October 5, 2020 Pittsburgh Welcomes Trick-or-Treating with Precautions On October 5, the City of Pittsburgh announced that it welcomes trick-or-treating this Halloween but urges residents to follow safety protocols to reduce risk and avoid the spread of COVID-19 in Pittsburgh communities. About The official trick-or-treating hours will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many behaviors will have to change this year to meet safety guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Residents are urged to: trick-or-treat only with family members; wear cloth facemasks, in addition to Halloween masks; carry and regularly use hand sanitizer; distribute candy by leaving it outside, and avoid in-person, face-to-face interactions at the door; follow social distancing guidelines (at least six feet from others) on sidewalks and when approaching homes where others are getting candy; and avoid indoor costume parties. Like any other year, motorists are asked to be especially vigilant on Halloween night, decrease speeds, and increase awareness of trick-or-treating children and families. Read the Full Release This information was provided by the City of Pittsburgh. To learn more, read the full press release.
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.
August 20, 2020 Facts about COVID-19 and Quality Child Care Are you looking to access child care services during the COVID-19 health crisis? Join the Pennsylvania Child Care Association on September 2 for their webinar, “Facts about COVID-19 and High-Quality Child Care.” About Child care is highly regulated in Pennsylvania and the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has responded to COVID-19 with updated regulations and guidelines to keep children and providers safe. However, some of these are suggestions, not requirements; some clash with best practices for child development; and some are difficult to implement with very young children. In this webinar, participants will learn about the pros and cons of different child care settings, what to expect from child care providers, and which questions to ask if you’re still searching for one that’s right for you and your child. The session will feature Susan Coffin, MD, MPH, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s leading expert of COVID-19 and a great resource in creating CHOP’s FAQ for centers and families; a parent; and child care providers from both center-based and home-based settings. Register This webinar is best suited for parents and caretakers of children birth to age five. To register, visit the event webpage. Submit A Question You may ask questions in advance (anonymously if you prefer) by emailing shawn.towey@pacca.org, or you can enter them in the chatbox during the session. Share this flyer with your network.
June 16, 2020 Choosing Child Care | Virtual Workshop Choosing high-quality child care is a complex process, and to many it may feel overwhelming right now. Join the Center for Women Pittsburgh, Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5, and Trying Together on June 28 for their virtual workshop “Choosing Child Care.” About Through this virtual workshop, participants will: learn about the CDC guidelines that early learning professionals are incorporating into their programs; hear questions they can use to ask providers about sanitation and physical distancing; see a live demonstration a new search tool for child care in Allegheny County; get tips on the application process, as well as what you need to apply for assistance; and know how they can help advocate for needed changes to the child care system. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
June 4, 2020 Questions for Your Early Learning Provider During COVID-19 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, early learning programs across Pennsylvania are adding new operating procedures (as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) to maintain the health and safety of their staff and the families they serve. To help parents and caregivers better understand these changes, Trying Together developed a Family Checklist that features questions families can ask their early learning providers. Access the Checklist The Family Checklist features fifteen questions caregivers can ask, including questions on how programs plan to communicate with families, meet the developmental needs of children, implement health screenings, and more. To see the full list of questions, view the Family Checklist: Questions for Your Early Learning Provider During COVID-19. [En Español] Additional Resources In addition to the Family Checklist, Trying Together developed the following news posts to answer common questions and highlight resources for families, caregivers, and early learning professionals: COVID-19: Resources for Parents and Caregivers COVID-19: Resources for Early Learning Programs New Portal Helps Allegheny County Families Find Child Care Summer Camp and Recreation Guidance During COVID-19 Changes Made to Summer Activities During COVID-19 Pandemic Guidance for Businesses in Counties Moving to Green Phase More Information For more information about COVID-19 and to view current case counts in Pennsylvania, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health website. To view current guidance for child care programs that remain open, please visit the CDC website.
May 27, 2020 Working With Young Children During COVID-19 Join HiMama on May 28 for their HiMama Helps webinar, “Working With Young Children During COVID-19.” About This session will explore ways to support young children as new guidelines refine what “normal” looks like in child care. Presenters will discuss the following: how to prepare young children to return to a child care setting, how to support families and staff during the pandemic, what it means to serve essential workers, and additional tips through a community Q&A session. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
July 3, 2019 Adjusted WIC Income Guidelines Effective Starting July 1 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that starting July 1, 2019, adjusted income eligibility guidelines will be used to determine the income eligibility of persons applying to participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). About Income Guidelines Income eligibility for the WIC Program is determined using income standards as prescribed under section 9(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The income limit is 185 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines, as adjusted. Section 9(b) also requires that these guidelines be revised annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. The annual revision for 2019 was published by the Department of Health and Human Services on February 1, 2019. In accordance with the established income guidance, the revised WIC income eligibility guidelines are to be used in conjunction with WIC regulations. See the Revised Guidelines Click here to view the revised WIC Income Guidelines. More Information To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania WIC website or call 412.350.5801. *Information provided by the USDA
September 21, 2018 Trying Together Introduces Social Media Policy Today, Trying Together released a Social Media Policy. The purpose of this policy is to establish a set of guidelines for the public to address user expectations, guidelines, and appropriate conduct while engaging with page administrators and fellow fans and followers on Trying Together’s social networking platforms. Through this policy, Trying Together aims to ensure our social media communications build community and provide a space for respectful dialogue. Furthermore, we aim to maintain our brand, identity, and integrity. Please take a moment to review our policy and follow us on our social media platforms: Facebook Twitter Instagram Vimeo Pinterest LinkedIn If you have questions, please contact Maria Pisano, Director of Communications, by email: maria@tryingtogether.org or by phone: 412.421.3889.
