May 20, 2024 Collaborating for Inclusive Classroom Practices in Early Childhood: Focus on Attitudes and Beliefs Trying Together will host a course that examines how our actions are shaped by our attitudes and beliefs – and how societal attitudes and beliefs have shaped service systems. Learn More Participants will have opportunities to explore the benefits of inclusion for all children and adults as well as reflect on how their individual attitudes and beliefs were developed. They will also explore how their beliefs and attitudes impact their practice, their colleagues, and the service system. Participants will identify strategies that teachers can use to create a sense of belonging for all children in the classroom, explore perceptions about disability, and reflect on how attitudes and beliefs impact early care and education practices. The course will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 27. The fee for the course is $10. It will be led by Shawna Preston and Jillian Miller. Registration is now open for this course. The maximum number of participants in the course is 30.
May 31, 2023 Pennsylvania Women Work Accepting Nominations for 2023 Circle of Hope Awards Pennsylvania Women Work invites members of the community to nominate groups, organizations, and individuals for two of its 2023 Circle of Hope Awards: the Corporate Volunteerism Award and the Diversity & Inclusion Award. The Corporate Volunteerism Award recognizes an organization or individual(s) within a company that has made significant contributions to PA Women Work’s clients, programs, fundraising, and overall mission through volunteerism, while the Diversity and Inclusion Award honors a corporation or individual(s) within a company that has made significant contributions in the area of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All nominations must be made using the online nomination form by June 23. Award Criteria and Nomination Process Corporate Volunteerism Award Criteria A strong commitment to the mission and vision of PA Women Work Demonstrated consistent volunteerism with the organization for at least one year Displayed passion for empowering women to succeed in the workforce through volunteerism with PA Women Work A history of participation in at least two PA Women Work volunteer activities Nomination Process To nominate a group, organization, or individual for the Corporate Volunteerism Award, complete the online nomination form including the following in your nomination: A narrative (no more than 300 words) explaining why the corporation, individual or group should be highlighted for their volunteerism efforts with PA Women Work. This narrative should answer the question: “How has the corporation/nominee shown passion for PA Women Work’s mission through volunteerism with the organization?” A list of the volunteer activities the nominee has participated in. Ex.: Mentor, Mock Interviews, Event Committee If a corporation, a list of employee names from the corporation who volunteer with PA Women Work. Diversity and Inclusion Award Criteria A strong commitment to the recruitment, retention, and promotion of a diverse workforce A record of commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts Improvements in upward mobility for racial and ethnic minorities and women in management positions Nomination Process To nominate a group, organization, or individual for the Diversity and Inclusion Award, complete the online nomination form and answer the following in your nomination: How has the company/nominee created or enhanced an inclusive work environment? How has the company/nominee demonstrated a commitment to enhancing and advancing the spirit of diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity within their company? Learn More PA Women Work considers each nomination, then notifies and announces winners by July 14. Award winners will be recognized at the PA Women Work Circle of Hope Awards Dinner on October 12. For more information on the 2023 Circle of Hope Awards, contact Lauren Riegelnegg at lriegelnegg@pawomenwork.org. To learn more, visit the PA Women Work website.
February 22, 2023 Office for Civil Rights Issues Fact Sheet on Diversity & Inclusion Activities The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently released a fact sheet for educators, parents, and students on the legality of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training in federally funded spaces. The fact sheet confirms that DEI training and similar activities are generally consistent with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In most circumstances, they are permitted in states, school districts, public schools, and public and private colleges. About the Fact Sheet This fact sheet was created in response to confusion regarding the legality of diversity, equity, and inclusion activities in schools. It clarifies that federal civil rights laws do not categorically prohibit schools from offering activities such as instruction on the impact of racism, cultural competency training, or school climate surveys. Download the Fact Sheet Fact Sheet: Diversity & Inclusion Activities Under Title VI | English Fact Sheet: Diversity & Inclusion Activities Under Title VI | Spanish About Title VI Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. Activities intended to further objectives such as diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not prohibited under Title VI. Title VI allows activities such as: diversity, equity, and inclusion training instruction in or training on the impact of racism or systemic racism cultural competency training or other nondiscrimination trainings efforts to assess or improve school climate, including through creation of student, staff, and/or parent teams, use of community focus groups, or use of climate surveys student assemblies or programs focused on antiharassment or antibullying investigations of and issuance of reports concerning the causes of racial disparities within a school use of specific words in school policies, programs, or activities, such as equity, discrimination, inclusion, diversity, systemic racism, or similar terms Learn More OCR is responsible for the enforcement of Title VI. To contact OCR for technical assistance, call 1-800-421-3481 (TDD: 1-800-877-8339) or email OCR@ed.gov. The Department of Education also funds regional Equity Assistance Centers, which provide technical assistance and training at the request of school boards and other related governmental agencies on issues such as racial harassment, prejudice reduction, and other issues occasioned by desegregation. To contact the Equity Assistance Centers, visit the Department of Education’s website. To learn more at www.ed.gov/ocr.
