February 3, 2020 Recall Issued on More Than 165,000 Infant Incline Sleepers The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), along with four other companies, issued a recall on more than 165,000 infant incline sleepers due to a risk of suffocation. About According to the CPSC, the following companies have been impacted by the recall: Summer Infant, Graco, Delta Enterprises Corp., and Evenflo. The recall was issued due to reported infant fatalities after “the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side, or under other circumstances” while using an infant incline sleeper. The CPSC urges consumers to immediately stop using the products listed below and to contact the companies to learn more about refund options. Recalled Products Recalled products include: Summer Infant’s SwaddleMe By Your Bed Sleeper Model Number 91394 Graco Little Lounger Rocking Seat Model Numbers 1872034, 1875063, 1875102, 1877160, 1882081, 1896313, 1908957, 1914283, 2047734, and 1922809 Delta Enterprise Corp. Deluxe Incline Sleeper Model Numbers 27404-2255, 27404-437, 27404-758, and 27404-942 Evenflo Pillo Portable Napper Model Number 12132125 More Information To learn more, read the full WTAE article. *Information provided by WTAE
January 27, 2020 Take Action to Support Infants and Toddlers in Pennsylvania Are you interested in advocating to increase access to and the affordability of child care for infants and toddlers in Pennsylvania? Take action by completing Start Strong PA’s current advocacy ask! About In December 2019, a campaign for high-quality child care in Pennsylvania called Start Strong PA delivered a New Year’s resolution photo frame to every member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The frames included a spot for a photo, a place for their signature, and the following resolution: In 2020, I resolve that all children deserve to start strong. I will support the healthy development of all Pennsylvania’s infants and toddlers by fighting for greater access to high-quality child care. Now, Start Strong PA is encouraging the General Assembly to take a picture with the signed photo frame and share it across their social media platforms. However, Start Strong PA needs your help! Throughout January, the campaign is asking Pennsylvania families and caregivers to send in photos of their infants and toddlers to place inside the frames. Will you reinforce Start Strong PA’s mission to increase access to and the affordability of high-quality infant/toddler early learning programs? How You Can Help To send in a photo, complete the following steps: Find your Senator or Representative by visiting: http://bit.ly/StartStrongPAresolution. Type in your address and press search. You will be given links to your Pennsylvania House and Senate members. Click on the link (their name) and you will be sent to their website. On the left-hand side, you can find their Harrisburg office address. Place the 4 x 6 photo(s) and a message that says “Make me your New Year’s resolution!” in an envelope, add postage, and mail to their Harrisburg office. Looking to go a step further? Send your Senator and Representative a reminder as well by completing a pre-filled form on our Take Action page! More Information For questions or to send your picture to Start Strong PA, email info@startstrongpa.org.
January 21, 2020 Community Baby Shower | Hosanna House Beverly’s Birthdays, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that provides birthday cheer for children experiencing homelessness and families in need, is hosting free community baby showers in 2020 for expecting women/partners who would benefit from services and resources. Attendees will receive lunch, play games, win prizes, receive a newborn care package, and connect with resource providers. These events are designed for expecting parents or individuals caring for a newborn (0-3 months). Available Dates February 17, 2020 (McKeesport, East McKeesport, Wilmerding, and White Oak) White Oak Athletic Association | 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | PDF February 27, 2020 Wilkins Event Center / Hosanna House | 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | PDF Learn More To see if you qualify and to register, contact Beverly’s Birthdays at 724.590.5106 or getinvolved@beverlysbirthdays.org. Learn more about Beverly’s Birthdays by visiting their website.
Raising Readers Together Club | Ages 0-5 The Raising Readers Together Club runs weekly and explores the importance of acceptance, equality, and tolerance through reading. Thursday sessions are suitable for children ages five and younger. Raising Readers provides free books, discussion, food, songs, storytelling, and resources. Winter 2020 Books February 6: Thank You, Mr. Panda February 13: Funderpants! February 20: Knock Knock February 27: My First Elements March 5: Sulwe March 12: Dream Big March 19: The Too-Scary Story (Session Cancelled) March 26: Thinker: My Puppy Poet and Me (Session Cancelled) Questions For questions or more information, contact Cynthia Battle at 412.567.1304 or cynthia@tryingtogether.org. Share this flyer with your network.
January 15, 2020 Breastfeeding Class Are you interested in learning more about breastfeeding? Attend Breastfeeding Classes at The Midwife Center for Birth & Women’s Health in Pittsburgh! About Whether this is your first baby or you have breastfed before, if you want to learn more about the new information available about breastfeeding, join The Midwife Center for their fun, informal classes. Partners are encouraged to attend, as well as any other family members. Classes designed for women who are between the 33rd and 37th week of pregnancy. Classes will feature information on: breast care and problems; positioning and latch-on; how often and how long to nurse; how to determine if your baby is getting enough; pumping and storing milk; and more! Registration To register for a Breastfeeding Class, download the Class Registration Form or call 412.321.6880. Please note that a scholarship fund is available for people who meet the income requirements. More Information For more information, visit The Midwife Center website.
