June 21, 2023 Healthy Homes Resource Fair Learn how to make your house a healthier home! Join Women for a Healthy Environment to celebrate their HUD-funded Healthy Homes Asthma Program by learning all about the incredible housing and health resources available in the Northside Neighborhood and greater Pittsburgh region. The day will include resource tables, games and activities, and music for all people of all ages to enjoy. Event Details Saturday, June 24 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. McKnight Playground, 1250 Page Street Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Optional: Reserve your spot. Learn More Revival Chili will be on site for anyone wishing to purchase their lunch that day. They have something for everyone on their menu! Vendors include: Women for a Healthy Environment (HUD grantee) Rebuilding Together ACTION Housing Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program (HUD grantee) University of Pittsburgh Healthy Home Lab (HUD grantee) Neighborhood Resilience Project The Wellness Collective Manchester Craftsman’s Guild Youth Neighborhood Legal Service PA Resources Council Fund My Future Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) UPMC Project Destiny/Thrive18 Allegheny Healthy Network For more information, visit the Eventbrite event page or email amandaj@womenforahealthyenvironment.org
February 8, 2023 URA Offering Funds for Low-Income and First-Time Homebuyers Low-income and first-time homebuyers looking to purchase a home in the City of Pittsburgh may now qualify for a grant from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)’s OwnPGH grant program. The URA and First Commonwealth Bank will host an OwnPGH information session on Wednesday, February 22 at 10 a.m. in the lower level conference room of the URA office (located at 412 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219). Attendees will have the chance to hear more about the homeownership program and talk one-on-one with URA and First Commonwealth Bank representatives. For more information on the session, visit the OwnPGH Information Session event page. This article was updated on February 15, 2023 to include information on the OwnPGH information session. About the OwnPGH Program The OwnPGH program seeks to promote affordable homeownership opportunities within the City of Pittsburgh. It provides grants and second mortgage financing for homebuyers at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). Participants in OwnPGH may receive up to $90,000 in grants and forgivable loans from the URA and the city’s housing authority, with $50,000 available in grants and $40,000 available in loans. Additionally, eligible borrowers may qualify for the Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program (DPCCAP), which provides them an additional $7,500 in forgivable loans. Who can apply? Individuals who pre-qualify for a home loan through one of URA’s three bank partners. Individuals who do not exceed 80% of AMI. Individuals who would like to own a property within the City of Pittsburgh. Properties outside of City of Pittsburgh do not qualify for OwnPGH assistance. Learn More View OwnPGH income limits, find contact information for participating bank partners, and learn how to apply by visiting the Urban Development Authority website.
December 22, 2021 PNC Financial Management Course Trying Together is partnering with PNC Bank for a one hour professional development session on financial management. There will be a separate session offered for center-based programs and home-based programs (family, group, relative providers). The session content will include tools and tips on budgeting, bookkeeping, cash flow, and profit/loss. Space is limited; if you are interested, please use the link below to register. If you have any questions you can reach out to Allison Hritz, allison@tryingtogether.org. Registration PNC Financial Management for Home-Based Providers January 11, 2021 | 6:30- 7:30 p.m. PNC Financial Management for Center-Based Providers January 18, 2022 | 6:30 – 7: 30 p.m.
September 22, 2021 Free or Reduced-Cost Lead Testing Individuals who have concerns about lead levels in their water supply may be eligible to receive free or reduced-cost assessments of paint, dust, soil, and water. Obtaining an Assessment As part of the local “Get the Lead Out, Pittsburgh” initiative, coordinated by the nonprofit Women for a Healthy Environment, individuals may be eligible for a free or reduced-cost lead risk assessment. Fill out this form to register. The Allegheny County Health Department also provides some free resources to qualifying households. These resources include blood lead level testing for children who are uninsured or underinsured and free full home lead assessments for households with children whose blood lead levels are elevated by the Center for Disease Control’s standards (above 5 ppb). The ACHD’s “Get Ahead of Lead” resource list contains more information and instructions for who to contact. Additional Information Individuals who are not able to qualify for free or reduced-cost can access a list of water authorities that said they offer or help to facilitate residential drinking water tests. Public Source Pittsburgh has information on how to read these findings and private companies who perform lead tests.
