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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.

News

The Mindful Mindset

Are you interested in learning how to incorporate mindful practices into your early learning classroom? Join Trying Together for our three-week, self-paced course, “The Mindful Mindset.”

About

Through this three-week online course, participants will learn about incorporating mindful practices into their early learning classrooms. Mindfulness has been shown to improve children’s attention spans, social skills, and emotional coping skills. It is also an imperative tool for educators to improve their practice by being more present and understanding with their learners. Even as we face the everyday onslaught of stimuli and emotion, we all possess the capacity for mindfulness.

All registrations must be submitted by Wednesday, July 15. Space is limited.

Course Details

Timeline: July 20 – August 10, 2020 (Three Weeks, Self-Guided)
Instructor: Sarah Byrne-Houser and Mimi Loughead
CKC: K6.4 C2
CDA Subject Area: Maintaining a commitment to professionalism.
Three PQAS and ACT 48 hours available.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the course webpage.

Please note that participants will not have to attend the virtual course every day during the three-week period. Rather, participants can log on to the virtual course platform at any time during the three-week period to complete the session.

More Information

For more information, contact Community Engagement Assistant Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org.

News

June 22, 2020

WIDA Communication Strategies to Support Multilingual Children

Are you interested in learning developmentally appropriate strategies to support multilingual children in your early learning program? Join Trying Together Innovative Learning Strategist Mimi Loughead from July 13 through August 3 for a three-week online course, “WIDA Communication Strategies to Support Multilingual Children.”

About

During this three-week online course, participants will identify and apply developmentally appropriate academic language demands of routines, social interactions, and learning experiences for multilingual learners. Also, participants will learn about language supports to use in their environments to provide multiple meaningful opportunities for multilingual learners to use their own languages through the use of WIDA Early Years resources.

Course Details

- Timeline: July 13 – August 3, 2020 (Three Weeks, Self-Guided)
- Instructor: Mimi Loughead
- CKC: K5.3 C2 and K5.7 C2
- Keystone STARS Alignment: SQ. 3.4.3
- CDA Subject Area: Understanding principles of child development.
- Three PQAS and ACT 48 hours available.

Registration

To register, visit the event webpage. All registrations must be submitted by Friday, July 10. Space is limited.

More Information

For more information, contact Community Engagement Assistant Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org.

News

Everyday Interactions Matter: Noticing the Simple and Ordinary

Are you interested in learning how to maintain essential interactions with young children during this difficult time of masks and physical distancing? Join Trying Together on July 8 for our free online session, “Everyday Interactions Matter: Noticing the Simple and Ordinary.”

About

The primary ingredient of early childhood quality begins with the “everyday interactions” between educators and children. These simple and ordinary interactions that take place during play, transition, and daily routines form the very foundation of learning and growing. How can educators uphold these essential interactions with children during this challenging time of masks and physical distancing?

Early learning professionals are invited to join Trying Together on July 8 at for our online module “Everyday Interactions Matter: Noticing the Simple and Ordinary” to engage with the Everyday Interactions Matter approach through a process of careful observation, discussion, and self-reflection. As a part of the “Connections and Conversations: Virtual Check-Ins” series, this session will encourage educators to recognize powerful moments of connecting, sharing, growing, and belonging in their everyday interactions with young children.

Learning Objectives

- Observe video footage of children and their caregivers in authentic settings and describe positive interactions.
- Recognize moments of connecting, sharing, growing, and belonging in everyday moments in the early childhood setting.

Registration

To register, visit the event webpage. Registrations must be submitted by July 6, 2020. Space is limited.

Virtual Series Overview

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.

Sessions will be offered biweekly and will offer one hour of PQAS credit. Act 48 credit will not be offered.

Session Rules and Guidelines

- 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.

News

June 19, 2020

Public Discussion: Services for Families in Allegheny County

What does your community need? How can the Allegheny County Department of Human Services help meet those needs? You are invited to share your ideas and suggestions at a virtual Human Services Block Grant Public Meeting. All input will inform the 2020-21 Human Services Block Grant Plan.

Available Sessions

Join a Session

There are three ways to participate in a virtual meeting:

To hear the live audio, see the live video, and participate in the Q&A, join on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. You may be instructed to download an app called Microsoft Teams. If prompted to sign in, you may choose whether to do so or join anonymously.
To hear the live audio only, call 267.368.7515. The access code for Monday’s meeting is 172 596 105# and the access code for Tuesday’s meeting is 746 312 327#.
To watch the recordings at your convenience, visit the Allegheny County website. The recordings will be posted within 24 to 48 hours after the meetings.

