May 20, 2019 Allegheny County Children’s Fund Community Meeting Join the Allegheny County Children’s Fund Working Group on May 30 at the Jeron X Grayson Community Center in the Hill District to share your views on what works best and what additional support is needed when it comes to early learning and out-of-school time. About Allegheny County’s goal is to make sure that every child can benefit from quality early learning and out-of-school time. A series of six Community Meetings are being held across the County to learn from families, caregivers, and educators what access to quality early learning and out-of-school time looks like today—from your perspective and in your community. Each meeting will include child care, refreshments, and opportunities for community members to voice their input on how Allegheny County can be a leader for kids moving forward. Community Meeting Dates The Allegheny County Children’s Fund Working Group and community members will convene on the following dates: City Meeting – May 30 | 6:30 p.m. | Jeron X Grayson Center, Hill District West Meeting – June 3 | 6:30 p.m. | The Landing Community Center, Moon Township South Meeting – June 4 | 6:30 p.m. | Bethel Park Community Center North Meeting – June 5 | 6:00 p.m. | Shaler North Hills Library East Meeting – June 12 | 6:30 p.m. | Founders Hall Middle School, McKeesport Spanish-Language Meeting – June 18 | 6:30 p.m. | YWCA Building, Downtown Pittsburgh Registration & Questions Visit the Community Meeting website to learn more, RSVP, or contact event organizers.
Children’s Fund Working Group Community Meetings Join the Allegheny County Children’s Fund Working Group this spring for a series of community meetings to share your views on what works best and what additional support is needed when it comes to early learning and out-of-school time. About Allegheny County’s goal is to make sure that every child can benefit from quality early learning and out-of-school time. A series of six Community Meetings are being held across the County to learn from families, caregivers, and educators what access to quality early learning and out-of-school time looks like today—from your perspective and in your community. Each meeting will include child care, refreshments, and opportunities for community members to voice their input on how Allegheny County can be a leader for kids moving forward. Community Meeting Dates The Allegheny County Children’s Fund Working Group and community members will convene on the following dates: City Meeting – May 30 | 6:30 p.m. | Jeron X Grayson Community Center, Hill District West Meeting – June 3 | 6:30 p.m. | The Landing Community Center, Moon Township South Meeting – June 4 | 6:30 p.m. | Bethel Park Community Center North Meeting – June 5 | 6:00 p.m. | Shaler North Hills Library East Meeting – June 12 | 6:30 p.m. | Founders Hall Middle School, McKeesport Spanish-Language Meeting – June 18 | 6:30 p.m. | YWCA Building, Downtown Pittsburgh Registration & Questions Visit the Community Meeting website to learn more, RSVP, or contact event organizers.
May 13, 2019 Centering the Identity of the Black Child through African Culture Join the 2nd Annual Centering the Identity of the Black Child through African Culture conference to explore African-centered parenting and guardianship, psychology, and tools to heal vitality. Child care is provided. About Bringing together parents, caregivers, the Association of Black Psychologies, health experts, creatives, and learning leaders, the 2nd Annual Centering the Identity of the Black Child through African Culture conference will highlight health and education as a central focus to optimize energy, development milestones, and success. Attendees can expect to leave the conference with tools to latch onto the high teachings that have been preserved by the knowledge bearers to help families and communities understand the role of African Culture in the development of black children. Registration To RSVP, visit the event webpage. For questions, contact 412.689.2812 or eyberscrae@gmail.com.
May 8, 2019 Behaviors: Ours & Theirs | WCCC Mini-Conference On behalf of OCDEL and hosted by WCCC’s Early Childhood Education/Pre-K – Grade 4 Program, the “Behaviors: Ours & Theirs” mini-conference will focus on improving practitioners’ knowledge and skill to support children’s social and emotional development through culturally relevant practices, as well as exploring how to apply these skills to practitioners’ CQI plans. About Early childhood professionals are invited to attend a personalized mini-conference experience. Attendees will split into two groups and presenters will offer each session two times so that each group will have an opportunity to participate in both sessions. Participants will be provided with a continental breakfast, welcome and introduction, two educational sessions (each including a bound notebook of instructional materials), and a tour of WCCC’s NAEYC accredited Campus Children’s center. This event includes 3 credit hours; PQAS approved. Participants should be familiar with the ECERS and other Keystone STARS CQI tools such as CLASS, PAS, and Good, Better Best. Learning Objectives Attendees will be able to: Discuss and recognize positive observation and interactions with children and families, Examine and organize their understanding of culture and how positive interactions can lead to solid relationships with children and families, Review commonly used Keystone STARS CQI tools to determine areas where changes or improvements can be made in their programs, Explain why these changes will enhance the positive social and emotional development of children, and Discuss how these changes will also help them recognize and value cultural diversity. Registration To register for this event, visit the registration document! Registration is required and is $15 for the first 50 registrants! This fee is due (paid by check) on the day of the event, June 1, 2019. To learn more about the event, visit the PD Registry website. Questions For questions, contact Vicki Hricik at hricikv@westmoreland.edu or 724.925.4023. Share this flyer with your network.
