Trying Together will expand its professional development offerings to provide in-person learning opportunities in three Southwestern Pennsylvania areas.
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Over the course of the next year, Trying Together will offer courses in the following areas:
- Westmoreland, Fayette, and Greene counties
- Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence counties
- Washington County
“We’ve always served the 10-county Southwestern PA region, but by nature of our location and the contract with ELRC Region 5, we have been more closely focused on Allegheny County programs and professional development,” said Casey Rich, Trying Together’s director of professional learning. “This next year, we plan to start changing that by bringing some of our most popular professional developments in person to host sites in our surrounding areas such as Youngwood, Connellsville, Beaver Falls, and Slippery Rock.”
The four new courses will include:
- Everyday Interactions Matter
- Overview of Developmentally Appropriate Practice for Children Birth-Age 5
- Active Supervision for ECE Programs
- Addressing Challenging Behaviors in the ECE Classroom
An additional course – Positive Guidance Strategies to Facilitate Social and Emotional Development – will be available in August in Westmoreland County.
Rich said that Allegheny County is rich with training resources, but providers living and working outside of the county tend to have a harder time finding opportunities for high-quality professional development (PD).
“While virtual PD can be convenient, in-person training offers a personalized experience that often leads to better learning outcomes,” she said. “By coming out to these sites in person, we hope to build new relationships with child care providers and build their capacity for high-quality child care.”
A complete schedule for in-person courses offered outside Allegheny County is available on Trying Together’s website. All professional development courses – including virtual opportunities – are listed on Trying Together’s event calendar.
Custom professional development can be requested for programs in these regions at any time, but should be requested at least eight weeks before the preferred start date. To see which courses are offered, view our course catalogue.
