Select Language:
Search

Tag: PQAS

News

April 8, 2026

Early Language and Literacy Chat

Join the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) this winter to discuss hot topics around early language and literacy development. From January through March 2020, 3o-minute chat sessions will be hosted on the second and fourth Friday at 8:30 a.m and repeated at 1:30 p.m. Participants will gain access to resources to share with families and use in their classrooms and centers. PQAS credit hours and infant/toddler hours available.

Available Dates

    • January 10, 2020: Those First Words
    • January 24, 2020: Conversations with Kids
    • February 7, 2020: Books, Books, Books!
    • February 21, 2020: Print is Everywhere
    • March 6, 2020: Sounds All Around!
    • March 20, 2020: Celebrating Dual Language Learners

More Information

For more information, visit the event Padlet page.

News

Let’s Chat About Early Language and Literacy

Join the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) from January through March 2021 for their 30-minute “Let’s Chat About Early Language and Literacy” webinars.

About

These 30-minute webinars will be offered at no cost to participants. Each session will be offered at 8:30 a.m. and repeated at 1:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. This series runs from January through March 2021. Chat topics will include the following:

Registration

To register, visit the event webpage. Registration closes the Wednesday prior to each session at 4:30 p.m.

More Information

PQAS, Infant/Toddler, and Act 48 hours are available. Participants must attend two sessions in order to get one credit hour. For questions, contact Jodie Holmberg at jholmberg@pattan.net.

News

December 5, 2025

Registration Open for UnConference: Kindergarten Transition

Registration is now open for Trying Together’s UnConference: Kindergarten Transition scheduled for Monday, February 16 at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

Learn More

The UnConference will highlight multiple aspects of preparing children for kindergarten, from early intervention practices and engaging parents to play-based learning and emotional regulation. 

Attendees will hear from a keynote speaker as well as a panel of experts on kindergarten registration and readiness. Participants will also attend sessions in the morning and afternoon that are led by local and national early childhood organizations.

More Details

The UnConference will run from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, located at 475 E. Waterfront Drive in Homestead. The fee to attend is $25. Registration is required and now open.

Free parking will be available in the AIU parking lot, and overflow parking is available across the street. A light breakfast with coffee and tea will be available and lunch will be provided as part of the registration fee.

The event will begin with keynote speaker Swati Adarkar, the former deputy assistant secretary for policy and early learning at the U.S. Department of Education. Then, participants will  listen to a panel of experts who will discuss how early intervention plays a critical role in supporting kindergarten transitions and how to support and improve on-time kindergarten registration and readiness.

A total of 4.5 PQAS and Act 48 credit hours will be available for attendees. Trying Together will host the event in partnership with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, United Way of SWPA, and Hi5!.

Workshops

Attendees will take part in two sessions – one in the morning and another in the afternoon – led by local and national early childhood organizations. During registration, participants will be asked to make selections for the two workshop time slots.

Workshops include:

  • How Community Partnerships Strengthen Kindergarten Readiness Efforts
  • A K.I.N.D. Framework for Engaging Parents
  • Preparing for Kindergarten with Fred Rogers Productions
  • Strengthening My Early Learner: A Parent’s Journey
  • The Power of Play

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.

News

March 12, 2025

Trying Together’s Director of Public Policy to Discuss Current State of Early Childhood Education in Virtual Event

Trying Together’s director of public policy will take part in an upcoming virtual event with Carlow University during which she will discuss the current state of early childhood education, preschool, and child care. 

The discussion will cover federal, state, and local policies and will focus on where things stand today and how to prepare for the future. It will also provide an overview of the Pennsylvania budget process and early childhood funding at the state and federal levels.

Learn More

Politics and Policy: The Early Care and Education Landscape will take place virtually from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 7. The discussion is part of the Sister Mary Paul Hickey Educator Workshop Series collection.

Emily Neff, Trying Together’s director of public policy, will lead the discussion. In her role at Trying Together, Neff mobilizes early childhood educators to share their expertise with policymakers and engages families to tell their stories. She also develops policy recommendations to create a more equitable and accessible system.