May 7, 2019 Pittsburgh Apraxia Specialists Panel Join Apraxia Kids on May 16 for their Pittsburgh Apraxia Specialists Panel. Attendees will join local speech-language pathologists (SLPs) for a one-of-a-kind panel and Q&A session, visit the Apraxia Kids headquarters, and network with local families, caregivers, and therapists. About Apraxia Kids is the leading nonprofit that strengthens the support systems in the lives of children with apraxia of speech by educating professionals and families; facilitating community engagement and outreach; and investing in the future through advocacy and research. This event coincides with Apraxia Awareness Month, an important time for informing the local community of the struggles that children with apraxia face each day. Apraxia Kids hopes to bring the Pittsburgh community together to raise awareness, support each other, and build a bridge between parents and professionals! Speakers Megan Overby, Ph.D., CCC-SLP – Duquesne University Kathy Helfrich-Miller, Ph.D., CCC-SLP- Rehabilitation Specialists Jen Rakers, MSLP, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVEd. – UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Carrie Van Soest, MS, CCC-SLP – UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Eileen Cirelli, MS, CCC/L-SLP – Allegheny Intermediate Unit Gretchen Myers, MSLP-CCC; Recognized by Apraxia Kids for Advanced Training and Expertise in Childhood Apraxia of Speech – Center4Speech Katie Micco, MS, CCC-SLP; Recognized by Apraxia Kids for Advanced Training and Expertise in Childhood Apraxia of Speech – Duquesne University Registration Registration for this event is free and may be accessed via the event’s webpage.
Parents Moving Forward Together | Conference Join the Allegheny Family Network for “Parents Moving Forward Together,” a one-day mental health conference focused on supporting our region’s children, caregivers, and educators. Workshops Legislative Panel with Rep. Dan Miller Building Leadership Qualities Connecting Trauma Through Stories Dissecting the IEP Teens: Intense Emotions and Suicidality Registration This event is free, but registration is required for lunch and child care. To register, call 412.246.2030. See the event’s Facebook page. Transportation Buses are available for specific areas. See the bus schedule here. Parking will be available onsite for $5. Free parking is available for Allegheny Family Network families. Share this flyer with your network.
May 6, 2019 Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education Join the Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education (P.R.I.D.E.) program for a professional development training centered on exposing directors to strategies that promote positive racial identity in African American children. This session will offer 6 credit hours; PQAS approved. Training Objectives Upon completion, the learner will be able to: Describe racial awareness (i.e., the ages and stages at which children develop an awareness of physical characteristics related to existing social categories of race in America), Display awareness of the role of early educators in supporting children’s healthy understanding of race, and Illustrate techniques for working with staff and families to integrate conversations and activities that support children’s racial awareness and positive racial identity. Registration To register for this training, visit the Pennsylvania PD Registry website. Questions For registration questions, contact Emily Bengel at 412.255.1453 or ebengel@ywcapgh.org. For course questions, contact Aisha White at 412.383.7372 or aiw9@pitt.edu. Share this flyer with your network.
May 2, 2019 Pitch, Hit, and Run: Baseball & Softball Citisports, in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Major League Baseball, will host Pitch, Hit, and Run (PHR)—the Official Skills Competition of Major League Baseball. About the Competition This local competition will take place on May 4, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at McGibbney Field in Brookline Memorial Park. This competition is open to children ages 7 to 14. Pitch, Hit and Run will then continue with the Sectional Competition on Saturday, May 18, 2019—10 a.m. to noon, again at McGibbney Field. Participants in PHR have the opportunity to advance all the way to the National Finals during MLB All-Star Week! Citiparks’ Roving Art Car will also be at the field with baseball crafts for the kids beginning at noon. Kick-Off Game After the competition, teams will begin vying for the Mayor’s Cup Trophy with a kick-off game on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at noon. This season-opening game will feature the Pony AA Teams from Brookline and the 14th Ward. These two teams faced each other at the end of the 2018 Season in the Mayor’s Cup Championship at PNC Park with the 14th Ward coming out on top. This is going to be a great kick-off game for the 2019 Season! Registration To register for this competition or for questions, please contact the Citiparks-Citisports Division at 412.488.8397 or citisports@pittsburgh.pa. *Information provided by the City of Pittsburgh
May 1, 2019 Carnegie Library’s 2019 List of Best Books for Babies For the twentieth time since 2000, a group of local librarians and child development experts has sorted through the previous year’s publications to select and promote the 10 Best Books for Babies. About Best Books for Babies The Best Books for Babies project is intended to encourage reading beginning at birth and recognize publishers who create excellent books for the very youngest listeners. The books selected, from sturdy board books to fun lift-the-flap titles to charming picture book portraits of young families, will delight and engage babies age birth through 18 months and the adults who care for them. See the List Families and caregivers can view the full list by visiting the Library’s PDF. Where to Find Them Pick up one or more of these books at a Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch near you. In addition to spending some cozy time together, you’ll be preparing baby’s brain to learn and grow. *Information provided by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
April 11, 2019 Sensory Friendly Saturday: Museum of Natural History The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is celebrating National Autism Awareness month by hosting four Sensory Friendly Saturdays throughout the year. About the Event During Sensory Friendly Saturdays, the museum will open 90 minutes before it opens to the public to allow families with members of the autism spectrum or those who experience sensory overload to visit the museum in a more controlled environment. Museum experts will give tours of the exhibitions and be on hand to answer questions throughout the morning. Designated quiet zones will allow visitors to decompress and experience the museum at their own pace. Sensory Friendly Saturday hours are 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Available Dates April 27, 2019 July 13, 2019 October 5, 2019 December 28, 2019 Registration Advance registration is required for each person attending. Register online to save your spot! Ticket Costs Sensory Friendly Saturday includes specialized pricing: Children Under 2: Free Children 3 – 18: $5.95 per ticket Adults: $9.95 per ticket Adults 65+: $7.50 per ticket Discounted Pricing Access Card Holder – Adult: $1.00 Access Card Holder’s Child: $1.00 Access Card Holder – Senior: $1.00 To learn more about the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, visit their website.