More Information

Allegheny County DHS makes reasonable efforts to accommodate people with disabilities or limited-English-proficiency. Closed captioning in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic will be available when joining the meeting on a PC or Mac.

For questions, comments, or ideas, contact DHS-Ideas@AlleghenyCounty.US.

News

Adaptive Dance | Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

Hosted by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Adaptive Dance is an online class series intended for children ages six and up with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or other sensory sensitivities.

About

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) emphasizes creative movement principles and modified ballet technique in a welcoming and structured studio environment. Classes are taught by PBT School instructors experienced in adaptive dance and are limited to 15 students. Live music/percussion accompany each class. Caregivers may observe and/or participate in classes if they wish.

This class is for children ages six and up. All classes will be held on Zoom. Each student that registers for the entire semester will also receive an adaptive dance kit to bring even more of the studio experience to their home. Session costs five dollars each or you can buy purchase all six sessions for 25 dollars.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre website.

More Information

For questions about the class or registration, email accessibility@pittsburghballet.org.

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News

June 17, 2020

Transitioning Your Child from Preschool EI to Elementary School

Are you interested in learning about options for developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for your child as they transition from preschool early intervention (EI) to elementary school? Join the PEAL Center on July 1 for their webinar, “Transitioning Your Child From Preschool Early Intervention to Elementary School.”

About

In this webinar, participants will learn about:

- the importance of informed decision making in determining educational placement,
- options for developing an IEP as a child transitions,
- the impact of adult perspectives on children’s opportunities, and
- a Student Snapshot tool families can use in preparing for the transition.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

News

Parenting in Support of Black Lives | Webinar

Are you interested in hearing practical, how-to advice for talking about race and inspiring kids to fight for racial equity? Join Common Sense and the Inforum of the Commonwealth Club on June 18 for their webinar, “Parenting in Support of Black Lives: How to Build a Just Future for Kids (and How Media Can Help).”

About

Through 400 years of systemic oppression and racism, our nation has failed to protect and value Black children and families. How do we support a future where all children are valued? And when we’re parenting amid crisis and trauma, how can we find support for ourselves and our kids? This conversation will center on these important questions and provide practical, how-to advice for talking about race and inspiring kids to fight for racial equity.

The event will feature Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, leading scholar on race in America, in conversation with child psychologist Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith, moderated by Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times bestselling author and activist.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit Common Sense Media’s website.

This event will be recorded and will be available on the Conversations with Common Sense YouTube page.

News

June 16, 2020

Choosing Child Care | Virtual Workshop

Choosing high-quality child care is a complex process, and to many it may feel overwhelming right now. Join the Center for Women Pittsburgh, Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5, and Trying Together on June 28 for their virtual workshop “Choosing Child Care.”

About

Through this virtual workshop, participants will:

- learn about the CDC guidelines that early learning professionals are incorporating into their programs;
- hear questions they can use to ask providers about sanitation and physical distancing;
- see a live demonstration a new search tool for child care in Allegheny County;
- get tips on the application process, as well as what you need to apply for assistance; and
- know how they can help advocate for needed changes to the child care system.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

News

Allegheny Child Care Tool Expands Services

Are you interested in learning about child care, after-school, out-of-school, and summer programs in Allegheny County? Visit the Allegheny Child Care website to search for available child care spots at programs near you!

What is Allegheny Child Care?

Allegheny Child Care is a unique pilot project that has been developed to support the child care needs of families. Through this online tool, parents and caregivers can search for available child care spots at all Allegheny County early learning programs, including after-school, out-of-school, and summer camps. To search for a program near you, visit the Allegheny Child Care website!

Information for Early Learning Professionals

If your organization provides child care, after-school, out-of-school, and/or summer programming, update your listing as soon as possible on the Allegheny Child Care website. By updating your information, the Allegheny Child Care tool will assist you in promoting and marketing your program(s) to families. In turn, this will allow your program to expedite the process of getting children enrolled, thus making an often stressful task less burdensome for families.

For questions or concerns, please read the FAQ guide or email info@alleghenychildcare.org.

Additional Resources

Trying Together developed the following resources to assist families in identifying high-quality early learning programs, as well as what questions to ask to better understand their program’s COVID-19 procedures.

For additional support in finding child care and/or funding your child care needs, visit the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 website or call 412.350.3577.

More Information

The Allegheny Child Care initiative is managed by Trying Together in partnership with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, and Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST, an initiative of the United Way of Southwestern PA); with additional support from the City of Pittsburgh; and was developed in collaboration with Child Care Aware of America, The Heinz Endowments, and technology partners Bowtie, BrightHive, and BridgeCare.

To learn more and search for programs near you, visit the Allegheny Child Care website.