January 10, 2025 Trying Together to Host UnConference: Navigating Early Intervention Partnerships in March Registration is open for Trying Together’s UnConference focusing on systemic challenges relating to access to early intervention services on March 8. Other topics will include the impacts of systemic racism, suspensions and expulsions, staffing shortages, and under-investments in early childhood education. Learn More UnConference: Navigating Early Intervention Partnerships will include expert-led sessions, keynote speeches, a light breakfast with coffee and tea, and a buffet lunch. Opening remarks will provide an overview of early intervention projects and partnerships developed by Trying Together – including the expansion of the Rapid Response Team, development of the Early Intervention Toolkit, and Early Intervention Equity Analysis. Participants will attend a large group workshop and panel in the morning. After lunch, they will attend three 30-minute mini workshops. Keynotes and Workshops The morning’s keynote presentation will be state Rep. La’Tasha Mayes’ (D-24) “Envisioning Change: The Power of Early Childhood Educator Voice in Early Intervention Advocacy.” During her speech, she will inspire participants to see themselves as having an active role in early intervention advocacy and policy change that leads to a more inclusive early education system. The morning’s workshops include: “Exploring the Impact of Systemic Challenges on Access to Early Intervention Services: A Collaborative Approach to Supporting Children in Early Childhood Settings,” led by Trying Together’s Emily Neff and Hailee B. Roye “Circle Time: Let’s Talk About EI,” a panel discussion featuring experts from Infant/Toddler Early Intervention, Preschool Early Intervention, Infant Early Childhood Mental Health, and Intensive Behavioral Health Services as well as a parent The afternoon’s mini workshops include: “Pyramid Model and Prevention Tips for Challenging Behaviors” “Early Intervention Toolkit: Tools and Resources for Early Care and Education Programs” “Early Intervention 101” “Trauma-Informed Classrooms: Supporting Children with Early Childhood Trauma” “Breaking the Stigma: How to Have Difficult Conversations with Families and Young Children” “Creating Calm: Interactive Sensory Strategies for Early Childhood Classrooms” “Closing Session: From Awareness to Advocacy Action” The UnConference will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 8 at the Kaufmann Center, located at 1825 Centre Avenue. Tickets cost $25. Space is limited. Registration is now open. Those who attend the conference will receive PQAS and Act 48 credit hours. Any questions about the UnConference should be emailed to Ben Filio at ben@tryingtogether.org. For more information about the event and session details, visit the UnConference: Navigating Early Intervention Partnerships page on the Trying Together website.
January 7, 2025 UnConference: Navigating Early Intervention Partnerships Trying Together will host UnConference: Navigating Early Intervention Partnerships on Saturday, March 8, at the Kaufmann Center. Participants will attend expert-led sessions that focus on systemic challenges relating to access to early intervention services as well as the impacts of systemic racism, suspensions and expulsions, staffing shortages, and under-investments in early childhood education. Register Now Details Saturday, March 8 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Kaufmann Center 1825 Centre Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Limited parking at the venue is available as well as street parking. A light breakfast with coffee and tea and a buffet lunch will be provided to participants. Opening remarks at the event will provide an overview of early intervention projects and partnerships developed by Trying Together. These will include the expansion of the Rapid Response Team, development of the Early Intervention Toolkit, and Early Intervention Equity Analysis. Participants will explore resource tables and attend a large group workshop and panel in the morning. After lunch, they will attend three 30-minute workshops. Tickets for UnConference: Navigating Early Intervention Partnerships cost $25. Space is limited. For questions about registering large groups, contact Ben Filio at ben@tryingtogether.org Keynote Presentation State Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes (D-24) will deliver the morning’s keynote speech, “Envisioning Change: The Power of Early Childhood Educator Voice in Early Intervention Advocacy.” The mini-keynote will inspire participants to see themselves as having an active role in early intervention advocacy and policy change that leads to a more inclusive early childhood system. During the keynote, Rep. Mayes will share insight about why it’s important for policymakers to hear from early childhood experts and the role of educators’ voices in policy making and systemic change. Participants will be encouraged to think about their individual roles in young children’s lives, how to envision a more inclusive system for all, and how to begin to explore steps for achieving the vision through advocating for early intervention – both in their daily practice and systemic policy change. Workshops There will be one large group workshop in the morning followed by three 30-minute workshops in the afternoon. Morning Exploring the Impact of Systemic Challenges on Access to Early Intervention Services: A Collaborative Approach to Supporting Children in Early Childhood Settings Instructors: Emily Neff and Hailee B. Roye, with support from The PEAL Center With support from The Parent Education and Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center, this session explores how systemic racism, under-investment in early childhood education (ECE), and staffing shortages impact access to early intervention services and suspensions and expulsions in early childhood settings. Participants will examine these issues through multiple perspectives—ECE teachers, support services, and parents—using real-world data and case studies to identify systemic barriers. Through group activities and collaborative discussions, participants will develop actionable strategies to reduce exclusionary practices and better support children. Circle Time: Let’s Talk About EI Moderator: Dr. De Voka Gordon, Ed.D This panel discussion will feature experts from Infant/Toddler Early Intervention, Preschool Early Intervention, Infant Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH), Intensive Behavioral Health Services, and the parent perspective. Facilitated discussion topics will include strategies for partnering with families, coaching and collaborating with ECE programs, determining when Intensive Behavioral Health Services are necessary, and envisioning ideal partnerships between ECE and EI. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in the discussion. Afternoon Pyramid Model and Prevention Tips for Challenging Behaviors Instructor: Deysi Keegan In this training, participants will be introduced to the Pyramid Model, focusing on Tier 1 strategies to create supportive classroom environments and prevent behavior escalation. We will review a classroom checklist and explore how these supports can reduce triggers for children, along with alternative communication techniques from the “Words Matter” handout. The session will also cover the Rapid Response Team (RRT) process and how to support teachers in working with children exhibiting a variety of behaviors. Early Intervention Toolkit: Tools and Resources for Early Care and Education Programs Instructor: Ashley Harland In this session, participants will be provided with an overview of an Early Intervention Toolkit and interactive website, created by Trying Together in partnership with early care and education programs and early intervention providers across Allegheny County. The toolkit aims to increase mutual understanding early care and education programs, EI providers, and families with young children. Participants will leave the session knowing how to use the EI Toolkit to access support resources for both families and early educators. Early Intervention 101 Instructors: Vonna May-Miller; Elizabeth Gamza, M.Ed; and Melissa Friend In this session, representatives from The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers, Allegheny Intermediate Unit Preschool Early Intervention, and Pittsburgh Public Preschool Early Intervention will provide participants with tools to better understand early intervention services and how to access those services. Trauma-Informed Classrooms: Supporting Children with Early Childhood Trauma Instructor: Candace Shoenberger This course provides an exploration of trauma and its effects on learning. Participants will learn how trauma influences learning, emotional regulation, and interpersonal relationships. Through interactive activities and case studies, educators will gain practical strategies for creating trauma-informed classrooms that support all students. Breaking the Stigma: How to Have Difficult Conversations with Families and Young Children Instructors: Dominique R. Webster-Outten and parent Tifanee Moniqué Young Stigma still exists around disability, mental health, and seeking support services. In this session, speakers will explore tools to support difficult conversations with families and, ultimately, help reduce stigma. Participants will also have a chance to consider how they talk to young children in a manner that can help promote inclusion, integration, and acceptance of classroom peers of all abilities. Creating Calm: Interactive Sensory Strategies for Early Childhood Classrooms Instructors: Julia Kingera and Flo Angelo It can be challenging for young children to regulate their emotions and processing. This session will focus on sensory strategies that can be used classroom-wide as a way to teach children to self-regulate. In this hands-on and interactive training, participants will be coached on how to implement sensory strategies in the classroom setting. Closing Session: From Awareness to Advocacy Action Instructors: Emily Neff and Ashley Harland For the final workshop of the day, the full group will reconvene for closing remarks. Participants will have a chance to illustrate how they are collectively taking action towards creating equitable early childhood opportunities. For the final 15 minutes of this workshop, participants will engage in an advocacy action pledge to leave them with concrete and actionable next steps. What Do I Receive? PQAS and Act 48 credit hours Lunch Networking with colleagues Hands-on, interactive workshops Questions? Any questions about the UnConference should be emailed to Ben Filio at ben@tryingtogether.org. About UnConference The UnConference is an innovative, hands-on professional development training format in which a deeper experience is provided around a particular theme. Local and national speakers are invited to present and participants are encouraged to engage hands on in the workshops. The day concludes with a roundtable discussion on how to apply these experiences and ideas in the early childhood environment and share ideas on how to partner with new colleagues. Thank You To Our Sponsor and Partners A huge thank you to our series sponsor PNC Grow Up Great and our workshop partners.