February 8, 2023 Collaborating for Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood: Focus on Attitudes and Beliefs This course looks at how our actions are shaped by our attitudes and beliefs, and how societal attitudes and beliefs have shaped service systems. Participants will have opportunities to explore the benefits of inclusion for all children and all adults, reflect on how their individual attitudes and beliefs were developed, and how they impact their practice, their colleagues and the service system. They will identify strategies teachers can use to create a sense of belonging for all children in the classroom, explore perceptions about disability and reflect on how attitudes and beliefs impact early care and education practices. Session Details Session Date: March 9 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. | Virtual Instructor: Shawna Mohler and Jillian Miller Standards: Child Development and Learning in Context, Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator Registration Registration is now open. This session is eligible for 2 hours of PQAS and Act 48 credit. Registration closes on March 7, 2023. More Information For questions about the course or credit, contact Paige Kizior at paige@tryingtogether.org
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.
February 3, 2021 UnConference Workshop Recordings Available Are you interested in learning how to create an inclusive, diverse early learning environment that meets the needs of all students? Workshop recordings are available from our free Virtual UnConference: Exceptional Care with a Team Approach to Inclusion. About In January 2021, Trying Together hosted our free Virtual UnConference: Exceptional Care with a Team Approach to Inclusion to explore the importance of working together—with a collaboration between teachers, intervention specialists, and parents/caregivers—to provide a supportive, inclusive environment for children to learn and grow. Presenters explored the following topics: Keynote: Exceptional Care with a Team Approach to Inclusion Presented by: Trying Together and Children’s Institute | Keynote Speaker: Wendy Pardee Transition and Educational Support in the Early Childhood Environment Presented by: Kristina Berg and Loreleigh Elders, DART Creating and Building Inclusive Support Teams for Children Presented by: Serena Washington, Trying Together How to Assess Your Students Needs: Using the ASQ through the Lens of Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Program Presented by: Gloria Rodriguez-Ransom, The Pennsylvania Keys Overview of Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Services in Allegheny County Referral Through Transitioning Out of 0-3 Services Presented by: Gloria Rodriguez-Ransom, The Pennsylvania Keys Catering to The Whole Classroom: Lesson Development and Implementation That Speaks to Every Child Presented by: Daile Fordoski, Lyasha Bishop, LaRae D. Cullens, The Learning Loft Workshop Recordings Recordings of the keynote and all workshop sessions are available. To learn more about creating a supportive, inclusive early learning environment for all children, watch the videos below. <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span> More Information To view upcoming professional development opportunities, visit our Courses page. Individuals may also request a customized offering through our Request for Professional Services Form. To learn more about our courses and associated fees, visit our Professional Development Course Catalog page.
