News

October 21, 2021

Strengthening Business Practices for Child Care Providers

The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, in partnership with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the PA Key, is offering a new curriculum series, Strengthening Business Practices for Child Care Programs.

Learn More

The training content and activities are designed to strengthen child care providers’ foundational knowledge of sound fiscal management and business operations.

The series contains four modules:

  • Budgets, Projections, and Planning

  • Financial Reports and Internal Controls

  • Marketing for Child Care Programs

  • Staff Recruitment and Retention for Center-based Child Care Programs

There are two versions of this series: one for center-based providers and one for family child care (based) providers. Sessions will begin as early as November and as late at February. See this flyer for session dates and registration details.

Trainings are available at no-cost to participants. PQAS and ACT 48 available. Attendance of full series is required for credit.

Sessions

Attendance of full series is required for credit. Please select and attend the series that makes sense for your program type (center or family).

Center Providers

Series 1

  • Wednesday 11/10 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Wednesday 11/17 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Wednesday 12/01 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Wednesday 12/08 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Series 2

  • Wednesday 11/03 | 9 – 11 a.m.
  • Wednesday 11/10 | 9 – 11 a.m.
  • Tuesday 11/16 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Wednesday 11/24 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Series 3

  • Tuesday 11/30 | 1 – 3 p.m.
  • Wednesday 12/01 | 1 – 3 p.m.
  • Wednesday 12/08 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
  • Thursday 12/09 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday 12/15 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
  • Thursday 12/16 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Series 4

  • Tuesday 1/04 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Tuesday 1/11 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Tuesday 1/18 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
  • Thursday 1/20 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
  • Tuesday 1/25 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
  • Thursday 1/27 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Series 5

  • Friday 1/07 | 12 – 2 p.m.
  • Friday 1/14 | 12 – 2 p.m.
  • Friday 1/21 | 12 – 3 p.m.
  • Friday 1/28 | 12 – 3 p.m.

Series 6

  • Wednesday 1/12 | 12 – 2 p.m.
  • Wednesday 1/19 | 12 – 2 p.m.
  • Wednesday 1/26 | 12 – 3 p.m.
  • Wednesday 2/02 | 12 – 3 p.m.

Series 7

  • Friday 2/11 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Friday 2/18 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Friday 2/25 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • Friday 3/04 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Series 8 – Spanish Sessions

  • Thursday 1/20 | 1 – 3 p.m.
  • Thursday 1/27 | 1 – 3 p.m.
  • Thursday 2/03 | 1 – 3 p.m.
  • Thursday 2/10 | 1 – 3 p.m.
  • Thursday 2/17 | 1 – 3 p.m.
  • Thursday 2/24 | 1 – 3 p.m.

Family Providers

Series 1

  • Wednesday 12/08 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  • Thursday 12/16 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday 12/22 | 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Series 2 – Spanish Sessions

  • Thursday 2/23 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  • Thursday 3/02 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  • Thursday 3/09 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  • Thursday 3/16 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Series 3

  • Wednesday 2/02 | 6 – 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday 2/09 | 6 – 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday 2/16 | 6 – 9 p.m.

News

Strengthening Business Practices for Child Care Providers

The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, in partnership with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the PA Key, is offering a new curriculum series, Strengthening Business Practices for Child Care Programs.

Learn More

The training content and activities are designed to strengthen child care providers’ foundational knowledge of sound fiscal management and business operations.

The series contains four modules:

  • Budgets, Projections, and Planning

  • Financial Reports and Internal Controls

  • Marketing for Child Care Programs

  • Staff Recruitment and Retention for Center-based Child Care Programs

There are two versions of this series: one for center-based providers and one for family child care (based) providers. Sessions will begin as early as November and as late at February. See this flyer for session dates and registration details.

Trainings are available at no-cost to participants. PQAS and ACT 48 available. Attendance of full series is required for credit.

News

August 18, 2020

Virtual UnConference: Caring in a “New Normal”

Join Trying Together from September 14–23, 2020 for our second free Virtual UnConference: Caring in a ‘New Normal’. PQAS and Act 48 credit hours will be available. Registration is required.

About

Virtual UnConference: Caring in a ‘New Normal’ will feature a panel discussion and three workshops on topics including finance, interacting with young children, and social-emotional health during the COVID-19 health crisis. This UnConference will build on guidance shared during our first Virtual UnConference: Re-Opening to Our ‘New Normal’. To watch a recording, visit our UnConference page.

Featured Workshops

    • Positive Interactions During the Pandemic
      Monday, September 14, 2020  |  10:00 – 11:30 a.m.  |  Register

      In this workshop, Sarah Grubb from ELRC Region 5 will walk early childhood educators through the essential elements of positive interaction, the educator’s role in co-regulation, and strategies for supporting children best through positive, day-to-day interactions.

