Due to current concerns, First Up has transitioned the First Up Annual Conference to a virtual platform for 2020-21. The Conference will feature multiple half-day virtual conference experiences on a range of topics.
Available Conferences
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- Family Child Care Conference
Saturday, September 26 | 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Ticket Fee: $15 – $30
Early childhood professionals are invited to join First Up at the first Family and Group Child Care Conference. This event will be a time of inspiration, reflection, and learning as participants begin their day of honoring the Trailblazers of Family Child Care and hearing their wisdom and advice.
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- Personal Empowerment for the ECE Professional
Saturday, October 3 | 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Ticket Fee: $15 – $30
Early childhood professionals are invited to join First Up for a morning of personal empowerment and professional development. Featuring workshops on financial stability, professional communication, and other best practices in ECE, this Conference will help you achieve your personal and professional goals.
Online Event Platform
The First Up Conferences will be held via an immersive event platform called Accelevents. To learn more about Accelevents and what to expect, visit their website. To access the full experience, it is recommended that attendees participate via a computer or laptop.
Receiving Credit
Each Conference will offer 4.5 PA Keys (PD Registry) and/or PA Act 48 credit hours. If you are interested in receiving credit, you must indicate the type of credit you would like to receive during registration. Any credit requests made more than 30 days post-event cannot be guaranteed. A Certificate of Attendance will be available for download in the Conference Platform or by email following the event.
Registration
To register and learn more, visit the First Up website.
More Information
For more information, visit the First Up website or contact rebecca.tyrrell@firstup.org.
Are you looking to access child care services during the COVID-19 health crisis? Join the Pennsylvania Child Care Association on September 2 for their webinar, “Facts about COVID-19 and High-Quality Child Care.”
About
Child care is highly regulated in Pennsylvania and the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has responded to COVID-19 with updated regulations and guidelines to keep children and providers safe. However, some of these are suggestions, not requirements; some clash with best practices for child development; and some are difficult to implement with very young children.
In this webinar, participants will learn about the pros and cons of different child care settings, what to expect from child care providers, and which questions to ask if you’re still searching for one that’s right for you and your child. The session will feature Susan Coffin, MD, MPH, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s leading expert of COVID-19 and a great resource in creating CHOP’s FAQ for centers and families; a parent; and child care providers from both center-based and home-based settings.
Register
This webinar is best suited for parents and caretakers of children birth to age five. To register, visit the event webpage.
Submit A Question
You may ask questions in advance (anonymously if you prefer) by emailing shawn.towey@pacca.org, or you can enter them in the chatbox during the session.
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Are you a parent who needs child care? Are you interested in learning how to get help paying for child care? Are you worried about your child’s kindergarten readiness? Join the Pennsylvania Child Care Association on August 26 to explore these topics and more in their webinar, “Why Care about Child Care?”
Register
This webinar will act as an introduction for parents and other caregivers (grandparents, guardians, foster families, etc.) to the child care landscape in Pennsylvania. To register, visit the event webpage.
Submit A Question
You may ask questions in advance (anonymously if you prefer) by emailing shawn.towey@pacca.org, or you can enter them in the chatbox during the session.
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Join Highmark Caring Place on September 2 for their webinar, “From Mourning to Meaning-Making: How to Meet the Needs of Grieving Families.”
About
This webinar will discuss the ways in which grief and mourning are both unique and universal. Presenters will look at Alan Wolfelt’s six “reconciliation needs” and discuss the ways mourners can recognize and address these basic grief needs in order to find hope and healing.
This is a free webinar. When registered, you will receive a Zoom link the evening before the webinar. No Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be provided. Presentation materials can be provided upon request.
Learning Objectives
By attending, participants will be able to:
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- explore both the personal and the communal elements of grief,
- understand Alan Wolfelt’s “reconciliation needs” model of mourning,” and
- discuss creative and helpful ways of addressing the needs of mourning.
Registration
To register, visit the event webpage. Registrations must be submitted no later than September 1 at 6 p.m.
More Information
For questions, contact Patrick McKelvey at patrick.mckelvey@highmark.com.
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Join Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School-Time (APOST) from August 24–September 10, 2020 for their Virtual Back to Out-of-School-Time Conference!