Act 48 and PQAS hours are available for the event.

Those interested in attending should reserve a spot online. A Zoom link will appear via email a few days before the event.

News

March 5, 2025

Trying Together Releases Winter 2025 Professional Development Catalog

Trying Together has released its 2025 winter catalog to help educators find professional growth opportunities that align with their career goals. The catalog provides course details and credentials.

Learn More

In the past year, Trying Together awarded nearly 4,500 PQAS credits to support continuous improvement in early learning programs. It aims to increase the number by regularly updating its Professional Development Catalog to make it easier for educators to continue to learn.

All courses listed in the catalog are led by a certified PQAS instructor and are Act 48 approved. 

The courses are broken down into nine sections:

  • Basics of Learning and Engagement
  • Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)
  • Assessments and Supportive Services (Early Intervention)
  • Behavior and Social-Emotional Learning
  • Everyday Interactions Matter (EIM) 
  • Health and Safety
  • Advocacy and Public Policy
  • Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • Professionalism in Practice

For more information on how Trying Together can assist educators in their learning goals, email learning@tryingtogether.org or call 412-421-3889.

News

January 7, 2025

American Red Cross First Aid, Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and AED Training

Trying Together and ELRC Region 5 are partnering to provide First Aid, Pediatric First Aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and automated external defibrillator (AED) training to early childhood professionals.

About the Course

This PQAS-certified in-person course provides life-saving skills in alliance with The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s Best Practices for Workplace First Aid Training Programs.

Certification will be issued upon successful completion of the course. This certification is valid for two years.

Session Details

  • Saturday, 2/22/25 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
    Trying Together
    5604 Solway Street
    Pittsburgh, PA 15217
    Register

The cost is $38.

PLEASE NOTE: Successful course completion requires full participation in classroom and skill sessions, as well as successful performance in skill and knowledge evaluations.

Participants will be conducting strenuous activities, such as performing CPR on the floor. If you have a medical condition or disability that will prevent you from taking part in the skills practice sessions, please let your instructor know so that accommodations can be made for the practice portion. The CPR and AED evaluations must be completed with the manikin on the ground.

Questions?

For questions about the sessions, contact Holly Cessna at holly.cessna@alleghenycounty.us.

News

December 4, 2024

Let’s Chat About Webinars

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development.

Learn More

The webinars will include information on structured literacy and provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free, hour-long webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates:

  • January 10: Supporting Early Communication
  • January 24: Building an Inclusive Library for Young Children
  • February 7: Putting the Fun in Phonological Awareness
  • February 21: Promoting Emergent Writing with Children

Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours.

More information and registration is available on the Let’s Chat About Webinars website.

News

Let’s Chat About Webinars

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development.

Learn More

The webinars will include information on structured literacy and provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free, hour-long webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates:

  • January 10: Supporting Early Communication
  • January 24: Building an Inclusive Library for Young Children
  • February 7: Putting the Fun in Phonological Awareness
  • February 21: Promoting Emergent Writing with Children

Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours.

More information and registration is available on the Let’s Chat About Webinars website.

News

Let’s Chat About Webinars

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development.

Learn More

The webinars will include information on structured literacy and provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free, hour-long webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates:

  • January 10: Supporting Early Communication
  • January 24: Building an Inclusive Library for Young Children
  • February 7: Putting the Fun in Phonological Awareness
  • February 21: Promoting Emergent Writing with Children

Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours.

More information and registration is available on the Let’s Chat About Webinars website.

News

Let’s Chat About Webinars

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development.

Learn More

The webinars will include information on structured literacy and provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free, hour-long webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates:

  • January 10: Supporting Early Communication
  • January 24: Building an Inclusive Library for Young Children
  • February 7: Putting the Fun in Phonological Awareness
  • February 21: Promoting Emergent Writing with Children

Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours.

More information and registration is available on the Let’s Chat About Webinars website.