November 20, 2019 Grandparents Caring for Young Children Need Support Across the United States of America, grandparents are struggling to make ends meet after claiming custody over their grandchildren. While, in many cases, these grandparents are claiming custody to keep their grandchildren safe, healthy, and supported, many are doing so with little to no support. In her article, Grandparents Caring for Their Grandchildren Happens for a Variety of Reasons, Susan Pena explores this complex issue. About In her article, Susan Pena expresses that the opioid crisis is far-reaching, with many having friends, family members, or loved ones who have been affected. With this, some of the most at-risk individuals impacted by this crisis are the children of adults struggling with addiction and the challenges that come with it. Pena states that “often grandparents are on the front lines of this crisis, raising their grandchildren–or even, in some cases, great-grandchildren, while struggling with their own financial and health issues.” Many are doing it with little to no outside support. Grandparents and older family members can claim primary custody over relative children for many reasons, some of which include: the incarceration or death of a loved one, loved ones impacted by substance use or addiction, and unsafe living conditions for a young child. In her powerful piece, Pena highlights three real-life stories of grandparent caregivers. Read the full article to learn more. What You Can Do KinConnector Helpline If you’re a grandparent caregiver seeking support, call the KinConnector Helpline at 866.546.2111 for more information on resources, including help with financial, health, and legal issues; training and parental advice; and nearby support groups. The Helpline is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trying Together Grandparent Council If you’re a grandparent who is interested in working to ensure all young children receive high-quality care and education, consider joining Trying Together’s Grandparent Council. The Council meets monthly to: learn more about the importance of early childhood education, receive guidance and support in identifying high-quality early learning environments, and learn how to advocate for the well-being of all children in our communities. Visit our Grandparent Council page to learn more. More Information To read the full article, visit the Reading Eagle website.
November 14, 2019 Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) Parent Summit The Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) Parent Summit is a half-day experience that empowers families by offering workshops that will enable them to better support their child and work with schools. Workshop sessions will be offered by school district staff in collaboration with parents and community organizations. Workshop topics have been identified by PPS parents and families and will serve as a support to help their students be successful. Registration Registration is required and space is limited. If child care is needed, please specify during your registration. Child care will be provided. To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
November 13, 2019 Supporting Young Children During Transitions Writing for Child Mind Institute, Katherine Martinelli recently authored “How Can We Help Kids With Transitions,” highlighting key tips and advice for parents and caregivers seeking to support their young children. About When it comes to transitions–to kindergarten, a new program, or a new routine–young children often struggle. When children whine, stall, meltdown, or have a tantrum, some parents and caregivers aren’t sure where to turn. In an effort to empower these caregivers, Katherine Martinelli authored an article highlighting eight tips for supporting young children during the transition process, mentioning that these supports may be especially important for children with ADHD, anxiety, autism, or sensory sensitivities. Tips & Advice Create Routines Setting routines for daily activities such as bedtime, taking a bath, or putting away toys can play a big role in reassuring children during such transitions. Preview and Count Down In addition to routines, providing a clear outline of what the day will entail can help children adequately prepare for transitions to come. Caregivers can do this in the morning with their children, paired with countdowns throughout the day. Before each transition, give your child a timeframe and description of what’s going to happen next. Give It a Soundtrack Songs are a great tool to encourage routines and ease transitions. By creating songs for things such as cleaning up, bedtime, and getting ready to leave, caregivers establish a recognizable, fun indicator that a transition is happening. This tip works especially well with young children. Visual Cues Some children may benefit from visual clues, such as a chart or poster with drawings that explain what to expect or the steps of a transition. Parents and caregivers can easily reference these visual cues during the transition to help walk children through the process. Get Their Attention Many parents and caregivers know that simply yelling at children from across the room will only lead to frustration for both parties. Instead, caregivers are encouraged to make a connection with the child to ensure the child is giving their full attention. This could mean eye contact, a hand on the shoulder, sitting next to them, or asking them to repeat back what has been said. Use Rewards Reward systems can be beneficial in schools and at home, especially during the early phases of a new transition. Using rewards such as stickers, snacks, or a point system can be effective in supporting positive behaviors. With this, the reward system can be phased out as a child gets closer to mastering the transition. Implement Appropriate Consequences If a child exhibits negative behaviors during a transition, ignore the negative behavior rather than escalating the situation. However, if a child is egregiously misbehaving, parents and caregivers should implement “appropriate consequences for that behavior that makes the child understand that behavior is off-limits.” Praise Good Transitioning Praise and recognition play a vital role in reinforcing positive behaviors. Martinelli recommends that caregivers be specific in their praise, following up with a reward when appropriate. More Information For more tips and advice on supporting children during transitions, read the full article on the Child Mind Institute website.