    • A Conversation on How to Support the Social/Emotional Needs of Children
      Thursday, September 17, 2020  |  10:00 – 11:30 a.m.  |  Register

      Join Diana Schwab for a conversation and Q&A focused on the social and emotional needs of children. In this workshop, participants will discuss early childhood social and emotional development with a particular focus on how children communicate social and emotional needs through behavior. This workshop will also discuss how to focus a child’s behaviors as a communication of developmental strengths and vulnerabilities, as well as mental health needs.

    • Building a Foundation for Your Organization’s Financial Wellness
      Monday, September 21, 2020 | 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.  |  Register

      This workshop will discuss the importance of building a business plan and budget as the foundation of your organization’s financial wellness, especially during this time of changing external forces due to COVID-19. Presenter Chris Pentrack of Supporting Strategies will suggest beginner tools and methods to build these items, as well as resources for additional assistance. Presenters will discuss topics such as profit and loss statements, balance sheets, monitoring, and forecasting cash for the organization.

    • Providing Safe and Healthy Care in Child Care Now and Beyond the Pandemic
      Wednesday, September 23, 2020  |  1:30 – 3:00 p.m.  |  Register

      This workshop will feature a panel of directors who will discuss the measurements currently being followed to prevent the spread of illness in their individual child care programs. A portion of the conversation will include health and wellness tips that can help support your staff and teachers during these challenging times. The discussion will conclude by identifying which health and safety practices will most likely be permanently incorporated into everyday practice moving forward beyond COVID-19.

Registration

Registration for this UnConference is being completed on the PD Registry. If you do not have a PD Registry account, please complete this online form to create one. If you are unable to create an account, please contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org for more information.

Click the links below to register for each workshop you are interested in. Registration is required.

More Information

For questions, contact UnConference Director Yu-Ling Cheng at conference@tryingtogether.org.

News

July 1, 2020

Grants Available for Small Businesses in Pennsylvania

The COVID-19 Relief Pennsylvania Statewide Small Business Assistance program will provide grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to small businesses that have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this program, a business must:

    • be physically located, certified to do business, and generate at least 51 percent of their revenues in Pennsylvania;
    • have annual revenue of $1 million or less prior to the impact of COVID-19;
    • have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees prior to February 15, 2020; and
    • have been in operation as of February 15, 2020.
    • Eligible businesses may be structured as C-corporations, S-corporations, limited liability corporations, sole proprietors, independent contractors, or self-employed individuals.

Visit the Bridgeway Capital website to view what makes an entity ineligible to apply.

Application Period

The first application window for the COVID-19 Relief Pennsylvania Statewide Small Business Assistance program is now open until 11:59 p.m. on July 14, 2020. This is not a first-come, first-served program. There will be multiple rounds of application windows. The application window will remain open for 10 business days. Additional application windows will be announced soon.

Eligible small businesses can begin applying online.

Bridgeway Capital is a participating CDFI and will support small businesses in western Pennsylvania to access the grant funds. An application toolkit, including information about eligibility, priorities, and required documents, can be found on their website.

More Information

For more information, visit the Bridgeway Capital website. For questions and technical support, contact pacdfinetwork@lendistry.com or 866-897-9336.

News

May 27, 2020

Saving for Your Child’s College Tuition

Saving for college isn’t impossible. All you need is a plan. The Pennsylvania 529 College and Career Savings Program two plans and many investment options that have helped over 205,000 families of all income levels answer one of their biggest financial concerns: how to afford college. Join the Pennsylvania 529 College and Career Savings Program for their webinar to learn more.

About

During the webinar, participants will learn about the following topics:

    • how you can save for college and save on your Pennsylvania income taxes;
    • how you can avoid paying any federal or state income taxes on your college savings growth;
    • how you can save for college with little impact on your chances for financial aid;
    • how you can save for a semester of college today and cover a semester in the future no matter when or how much tuition has increased; and
    • how saving can be made easy.

Registration

Webinar sessions are available on the dates listed below. Please use the links to navigate to the event’s registration pages.

More Information

For more information, please contact the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program at 800.440.4000 or PA529@patreasury.gov.

News

May 29, 2019

Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Sign Up Moving to PD Registry

Beginning Fall 2019, applicants will apply for the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program through the PD Registry.

About the Program

The Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program pays 95% of tuition costs for eligible college coursework taken by early learning professionals, with a maximum benefit of $6,000 per individual each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). The program covers tuition costs only and does not include books, materials, or fees. Tuition costs net of other funding sources such as scholarships, stipends, discounts, or grants (except the Pell Grant) are used to determine the amount of assistance. It is recommended completed applications be submitted at least four weeks prior to the start of the course, or prior to the tuition due date, whichever is first.

Access the Program Before Fall 2019

During the transition, The Pennsylvania Key is still currently accepting applications for the 2018-19 fiscal year and summer classes. Early learning professionals taking coursework beginning before fall semester are welcome to apply using the current process in the Portal. At this time, applications will not be reviewed for the fall semester.

More Information

For new eligibility requirements and to stay up-to-date on the ongoing changes, visit the Pennsylvania Key website.

*Information provided by The Pennsylvania Key