May 13, 2025 Rapid Response Team Provides Educator Coaching, Resources for Children in Danger of Expulsion Trying Together and Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5’s Rapid Response Team provides hands-on coaching for educators and resources for families and caregivers to prevent the expulsion or suspension of children in early childhood education. The team utilizes principles of early relational health and social-emotional development of young children as well as building the capacities of adults to utilize positive approaches to address behavioral challenges and family engagement and relationships. Learn More The Rapid Response Team is a short-term service to support early childhood education programs, serving children from birth to age 5 as well as their teachers and families or caregivers. The Rapid Response Team provides hand-on support through use of the pyramid model that is broken down into three tiers. Tier one is based on the use of an effective workforce practice including classroom environment and social emotional learning. The other two tiers involve more comprehensive support, especially for children who have needs beyond what is provided by the first tier – such as specific therapies or referrals to outside agencies for evaluation. While a child’s behavior may be challenging to adults, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they have a developmental or intellectual disability or that a mental health diagnosis is necessary. The team participates in classroom observation to help an educator implement tier-one supports before looking into more intensive ones. It also coaches teachers, supports families with resources, and collaborates as a team with child care centers or any outside resource such as outpatient therapy or functional behavior assessments. The Rapid Response Team, which contracts with board-certified behavior analysts, currently has one position open and recently added Kelly Palko as its intervention coordinator. Deysi Keegan, the team’s assistant director, said the initiative helps both students and adults. “I think it helps the children stay in their centers,” she said. “That helps them be able to thrive and continue to learn. Obviously, in turn, that helps their families. It’s about being able to help families and centers to get the support they need for children. It also provides teachers with new skill sets, helping them to work on relationships between children and their families and providing confidence to follow through on strategies they’re coached on.” How the Team Works The team contacts the provider or family within 48 hours once a referral is made. If the child is in immediate danger of suspension or expulsion, the team will take part in a meeting or virtual observation, depending on scheduling availability. If a child has already been suspended, the team will not go into the child’s classroom, but will provide the child’s family and childcare with resources. Reports can be made by a child’s family members or child care providers through an intake form. Individual child referrals not made by a parent or legal guardian must use a Rapid Response Release, which can be sent to rapidresponse@tryingtogether.org. To obtain the team’s services, parents must have children between the ages of birth and 5 years. The team occasionally receives requests for school-age children and, in those cases, provides some resources. Keegan said students are often expelled or suspended unnecessarily and it is part of the Rapid Response Team’s job to work with teachers, directors, and families to avoid it from happening. “There are occasions – and it’s the whole point of us stepping in – when students can be singled out due to a disability, race, or family culture or dynamics, and in that case it’s up to us to disrupt that by helping the child care program think outside of the box,” she said. Helping Children Flourish Keegan said the team has seen its share of success working with families and educators. She cited a recent example of a child who was expelled, but whom the team helped to get early intervention services. The child has now been placed in another child care program and, according to Keegan, is “thriving.” “We helped his teacher to understand some of his big emotions,” she said. “I’m so excited for him – he’s doing great.” Keegan said the Rapid Response Team provides coaching for educators in the least restrictive environment and resources for families to ensure that children are in an environment in which they can flourish. “I think it’s important for us as the Rapid Response Team to build relationships with early childhood educators and our community,” she said. “I think it’s important to connect families to the appropriate resources, so children feel safe and secure in their environment and that teachers have the tools they need to meet diverse needs.”
March 20, 2024 Trying Together Receives Rapid Response Team Grant Trying Together was one of 18 early childhood organizations to receive state mini-grants for $200,000 in November. Learn More The Pennsylvania Key, on behalf of the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), awarded the Rapid Response Team grants to begin a six-month planning with six months implementation or a one-year grant implementation starting in January. The grant will support an approach that has emerged in several Pennsylvania communities to provide a Rapid Response Team to support a child, family, and educator when a child is at risk of being suspended or expelled. Trying Together will use the OCDEL grant to expand the services currently provided by the existing Rapid Response Team in Allegheny County. Funding from the grant will be used to hire additional staff to respond within 24 hours of a referral; to provide program- and classroom-wide support such as mentoring and coaching, technical assistance, and professional development; and to increase the number of functional behavior assessments based on the needs of the child. ELRC Region 5’s Rapid Response Team will continue to refer families and educators to additional services such as Early Intervention and Infant Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH). Early Learning Connections in Butler received the grant in ELRC Region 3 and Engage Kidz LLC in Murrysville received the grant in ELRC Region 4. About Rapid Response Rapid Response Teams enhance the system of support available within the state’s early childhood system. The teams include behavioral health professionals, Early Intervention professionals and ELRC staff. The program is a piloted, short-term triaging support to enhance the early childhood system of support in each ELRC region in the state, which also include quality coaching, IECMH and School-Age Child Care, focused mental health consultation, Early Intervention services and supports, and home visiting. To learn more about Rapid Response Team implementation mini-grants, visit the PA Keys website.
