall K-12 enrollment in Pittsburgh’s public schools has declined by 2,916 students since 2017 (District: -4,041; Charter: +1,125). A+ Schools will host a lunch and learn conversation on Wednesday, December 15 at noon to discuss the budget proposals. Registration for this virtual event may be completed online.
December 1, 2021 Children Admitted Free to Heinz History Center During the month of December, children aged 17 and under will receive free admission to the Heinz History Center as part of their A Very Merry Pittsburgh event. Individuals must reserve tickets in advance before attending. About the Exhibit The History Center’s exhibition, A Very Merry Pittsburgh, features a special section with family keepsakes, artifacts, film, and imagery that explore how Western Pennsylvanians have celebrated major winter holidays, including Christmas, Chanukah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa, through the years. A Very Merry Pittsburgh will transport you back to the bustling holiday season in Downtown Pittsburgh with decorations and artifacts from popular department stores like Kaufmann’s & Macy’s, Horne’s, and Gimbels. The exhibit is open through January 17, 2022.
Webinar: Racism, Anti-Racism, and the Social Ecology Join Strengthening Families upcoming webinar, Racism, Anti-Racism, and the Social Ecology. This event will be held virtually and interested individuals may register online. Additional Information This webinar will explore how racism permeates the social ecology of children’s and families’ lives through the lens of a new infographic from the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), and what it looks like to implement anti-racist strategies, policies, and practices as individuals, in organizations, and at the community and societal levels. Dr. Charlyn Harper Browne and Cailin O’Connor will draw from CSSP’s anti-racist intersectional frame and explore how Strengthening Families can be implemented as an anti-racist approach to work with families. Following the presentation, participants will have time to discuss and share their reflections on the content as well as thoughts about how to apply these ideas in their work. Participants will also hear about other new resources and opportunities from CSSP and the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance.
February 2, 2021 Family Engagement Toolkit Now Available When adults come together to support children, profound changes can happen. To reinforce parents, caregivers, and early learning professionals in their work to create strong partnerships, Trying Together created the Family Engagement Toolkit. About When early learning programs implement family engagement practices, they invite parents, caregivers, and other important adults to learn the best ways to connect, build trust, and join in true partnership for the wellbeing of their child. In fact, research shows that active family engagement leads to better outcomes for children and builds stronger learning communities. In an effort to support caregivers in bolstering their family engagement practice, Trying Together created the Family Engagement Toolkit, an online toolkit of printable resources that enable families and early childhood educators to: access strategies that strengthen the relationships that nourish a child’s growth and sense of belonging, find ideas and resources to enrich relationships in their learning community, learn ways to increase equity and access for all involved, and take the opportunity to reflect on the family engagement practices in their home or program. The Toolkit is best suited for families and child care providers of children ages birth to nine years old. The Toolkit provides information and resources on family engagement practices in a variety of settings, including: child care centers, family child care homes, group child care homes, and relative provider locations. For more information, visit our About the Family Engagement Toolkit page. Featured Resources Trying Together’s Family Engagement Toolkit includes resources for families and child care providers. Continue reading below to view some of our featured resources. Resources for Families Each family brings its own unique talents, customs, and vibrancies to their child’s child care program. Because of this, it is essential that each family offers its own knowledge, lived experiences, and partnership to best support their child. To assist in this process, Trying Together developed the following resources: Create an Engagement Plan for your family. Fill out this questionnaire to help your provider learn more about your family. Learn about your rights as a parent or caregiver. Access a curated list of family resources on topics such as Choosing a Child Care Provider, Preparing for Transition, Anti-Racism Tools, Child Behavioral and Mental Health Support, Child Development Milestones, English as a Second Language Support, Food Assistance, and more. Resources for Providers Family engagement is a process in which educators and families build intentional, authentic relationships toward the shared goal of supporting a child’s healthy growth and development. To assist providers in achieving this goal, Trying Together developed the following resources: Download the Family Engagement Toolkit to access family engagement ideas and resources. Use this questionnaire to get to know more about the families you serve. “My Day” documents can help communicate about the child’s day (infant and toddlers) (pre-k). Create a Family Engagement Plan. Create a Provider Family Engagement Plan. Create a Relative Provider Family Engagement Plan. Access a curated list of provider resources on topics such as Creating a Family EngagementPlan, Making the First Connection, Strengthening Existing Connections, Supporting Transition, Professional Development, and more. More Information Support, inspiration, and insight for the Family Engagement Toolkit were drawn from several sources, including Jefferson Regional Foundation. To view the full Toolkit, visit our Family Engagement Toolkit page. For assistance with creating a family engagement plan, contact Trying Together at 412.421.3889 or info@tryingtogether.org.