June 17, 2024 Allegheny County Executive Highlights All-In Action Plan for High-Quality Early Care and Education Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato recently joined local legislators and Trying Together to underscore how a growing teacher shortage – driven by low compensation – is closing child care and pre-k programs throughout the state. As a result, working families are experiencing long waitlists to get their child into early education programs. Learn More Innamorato joined county policymakers at the Allegheny County Courthouse on Thursday, June 13 to urge investments in early learning teacher recruitment and retention. Legislators highlighted the need for Pennsylvania to mirror efforts in other states that could help remedy a child care and pre-k teacher shortage as well as ensure that early learning supply can meet the demand from families. “As someone who has advocated for early care and education for a long time, I know that families rely on child care and other early learning programs,” Innamorato said. “If the early learning sector is struggling, it will have negative implications for our working families. The relative scarcity of quality programs have made words like ‘expensive’ and ‘waitlist’ all too familiar for parents with small children.” Innamorato highlighted findings from her office’s All-In Allegheny Initiative survey, in which 40% of 19,000 residents who responded cited access and affordable child care were a top priority. Additionally, 31% of responders prioritized increased pay for child care workers. Innamorato said that the county would advocate to increase wages for child care and out-of-school time workers as well as expand access to short-term and crisis child care and invest and secure more resources in the Allegheny County Child Care Matters pilot program. Low Compensation Driving Shortage Low compensation for early child care and pre-k teachers, who are among the lowest paid positions in the state’s workforce, is the driving factor behind the teacher shortage. According to a March 2024 report from the General Assembly’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), the average child care teacher in Pennsylvania earns $15.15 per hour. In a recent Start Strong PA survey, Allegheny County child care programs reported 511 open positions, resulting in 103 closed classrooms. Had the programs been fully staffed, an additional 2,416 children could be served. State Rep. La’Tasha Mayes (D-24th District), a new mother and co-chair of the state Assembly’s Black Maternal Health caucus, said child care and early learning is a broken business model. “I know first-hand the difficult position that early learning providers find themselves (in),” she said. “They are challenged to keep pace with market wages, but they know that the families they serve can’t afford to pay what it would take to accomplish this.” Danielle Daye, owner of the Learning & Education Child Development Center, said that educators are the foundation of programs like the one she operates. She added that they are not being supported on a statewide level. “As we meet and exceed guidelines of quality care and education following Keystone STARS standards, the cost of operating a center of this magnitude far exceeds the income generated to sustain this level of programming and pay livable wages,” she said. “Owners and operators like myself rely on building relationships with our staff and providing positive work environments to attract and retain the very individuals that make our program what it is, and we are losing staff to fields able to provide in this economy.” Parents Struggling to Find Quality Child Care Heather Visensky, the community engagement manager for MomsWork, said she hears numerous stories from mothers about their struggles securing quality, reliable, and affordable child care. “The bottom line is that high-quality and reliable child care is something that is critical to the modern-day workforce,” she said. “When parents stress about not having reliable, affordable and quality child care, their work suffers, their productivity plummets, and they have difficulty advancing in their careers. Most importantly, their overall parenting and mental health suffers being in a constant state of worry and uncertainty.” State Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-38th District) and Duolingo’s Head of Social Impact, Kendra Ross, also spoke at the event about the importance of high-quality early care and education. All of the legislators and speakers in attendance noted that they support a recruitment and retention proposal that would provide monthly payments to providers of up to $440 per child care employee for initiatives such as hiring bonuses, monthly wage increases, benefit packages, or retention bonuses for staff staying for a certain length of time or for staff achieving certain credentials or degrees. Such a program would provide flexibility for providers to choose how to use these funds so that they can have the maximum impact in local communities. The effort would cost the state $284 million.