January 3, 2020 Community Baby Shower | McKeesport & More Beverly’s Birthdays, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that provides birthday cheer for children experiencing homelessness and families in need, is hosting free community baby showers in 2020 for expecting women/partners who would benefit from services and resources. Attendees will receive lunch, play games, win prizes, receive a newborn care package, and connect with resource providers. These events are designed for expecting parents or individuals caring for a newborn (0-3 months). Available Dates January 4, 2020 (Tarentum) First UP Church | 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | PDF January 7, 2020 (Hazelwood) Carnegie Library of Hazelwood | 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | PDF January 13, 2020 (West End/McKees Rocks) Encore Event Designs | 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | PDF February 17, 2020 (McKeesport, East McKeesport, Wilmerding, and White Oak) White Oak Athletic Association | 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | PDF February 27, 2020 Wilkins Event Center / Hosanna House | 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | PDF Learn More To see if you qualify and to register, contact Beverly’s Birthdays at 724.590.5106 or getinvolved@beverlysbirthdays.org. Learn more about Beverly’s Birthdays by visiting their website.
December 20, 2019 Insights & Innovations: Early Childhood Education Conference Early learning professionals are invited to join the Learning Lamp on March 14 for the Insights & Innovations Conference. The conference will feature insights on the latest ECE teaching and administration strategies and will offer 6 PQAS and Act 48 credits. Sessions Insights & Innovations will include a variety of session topics, including: Danielson Framework Training; Program-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PW-PBIS); Loving Spaces and Learning Spaces for Infants and Toddlers; Keys to Success: Recruiting, Onboarding, and Retaining Quality Staff; Everything You Need to Know about STARS; and more. Visit the conference Eventbrite page to view the full agenda, speaker list, and more. Registration To register, visit the conference Eventbrite page. Registration fees include light continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks. More Information For questions, contact Anne McGrath at 814.242.6079 or annefmcgrath@gmail.com. Share this flyer with your network.
October 3, 2019 Generating Tax Revenue for Quality Early Care and Education The political and policy relevance of early care and education—and support for its expanded funding—is on the rise. Now is a great time for early childhood leaders to consider a previously overlooked approach to raising funds: dedicated state and local tax revenue for early care and education. Join this webinar to hear an introduction to essential guiding questions and seven tax areas that state and local early childhood leaders can consider pursuing to expand and diversify public funding for early care and education. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage. *Information provided by Build Initiative
October 2, 2019 Governor Wolf Releases Report on Infant Toddler Support Governor Tom Wolf released a report detailing seven Ready to Start Task Force priorities that were developed to better support the long-term success of infants, toddlers, and families in Pennsylvania. Ready to Start Task Force The Governor’s Ready to Start Task Force was created in September 2018 to “develop a framework of strategies to address health, human services, and education policy for infants and toddlers ages birth to three in Pennsylvania.” Led by six Governor-appointed co-chairs, the Task Force facilitated “six regional roundtable listening sessions with members of the Administration and approximately 150 stakeholders who represent early care and education providers, health care practitioners, research organizations, workforce development, state and local government, foundations, employers, postsecondary educators, and community-based organizations.” At these sessions, stakeholders responded to three key questions on family and child health, home environments, and future school success. The Governor also provided an online feedback form to receive ideas and thoughts from the community. Through these methods, the Task Force identified a list of key themes and findings, from which the four-year framework report was created. Priorities “Governor’s Ready to Start Task Force: A Four-Year Framework to Support Pennsylvania’s Infants and Toddlers” lists seven key priorities, all of which include specific goals that guide Pennsylvania “to a stronger future for the Commonwealth’s infants, toddlers, and their families.” Increase the Availability of High-Quality Child Care and Home Visiting Service Slots Improve Early Intervention Quality and Streamlining to Enhance Availablity, Alignment, Integration, and Coordination of Services Increase Recruitment, Retention, Development, Support, and Training of Early Childhood Education Professionals Better Utilize Medicaid, CHIP, and State Regulatory Powers to Address the Risks to Infants and Toddlers Posed by Harmful Environmental Contaminants Promote Education, Engagement, and Support of Parents and Families as Children’s First Teachers Improve Information, Outreach, and Access to Services Promote Sustainable Systems of Care to Support the Health and Wellbeing of All Children and Women of Child-Bearing Age Next Steps Moving forward, Governor Wolf will “establish a cross-sector ‘Ready to Start’ Workgroup comprised of agency and external stakeholders that will be responsible for establishing measurable goals and ensuring progress on the framework priorities and recommendations.” Meeting monthly, the Workgroup will engage with other state groups in fields that intersect with the priorities. Learn More To learn more, read the full report. *Information provided by the Office of Governor Tom Wolf
August 30, 2019 Webinar | Little Scientists – Exploring STEAM with Infants and Toddlers Join the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning on October 1 for their upcoming webinar, “Little Scientists – Exploring STEAM with Infants and Toddlers.” About This four-part series of Teacher Time for Infants and Toddlers will cover STEM concepts, with one month dedicated to each letter. Presenters will provide an overview of each STEM component and include tips for using art to encourage STEAM learning. Participants will learn strategies and teaching practices that help infants and toddlers develop reasoning, creativity, problem-solving, language, and communication skills. Register To register and learn more, visit the event webpage! *Information provided by ECLKC