November 19, 2020 ELRC Region 5 Office to Close November 23 Due to rising COVID-19 cases and the stay-at-home advisory in Allegheny County, the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 downtown office on Wood Street will be closed to the public beginning Monday, November 23. About On November 18, a stay-at-home and stop social gatherings public health advisory was issued by the Allegheny County Health Department. Due to this advisory and the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Allegheny County, ELRC Region 5 will close its downtown office to the public. The downtown and satellite offices will remain closed through December 31, 2020. ELRC Region 5 staff will continue to provide high-quality customer service via phone and video conferencing. More Information For more information, read this news post from ELRC Region 5.
September 24, 2020 KidSMART Club At Home Program Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Citiparks will offer its KidSMART Club as an at-home program for children in grades three, four, and five. An option for pre-kindergarten children is also available. About KidSMART Club is an afterschool program developed by Citiparks for children in grades three, four, and five. A pre-k option is also available and is best suited for children ages three to five years old. The program features a series of activities that explore science, math, art, reading, technology, and more! This year, the Club will be offered as an at-home program for 11 weeks with each week offering a new theme of learning. Themes and Dates Club members who complete six weeks or more of STEM/STEAM projects will be eligible for a chance to win cool prizes! View the full list of upcoming sessions below. Week 1: Art Explosion, Multimedia Art Studio October 5 – 9, 2020 Week 2: Wide World of Sports October 12 – 16, 2020 Week 3: Urban Adventures October 19 – 23, 2020 Week 4: DIY Maker Lab, “I Made It With Citiparks” October 26 – 30, 2020 Week 5: Comic Central November 2 – 6, 2020 Week 6: X-Treme Science November 9 – 13, 2020 Week 7: Create With The Masters November 16 – 20, 2020 Week 8: Junior Chef – Holiday Kit November 23 – 27, 2020 Week 9: Space Station Pittsburgh November 30 – December 4, 2020 Week 10: Holidays Around The World December 7 – 11, 2020 Week 11: KidSMART – Holiday Kit December 14 – 18, 2020 Registration Registration is required to participate. When registering, you must select a pickup location for your weekly at-home kits. Kit pickup will occur every Monday (beginning October 5) from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at one of the following Citipark Recreation Center locations: Ammon Community Recreation Center Henry Kaufmann Neighborhood House (Arlington) Brookline Recreation Center Jefferson Recreation Center Magee Recreation Center Paulson Recreation Center Phillips Recreation Center Warrington Recreation Center To register, complete the KidSMART Club Registration Form. This registration reserves your kit for an 11-week period through the end of 2020. Space is limited. More Information For more information, visit the KidSMART Club webpage. Share this flyer with your network.
September 11, 2020 Co-Educating with Families Webinar Are you interested in learning how to utilize creative experiences to draw families into learning together? Attend the webinar “Co-Educating with Families” on November 4 to learn about practice strategies that bridge school and home learning. About In this webinar, Cheri Sterman and James Wells from Crayola will share practice strategies that bridge school and home learning. Whether it is Moved by Math, Writing Art-Inspired Stories, or STEAM for 21st Century Learners, projects that actively engage students as decision-makers who create, present, respond, and connect enliven learning! This webinar will be of interest to pre-k through middle school teachers and school and district leaders. Time for questions will be included. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
July 9, 2020 Virtual Service Delivery Webinar Series 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 Engaging Families Using a Strengths-Based Approach in the Virtual World Wednesday, July 22 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Partnering with Families Virtually Wednesday, August 5 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Providing Staff Support and Supervision Virtually Wednesday, August 19 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Developmental Screenings on Your Screen Wednesday, September 2 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Challenging Conversations with Families Virtually Wednesday, September 16 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register 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.
June 29, 2020 Connections and Conversations: Advocacy 101 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 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.
May 27, 2020 Virtual Home Visits and Socialization Activities Are you interested in learning how to plan virtual home visits and socialization activities with families? Join the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning (NCECDTL) on June 10 for their webinar, “Planning Virtual Home Visits and Socialization Activities with Families.” About In this webinar, participants will learn how to plan and individualize virtual home visits and socialization activities with families. Presenters will explore effective virtual engagement practices and review available resources to assist participants’ continued work with families. Both This webinar is best suited for program directors; education managers; home visitors and their supervisors; teachers who are engaging virtually with children and families; and regional T/TA staff who support home visiting programs and home-based program staff. English and Spanish captioning will be available. Featured Topics Planning a developmentally appropriate virtual home visit as well as socialization activities with families. Exploring tools to increase family engagement in home visits and socialization from a distance. Reviewing resources to support home visitors and their work with families. Registration To register and learn more, visit the Home Visiting Webinar Series webpage.