December 22, 2020 Registration Open For UnConference: Exceptional Care Are you interested in learning about the role collaboration plays in creating inclusive environments for young children? Join Trying Together and The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh in January for “UnConference: Exceptional Care with a Team Approach to Inclusion.” About Young children thrive and grow in their natural learning environments, including children with developmental differences. Educators play a critical role in creating an inclusive and diverse environment for children to feel a sense of belonging, to feel valued as a member of the classroom, and to feel empowered to learn to their full ability. UnConference: Exceptional Care with a Team Approach to Inclusion dives into the importance of working together—with a collaboration between teachers, intervention specialists, and parents/caregivers—to provide this environment for children to learn and grow in differentiated ways yet feel included in the group. What Do I Receive? PQAS and/or Act 48 hours. Networking with colleagues. Interactive workshop sessions. Refreshed or refined thinking about our work with young children. Featured Sessions Keynote: Exceptional Care with a Team Approach to Inclusion Tuesday, January 19, 2021 | 1:30 – 3 p.m. Presented by: Trying Together and Children’s Institute | Keynote Speaker: Wendy Pardee During the keynote session, Wendy Pardee, President, and CEO of The Children’s Institute will share how they created a collaborative environment that provides a positive view on early intervention in an effort to bring different parties together in the best interest of the child. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion featuring an educator, parent, and intervention specialist. Transition and Educational Support in the Early Childhood Environment Thursday, January 21, 2021, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Presented by: Kristina Berg and Loreleigh Elders, DART Early Childhood Educators are an active and critical part of a child’s early intervention team that is often lost in the process of transition and service planning. This presentation will provide an overview of the early intervention process, as children age out of the Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Program and transition into Preschool Early Intervention Support. We will provide practical examples and resources of ways to support children and families through the transition process, as well as ways to adapt the preschool classroom environment in order for all children to be successful. Creating and Building Inclusive Support Teams for Children Friday, January 22, 2021, 10 – 11:30 a.m. Presented by: Serena Washington, Trying Together When thinking about what a team/collaboration approach looks like when working with children and families we must be open to asking the following questions: Why is it important to build a team for a child(ren)? What does the team/collaboration approach look like? Who and what do we need on the team/collaboration? How do we work and communicate as a team? In this workshop, join us for a robust discussion and learn strategies for creating an inclusive team to support your children. How to Assess Your Students Needs: Using the ASQ through the Lens of Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Program Tuesday, January 26, 2021, 1:30 – 3 p.m. Presented by: Gloria Rodriguez-Ransom, The Pennsylvania Keys Through the expertise of the Infant Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) program, participants will receive an overview of the Ages & Stages Questionnaires with a particular emphasis on assessing children’s social and emotional development. The developmental screening tools ASQ3 and ASQ:SE 2 are designed for children ages three months to five years and designed for use by early childhood educators and health care professionals. Attendees will learn how to administer and score the screener and share the results of the screener with families and professional colleagues. In addition, recommendations for suggested resources will be shared if additional services are needed. Overview of Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Services in Allegheny County Referral Through Transitioning Out of 0-3 Services Wednesday, January 27, 2021 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. Presenters: Erica Balint and Vonna May-Miller, Alliance for Infants and Toddlers In this workshop, presenters will discuss how the child’s 0-3 Early Intervention (EI) team collaborates with families and child care staff so that all have an understanding of how the EI system in Allegheny County operates and supports children. This session will give an overview of how children are referred and become part of the EI system. Information will include how a child is referred, eligibility criteria, evaluation process, service planning, and implementation along with transitioning out of 0-3 services. Catering to The Whole Classroom: Lesson Development and Implementation That Speaks to Every Child Friday, January 29, 2021 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. Presented by: Daile Fordoski, Lyasha Bishop, LaRae D. Cullens, The Learning Loft There is not one lesson in any learning environment that is one size fits all. It is the educator’s responsibility to develop ways in which a lesson can benefit every child in a classroom. This workshop examines strategies for planning and implementing inclusive activities for children of varying developmental levels. Participants will have the opportunity to practice these skills by dissecting a pre-made lesson and sharing ideas and strategies of accommodation that can be applied in their setting. Registration This is a free Virtual UnConference. Participants must register in order to receive links to each workshop session via email. To register, complete the online registration form. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How Do I Attend this UnConference Virtually? The sessions will be hosted using the web-based video conferencing platform Zoom. Please download Zoom to your device of choice prior to the start of the UnConference. UnConference hosts will send out all workshop links via email at least 24 hours before the start of the event. Please monitor your email inbox. How Do I Receive Credit? To receive credit, participants must attend the UnConference and complete the attendance link at the end of each workshop you attend. Once completed, Jasmine Davis, Professional Learning Program Manager at Trying Together, will process your credit. If you have questions specific to receiving credit, please email jasmine@tryingtogether.org. More Information For questions about the UnConference, contact Yu-Ling Cheng at conference@tryingtogether.org. For additional information, visit our UnConference page. Share this flyer with your network.
