March 29, 2019 Pittsburgh Spotlight Receives 82 Innovation Submissions After receiving a total of 82 submissions from southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia schools, museums, libraries, nonprofits, government agencies, and more, HundrED released a full list of the innovative submissions they received. Submissions included: Innovative approaches from 27 schools and school districts in the Pittsburgh region 9 technology tools to facilitate learning developed by local companies and research projects 8 projects of local colleges and universities, including innovations from the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Penn State University 31 programs and approaches from local museums, nonprofits, and community centers Our Highlight Listed as a submission, Message from Me (MfM) is an early childhood communications tool developed through the collaborative efforts of the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) CREATE Lab and Trying Together. MfM was designed with the intention to involve families in the education experience and bridge the home-school connection while enhancing a child’s communication skills, independence, and opportunities for interaction. Using the MfM app, a child can record and share daily thoughts and experiences, impacting his or her feelings of individuality, self-confidence, and well-being. To learn more about MfM’s purpose, design, and impact, visit the HundrEd page. See the full list of submissions. What’s Next? HundrEd’s global research team will be running a rigorous review of all eligible applications, in addition to a review by a local committee consisting of educators, parents, students, researchers, and community stakeholders who will score each innovation to help decide which ones will be featured in the Spotlight collection. Following this review period, the 10 selected innovations will be announced in May as a part of Remake Learning Days, a regional celebration of the future of learning. About the Pittsburgh Spotlight HundrED is a not-for-profit organization that researches, highlights, and propels K-12 education innovations in an effort to improve education and inspire a grassroots movement by encouraging pedagogically sound, ambitious inventions to spread across the world. The Pittsburgh Spotlight is one of 6 individual spotlight categories, all centered around specific regions or topics. Through this spotlight, HundrED seeks to highlight educators and innovators in our area that are doing extraordinary things to help students. *Information provided by HundrED
March 28, 2019 Work Together Wednesday’s Join the Carnegie Science Center every Wednesday during the Month of the Young Child (April) from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a series of collaborative building activities inside of their Little Learner Clubhouse. All Little Learner Clubhouse activities are included with the purchase of general admission. Children under the age of 2 receive free admission. About the Little Learner Clubhouse Aspiring scientists age 6 and under and their families are invited to explore this nature-inspired hub for free-play and hands-on activities! Located on the fourth floor of the Science Center, Little Learner Clubhouse is a colorful gallery featuring a variety of interactive exhibits designed to foster scientific curiosity, including: The Clubhouse The Learning Tree The Water Table The Tomato Stand The Book Cove The Baby Garden The Button Wall Buy Tickets and Learn More Individuals interested in purchasing tickets online, learning more about the Little Learner Clubhouse, or viewing available ticket discounts can do so by visiting the Carnegie Science Center website. Discounts are available for Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cardholders, active military members, veterans, and more. Discounts require specific verification. Please see their website for details. Ticket Costs: General Admission Adult: $19.95 General Admission Adult 65+: $14.95 General Admission Child: $11.95 General Admission Child Under 2: Free Carnegie Science Center Membership Holders: Free
March 27, 2019 Jeremiah’s Place: Spring Open House Join Jeremiah’s Place for their Spring Open House on Thursday, April 25th to take a tour of Pittsburgh’s only emergency child care center, explore volunteer and employment opportunities, and learn more about how you can utilize their services. About Jeremiah’s Place Jeremiah’s Place provides emergency care for children ages 0-6 for a few hours or a few days based on the needs of the family. The primary focus at Jeremiah’s place is to keep children safe and to provide a supportive solution for families in need. Located in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh, Jeremiah’s Place is staffed by trauma-informed caregivers and social workers. All services provided by Jeremiah’s Place are free, available 24 hours a day, and most importantly, judgment-free.
March 13, 2019 Child Care Becoming More Unaffordable for Low-Income Parents Overview A recent research brief, Child Care Affordability for Working Parents, from the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, finds that many U.S. parents who are highly attached to the labor force would have a difficult time purchasing full-time center-based care. Spending This finding is especially true for low-income, Hispanic and black parents. Overall, parents working full time and year-round would spend 10 percent of family income to send their children to full-time center-based child care; low-income parents working full time and year-round would spend 28 percent. Almost all low-income parents working full time and year round would have to spend more than the federal affordability benchmark of 7 percent to send their children to full-time center-based child care. Ranking According to the brief, Pennsylvania ranks fifth highest nationally in child care price to income ratios for low-income parents, and in fourth highest for Hispanic parents. Analysis Even for families with a parent working a full-time year-round job, full-time center-based child care for young children and care during the school year for school-age children is largely unaffordable. Importantly, the parents included in this analysis are those with a clear need for child care. This analysis has three key findings about the affordability of center-based care for working parents. First, market-price full-time center-based care would be difficult to afford for a majority of U.S. working parents. Second, center-based child care presents an even greater financial burden for low-income working parents – virtually all (95%) low-income full-time year-round working parents face unaffordable child care costs. Finally, because larger proportions of working black and Hispanic parents earn low incomes than working white and Asian/Pacific Islander parents, child care affordability issues disproportionately affect black and Hispanic working families. This disproportionate burden has the potential to exacerbate racial/ethnic disparities in both family economic security and child wellbeing. Read the full research brief here.