January 20, 2022 Registration Open for UnConference: Creating a Safe Place with Trauma-Informed Care Registration is now open for Trying Together’s “UnConference: Creating a Safe Place with Trauma-Informed Care,” which will be held February 8 to February 18, 2022. Between February 8-18, expert-led virtual workshops will share content related to trauma-informed care. We begin the UnConference with keynote speaker Dr. Veirdre Jackson and dive into how we can create an environment of healing through equity and trust. Following the keynote, workshop sessions include how to identify family stressors, how to provide responsive care-giving for children experiencing trauma, and an overview of the recently launched Rapid Response Team from Trying Together. Registration is now open and specific workshop dates and times will be added. For a flat fee of $25, you may attend as many sessions (keynote or workshops) as you like. Sessions will also be recorded for viewing after the UnConference has completed. You must register for the UnConference in order to access session recordings. PNC Grow Up Great is the series sponsor. Featured Sessions Keynote: Co-Creating A Healing Community of Equity & Trust Tuesday, February 8, 2022 | 6:30 – 8 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Veirdre Jackson, Living Strong Consulting Communities, however defined, are made up of people who bring a range of experiences and histories. Remaining open, curious, and culturally humble is essential to understanding a community’s resilience, strength, and wisdom. Claudia Woody says, “Inclusion means not ‘just we’re allowed to be there,’ but we are valued there.” Participants will explore the 5 Blocks of Building Restorative Relationships that allow caregivers to create holistic and supportive spaces that are responsive to historical trauma and equity literacy which holds us accountable to doing the work of learning together, seeking understanding, and creating a safe, valued, and heard community. Rapid Response Team: Reducing Expulsions and Suspensions in Early Childhood Education Thursday, February 10, 2022 | 6:30 – 8 p.m. Presented by: Alicia Sebastian, Trying Together This session will discuss the ongoing and growing issue surrounding expulsion and suspension in early childhood education that have been linked to staff implicit bias, challenging behaviors, and staffing issues. The presentation will guide parents, caregivers, directors and staff working with children ages 0-5 on how to prevent expulsion and suspension in early childhood education. The session will discuss ways to implement evidence-based strategies to promote positive behavior support, self-regulation, and positive mental health. We will share community resources and programs for children and families in Allegheny County. Self-Care Isn’t Selfish, It’s Necessary: Practical Tools for Early Childhood Educators to Reduce Stress and Avoid Burn-Out Monday, February 14, 2022 | 12:30 – 2 p.m. Presented by: Tracy Larson, Director, Early Childhood Partnerships, Office of Child Development In this session, participants will learn why self-care is necessary, how to recognize when they need to be more intentional about self-care, and research informed strategies and activities to reduce stress and avoid burn-out. At the end of the session, participants will create a personalized self-care plan. Talking to Listen: Exploring Family Stressors and Creating Positive Relationships to Support Families Tuesday, February 15, 2022 | 6:30 – 8 p.m. Presented by: Patrick M. McKelvey, MS, NCC, National Youth Advocate Program Inc. Children react differently to stress and trauma, which can sometimes exhibit itself as challenging behaviors in the classroom. This workshop helps educators understand the impact that family stressors (such as a death, food insecurity, changes in placement, community violence, etc.) can have on both children and their caregivers. Participants will learn how to notice these family stressors; how to communicate with caregivers to build relationships that provide a supportive environment for young children; and self-regulation strategies to manage strong emotions when having difficult conversations with caregivers. Teaching Children Through a Trauma Lens Thursday February 17, 2022 | 6:30 – 8 p.m. Presenters: Amanda Harrison, MA, LPC, NCC, Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant with the PA Keys Research continues to show the detrimental effects that complex trauma has on the developing brain with our most vulnerable population. Over time, these young children are at risk for developmental delays, limited positive relationships, and a host of other difficulties. Our early education classrooms can create safe, responsive, and equitable environments to assist in reducing these harmful effects. This presentation will identify different types of trauma, how young children with trauma may present in the classroom, and supportive strategies teachers can implement to foster environments that encourage healing. Registration Registration for the UnConference: Creating a Safe Place with Trauma-Informed Care can be found on our UnConference page. For a flat fee of $25, you may attend as many sessions (keynote or workshops) as you like. Sessions will also be recorded for viewing after the UnConference has completed. You must register for the UnConference in order to access session recordings. Participants will receive PQAS and/or Act 48 hours. More Information For questions about the UnConference, contact Yu-Ling Cheng at conference@tryingtogether.org. For additional information, including FAQs, visit our UnConference page.