November 7, 2019 Raising Readers: Picture Book Selection Potluck Parents and caregivers of young children are invited to join Trying Together for two sessions to review, discuss, and choose quality picture books! About By participating, parents and caregivers will help Trying Together select which picture books will be read during the upcoming Raising Readers Together Club series. This is a potluck event, so main course or side dishes are appreciated. Trying Together will provide dessert. The Spring 2020 Raising Readers Together Club series will run February 6–March 26, 2020 on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. at The Homewood Early Learning Hub and is suitable for children ages five and younger. More Information For questions, contact Cynthia Battle at cynthia@tryingtogether.org or 412.567.1304. Share this flyer with your network.
October 30, 2019 OCDEL Announces New Community Survey About Every five years, states have the opportunity to learn about the well-being of families of young children in local communities. Pennsylvania is asking any individual living in the state to complete this short survey. Through the data collected, Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) will better understand the resources for families living in your community. Survey responses will be used statewide and locally to inform Family Support Services, such as parenting classes and home visiting services. Hearing from everyone is important! Whether you’re a parent or a provider of family and early childhood services, please complete and share this survey. Take the OCDEL Community Survey In English Please take about five to ten minutes to complete the survey. Your input is critical to informing stakeholders about the factors that may affect the well-being of young children and families in communities across Pennsylvania. If you wish to complete the OCDEL Community Survey in English, enter the following link into your web browser: is.gd/surveypa En Español Le pedimos que pase entre 5 a 10 minutos para contestar la encuesta. Sus aportes son muy importantes para nosotros ya que nos ayudarán a identificar y comprender los factores que pueden afectar la salud dentro de su familia y su comunidad en Pennsylvania. Si desea completar la encuesta en español, meter el enlace siguiente en su navegador de internet: is.gd/encuestapa More Information To learn more, read the full announcement. *Information provided by OCDEL
October 23, 2019 Co-Parenting Tips When You’re No Longer Together In a recent article authored by Rebecca Parlakian, Zero to Three highlighted eight tips to help parents and caregivers overcome co-parenting challenges. About While co-parenting is often associated with separated parents, the term actually describes a larger pool of caregivers, including parents, grandparents, or another family member. Essentially, co-parenting refers to situation where adults share the duties of raising and caring for a child. When a relationship changes or ends, it often means a big change in the co-parenting process. As Parlakain describes, “a strong, respectful co-parenting relationship helps children feel safe and secure.” However, building such a relationship isn’t always easy when parents are no longer married, romantically involved, or in good standing with one another. Learning to work together to raise a child takes time. Recognizing this, Parlakain identified eight co-parenting tips to help caregivers overcome common challenges. Co-Parenting Tips Remember your new roles (and new boundaries). Keep your child at the center of your co-parenting work. Let go of negative feelings, disappointments, and frustrations. Let your children love your co-parent. Text carefully. Figure out what works for effective communication. Assume the best. Take care of yourself. For full tip descriptions, read the original article on Zero to Three! More Information For more information and co-parenting strategies, visit the Zero to Three website.