March 12, 2019 The P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series: Nurturing Black Children About Join The P.R.I.D.E. Program for an evening of engaging discussions on Thursday, May 2 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Carnegie Library – Homewood Auditorium. Keynote This event features Muffy Mendoza. Mendoza is an author, parent, and founder of Pittsburgh Brown Mamas, a support from for mothers of color. Her keynote will focus on how parents and educators can team together to nurture young Black children. Following the keynote, she will join a panel discussion of strategies that support young children’s positive racial identity. Schedule 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Doors open 5:30 – 6:00 p.m. Keynote Speech, Muffy Mendoza 6:30 – 7:00 p.m. Panel Discussion 7:00 – 7:30 p.m. Book Signing, The Brown Mama Mindset CHILD CARE: Child care will be available for parents and caregivers. Please make sure to register for child care when you register for the event. CAN’T GO?: We’ll miss you- but please let us know! You can cancel your order on Event Brite, or send us a message so your ticket can go to the next guest on the waitlist. Meet the Speaker Muffy Mendoza, Author, Speaker, Parent, and founder of BrownMamas. Muffy Mendoza is a mother of three boys, an author, an entrepreneur, and a dynamic speaker. Her 2018 book blueprint The Brown Mama Mindset, serves as a guidebook for Black moms on life, love, and home and was featured at the 2018 Essence Festival. She also founded Pittsburgh Brown Mamas, a support group for mothers in Pittsburgh, and has been featured as TEDx speaker.
March 7, 2019 Annual Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference About NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania’s annual Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference is Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott. This event will offer skills needed to improve the lives of children with mental health needs and give better understanding of best practices and research in children’s mental health. Who Should Attend? This event is for parents and caregivers, health professionals, health care providers, and educators. Registration Registration is now closed. Walk-ins are welcome. For questions, email Sara Levine Steinberg at slsteinberg@namikeystonepa.org. For more information, please go to: https://www.namikeystonepa.org/education/conferences/2019-child-and-adolescent-mental-health-conference/
February 11, 2019 Raising Readers Together Club The Raising Readers Together Club runs weekly and explores the importance of acceptance, equality, and tolerance through reading. Wednesday sessions are suitable for children age six and older. For children age five and younger, see our Thursday sessions at the Homewood Early Learning Hub. Winter 2019 Books: Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier | February 6 – 27 The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis | March 6 – 27 Raising Readers provides free: books discussion food songs storytelling resources Questions For questions or more information, contact Cynthia Battle at 412.421.3889 or cynthia@tryingtogether.org. Share this flyer with your network.
January 3, 2019 Toddler Life: Free Class Series This seven-class series explores how to enjoy life with a toddler, keep them safe and healthy, and teach them what they are ready to learn. Parents and expectant parents are invited to learn about and discuss topics that can help their toddlers succeed. By attending, all parents earn points toward baby clothes, toys, equipment, and can receive 50 diapers per month. For expectant parents, there are opportunities to earn a new pack ‘n play, car seat, or high chair by completing seven classes. This series runs on Tuesdays from January 22 to March 5, 2019. A light dinner will be provided. Topics The following topics will be discussed: Positive Discipline Developmental Stages Sibling Adjustment Toilet Training Stress-Reduction Registration Register for these free classes by phone (412.945.7670) or online through the Facebook event page. Share this flyer with your networks.
December 13, 2018 DHS Releases Request for Information The Department of Human Services (DHS) recently released a Request for Information (RFI) to explore existing individual or family needs assessments, methods of connecting individuals and families to community resources, and models for providing whole-person or whole-family case management. Purpose The department recognizes the frustration individuals and families may experience while trying to access much-needed services in a timely manner when receiving case management from multiple agencies. DHS wants to make it easier for individuals to obtain meaningful information and access to the services they need to achieve overall wellbeing, positive health outcomes, and financial self-sufficiency. Their goal is to build a system that addresses each family’s needs and amplifies the work of health care providers and community organizations. Submissions and Deadlines If your organization has experience in any of the areas outlined in this RFI, respond by January 18, 2019 by visiting the Pennsylvania eMarketplace website. *Information provided by PA Early Ed News
December 10, 2018 Family Celebration Celebrate the holidays with Homewood-Brushton Family Support Center! Join us for activities for the whole family, and enjoy finger foods, arts and crafts, and pictures with Santa. Schedule: 4:00 – 4:30 p.m. Families arrive at the center 4:30 – 5:15 p.m. Arts & crafts for parents and children in the basement area 5:20 – 6:00 p.m. Finger foods, pictures with Santa, and card signing in the basement area 6:10 – 7:00 p.m. Disbursements of toys and pictures in the common living area and café