October 13, 2020 Talking About Race and Justice With Children Are you interested in using children’s books to engage young children in critical conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice? Join EmbraceRace on October 22 for “Using Books to Engage Young Children in Talk about Race & Justice.” About During this online event, Aija Simmons, Sara Rizik-Baer, and Savitha Moorthy will describe Mirrors, Windows, and Glass Doors*, a community-focused effort from Tandem, Partners in Early Learning that uses children’s books as a departure point for expanding the capacity of families with children under five years old to engage in critical conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Presenters will explain the factors that led to its creation, how it continues to evolve, the questions the working group is actively grappling with, and what they hope to accomplish. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and comment. Registration To register, visit the event webpage.
October 6, 2020 Promoting Inclusion in ECE Programs On September 30, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) released guidance on strategies early learning programs should use to ensure all young children with disabilities and their families have access to high-quality, inclusive programming. About OCDEL issued this announcement to provide guidance on strategies that promote inclusion for all students, set an expectation for high-quality programs to be inclusive of children with disabilities, and identify resources available to local early learning programs. Who Does This Apply To? Effective October 1, 2020, this announcement applies to both federally- and state-funded programs, including Child Care Works, Child Care Certification, Early Head Start, Head Start, Early Intervention, Home Visiting programs, Keystone STARS, Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program, Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, and Family Centers. Next Steps To promote inclusion, local early learning programs must complete the following actions: 1. In collaboration with program staff and families: develop and implement a written program policy that focuses on actively including young children with disabilities in your early learning program; review and modify existing policies, practices, and procedures to ensure barriers are removed that would prevent children with disabilities from accessing or participating in your early learning program; and develop resources for effective communication between families and program staff to ensure families know the benefits of and their rights related to inclusion. 2. Assess staff competencies and implement professional development, which includes family perspectives, related to inclusion based on the needs of staff and families. 3. Seek assistance from your local Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) to identify examples of inclusive program policies, structures, and activities to provide models of dissemination and replication throughout Pennsylvania. 4. Develop and strengthen partnerships between your program and Early Intervention programs so that supports and services for children with disabilities can be provided within the daily routines and activities of high-quality early learning programs. 5. Participate in ongoing opportunities for stakeholder input and professional development opportunities on additional OCDEL guidance related to the inclusion of all children. 6. Implement this policy in conjunction with the Announcement, Reduction of Expulsion and Suspension in Early Childhood Programs in Pennsylvania and any additional guidance related to the inclusion of all children. OCDEL’s Support To promote practices that support the inclusion of all young children in early learning programs, OCDEL will complete the following actions: 1. In collaboration with and input from stakeholders and families, OCDEL will: provide high-quality professional development opportunities through The Pennsylvania Key, ELRCs, Professional Development Organizations, and Early Intervention Technical Assistance; identify examples of inclusive program policies, structures, and activities to provide models for dissemination and replication throughout Pennsylvania; and provide written guidelines for implementing inclusion policies. 2. OCDEL will provide individualized support, including on-site coaching and consultation, to OCDEL-funded programs. 3. Through the ELRCs, OCDEL will: identify opportunities for community partnerships to promote inclusion, including partnerships for providing individualized support, professional development, and other capacity-building resources; provide support and guidance to assist child care programs to progress in their Keystone STAR level rating; and support child care programs to understand their vital role in supporting inclusion. More Information For more information, read the full announcement.
September 8, 2020 Supporting Fathers as Central to Family Life Are you interested in learning about what changes are needed to make room for fathers in the “first shift” of family life? Join Brazelton Touchpoints Center on November 17 for their webinar, “From ‘Second Shift’ to ‘First Shift’: Supporting Fathers as Central to Family Life.” About This webinar will focus on institutional, practitioner, and family changes that must occur to make room for fathers in the “first shift” of family life. It will showcase a user-friendly tool from the Supporting Father Involvement (SFI) program that can help organizations assess their “father friendliness.” Agency and program changes that increase fathers’ inclusion in family life will be shared. Presenters will highlight fathers’ contributions to family life in over-burdened, under-resourced communities, which often go unrecognized. Registration To register and learn more, visit the Brazelton Touchpoints Center website.