October 18, 2019 ACF Seeks Input On Improving Quality Child Care Access On October 2, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) posted a Request for Information (RFI) on improving access to affordable, high-quality child care in the United States. About ACF is focused on finding innovative solutions to improve working families’ access to affordable, high quality child care, as well as investigating how access to child care affects America’s workforce, present, and future. Child care is one of the biggest expenses a family faces and can be a barrier to work. The average cost of center-based infant child care in 28 states is more than college tuition. At the same time, there is concern about the quality of child care and ensuring that child care settings are a place of education that promote and enhance child and youth development and well-being. High-quality child care is a critical investment that pays off now, for parents by enabling them to work, and later, by supporting children’s development and success in school and life. This request for information seeks public comment on innovative ways to address the affordability and access crisis of child care in the U.S., without compromising on quality. Information collected through this RFI may be used by ACF in the development of future rulemaking and technical assistance, the formation of legislative proposals and research agenda, and/or strategic planning. To learn more, visit the RFI page. Intended Audience and Stakeholders AFI is looking to receive input from a wide range of stakeholders, including, but not limited to, parents who use child care; parents of children with disabilities; small child care businesses; employers; state and local chambers of commerce; foundations; faith-based and other community organizations; family child care networks; child care resource and referral agencies; universities and other institutions of higher education; child care workforce development organizations, etc. RFI Topics Building Supply of Child Care Improving Child Care Regulations Cultivating the Child Care Workforce Developing Better Child Care Business Models Transforming Financing of Child Care and Early Education Programs Submit Your Comment To submit a comment, visit the RFI page. All comments must be submitted by December 2, 2019. *Information provided by the Administration of Children and Families
October 16, 2019 Buzzword Talk & Play Series #6 Join Buzzword Pittsburgh on Wednesdays from November 6 to December 11 for Talk & Play Series 6! All events are free for learners ages five and under, with their caregivers, and will include activities that enhance vocabulary and literacy skills. A light dinner will be provided. Program Schedule The schedule of events is as follows: Wednesday, November 6 • Word of the Day: POETRY with Pittsburgh Festival Opera and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Wednesday, November 13 • Word of the Day: GENRE with Pittsburgh Festival Opera and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Wednesday, November 20 • Word of the Day: OPPOSITE with Pittsburgh Festival Opera and Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Wednesday, December 4 • Word of the Day: CRESCENDO with Pittsburgh Festival Opera and Carnegie Science Center Wednesday, December 11 • Word of the Day: CHORUS with Pittsburgh Festival Opera and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre More Information For more information, contact Jan Jones at jan@tryingtogether.org. Click here to view the Facebook event page. Share this flyer with your network.
October 15, 2019 Community Baby Shower Community members are invited to join the Office of State Senator Lindsey M. Williams on October 17 for Community Baby Shower. About The Community Baby Shower event is a resource fair for expecting parents, new parents, grandparents, foster parents, and guardians. By attending, participants will: meet Senator Williams and her staff; enjoy presentations by Cribs for Kids, Dollar Bank, ELRC, and the PA 529 College and Career Saving Program; talk to organizations and entities, including Trying Together, the Allegheny County Health Department, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, East Liberty Famly Health Care Center, Safe Kids Allegheny County, Jeremiah’s Place, 211, Pittsburgh Fire Department, and more! See the presentation schedule. Registration Admission is free, but space is limited. To register, visit the event website or call 412.364.0469 More Information For more information, call the Office of State Senator Lindsey M. Williams at 412.364.0469. Share this flyer with your network.
October 1, 2019 Raising Readers Together Club | Wilkinsburg The Raising Readers Together Club runs weekly and explores the importance of acceptance, equality, and tolerance through reading. These sessions are suitable for children ages five and younger. Healthy snacks, discussion, and family activities are provided. Fall 2019 Books: October 7: Raising A Reader Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? October 14: Read It Again! Can You Say Moo! Moo! Too? Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book October 21: Family Feelings When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry Amazing Feelings October 28: Literacy in the Digital Age Blackout The Very Hungry Caterpillar November 4: Series Celebration Questions For questions or more information, contact Vanessa Thompson at 412.567.1301 or vanessa@tryingtogether.org. Share this flyer with your network.