About
Over a period of three weeks, the Virtual Back to Out-of-School-Time Conference will offer relevant workshops to assist professionals in continuing to provide high-quality programming for youth during this challenging time. This Conference is open to any youth practitioner who desires to increase their skills in working with youth in out-of-school-time programs or mentoring relationships.
If there is a workshop that you would like to attend but are not able to due to schedule conflicts, recordings and resources for all workshop offerings will be available for at least one month after all of the workshops have concluded.
Available Workshops
Registration
To view all workshop descriptions and register, visit the full Conference Agenda. Registration links will be included at the bottom of each event description.
More Information
For questions, contact Jaron Paul via email at jaron.paul@unitedwayswpa.org.
Are you an early educator who is working with young children? Are you looking to advance your career? Join Trying Together for our nine-month online CDA courses to complete coursework with an experienced instructor and receive a nationally recognized credential upon completion!
Available Courses
More Information
For questions or more information, please contact Theresa Hetler at theresa@tryingtogether.org.
About
Are you an early educator in the North Side of Pittsburgh who is working with young children? Are you looking to take the first step in advancing your career? Join your peers and Trying Together for this nine-month online CDA course where you will:
- focus on Competency Standards and Best Practices that support healthy early development in young children;
- complete online coursework;
- receive support from an experienced instructor; and
- receive a nationally recognized credential upon completion.
Session Details
- Course Timeline: September 14, 2020 – May 31, 2021
- Delivery: Online (Schoology and Zoom)
- Course Instructor: Theresa Hetler
- CDA Orientation Date: September 2, 2020
- Registration closes on September 2, 2020. Space is limited.
Registration
To register, complete our online form.
Please note that this listing is not a one-day, in-person event. This online course runs from September 14, 2020 to May 31, 2020. More information will be provided after registration.
More Information
For questions or more information, please contact Theresa Hetler at theresa@tryingtogether.org.
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Important Note: This course is full. If you are an early learning professional in the North Side of Pittsburgh, please register for our other CDA course that will run from September 14, 2020 – May 31, 2021.
About
Are you an early educator who is working with young children? Are you looking to take the first step in advancing your career? Join your peers and Trying Together for this nine-month online CDA course where you will:
- focus on Competency Standards and Best Practices that support healthy early development in young children;
- complete online coursework;
- receive support from an experienced instructor; and
- receive a nationally recognized credential upon completion.
Session Details
- Course Timeline: September 8, 2020 – May 31, 2021
- Delivery: Online (Schoology and Zoom)
- Course Instructor: Theresa Hetler
- CDA Orientation Date: August 31, 2020
- Registration closes on August 31, 2020. Space is limited.
Registration
This course is currently full. To stay up-to-date on available courses, sign up to receive the Trying Together newsletter and/or follow Trying Together on Facebook and Twitter.
Please note that this listing is not a one-day, in-person event. This online course runs from September 8, 2020 to May 31, 2020. More information will be provided after registration.
More Information
For questions or more information, please contact Theresa Hetler at theresa@tryingtogether.org.
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Are you interested in hearing guidance from child development experts? Join Trying Together on August 19 and September 2 for our free virtual professional development sessions! Each session will offer one PQAS credit hour.
Both sessions are a part of our interactive Connections and Conversations Virtual Check-In series that features guidance from child development experts, information on the highlighted topic, and opportunities for early learning professionals to share questions, experiences, and expertise.
Available Sessions
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- Magda Gerber’s Philosophy of Care for Infants & Toddlers
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 | 6 – 7 p.m.
Join Trying Together on August 19 to explore the core principles of Magda Gerber’s RIE philosophical approach to educaring for infants and toddlers in the early childhood setting. Participants will have an opportunity to engage in conversations around developmentally appropriate practice for infants and toddlers while reflecting on how to best create a safe, challenging, predictable environment for all children.
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- Supporting Children’s Emotional Wellness with Digital Technologies
Wednesday, September 2, 2020 | 6 – 7 p.m.
More than ever before, early childhood practitioners play a critical role in supporting children’s social and emotional wellness. Join Trying Together on September 2 for a conversation on promoting children’s communication skills and emotional development through the use of technology and media. Participants will engage in discussion and reflection on their current practice and the impact of COVID-19.
More Information
For questions or more information, please contact Rosie Hogan at rosie@tryingtogether.org.
