August 28, 2023 Resources for September Observances Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them. Here is a list of resources for September observances: Month-Long Observances Attendance Awareness Month Attendance Awareness Campaign 2023, Attendance Works Key Research: Why Attendance Matters for Achievement and How Interventions Can Help, Attendance Works Baby Safety Month (BSM) Organizations Publish New Child Safety and Development Resources for Families and Educators, Trying Together Safety and Emergencies: Family Resources, Trying Together Directory for Emergency and Safety Services, Trying Together Recalls on Children’s Products, Trying Together Baby Safety Month Safety Tips, Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) 5 Tips for New Parents During Baby Safety Month, SafeKids.org Childhood Cancer Awareness Month What is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month?, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Free Resources from the American Childhood Cancer Organization, American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) Are There Disparities in Childhood Cancer?, New York State Department of Health Childhood Cancers, NIH National Cancer Institute Facts About Childhood Cancer, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Participate in a 2023 September Childhood Cancer Awareness Event, Children’s Cancer Cause National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month Supporting Childhood Physical Health: A Guide for Families: The Importance of Exercise, Trying Together Parents and Caregivers Can Help Prevent Obesity and Support Healthy Growth, U.S. Department of Agriculture TOOLKIT: National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Preventing Childhood Obesity: 4 Things Families Can Do, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Help Your Child Stay at a Healthy Weight, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Newborn Screening Awareness Month Newborn Screening Portal, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) What is Newborn Screening?, Baby’s First Test Newborn Screening Tests for Your Baby, March of Dimes (MoD) About Newborn Screening, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Weeks of Recognition September 17 – 23 was Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week Car Seat Safety for Children, Trying Together Car Seats and Booster Seats Overview, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Safe Kids Worldwide Car Seat Guide Videos, Safe Kids Worldwide Boost Your Child Passenger Safety Knowledge and Skills Trainings, National Child Passenger Safety Board All Children are Pedestrians! Prevention Tips and Recent Statistics, Children’s Safety Network at Education Development Center Days of Recognition September 6 was National Read a Book Day Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Releases 2023 Best Books for Babies List, Trying Together Toolkit: Families and Schools Partnering for Children’s Literacy Success, Trying Together Children’s Books on Race and Equity, Trying Together Books to Celebrate Gender Expression, Inclusion, and Pride, Trying Together Children’s Books About Transitions, Trying Together Children’s Books About Mental Health, Trying Together September 26 was National Family Day Family Engagement Toolkit, Trying Together Family Guide: Family Dynamics, Trying Together Strategies to Support Social-Emotional Development: A Guide for Families, Trying Together Family Transitions and Routines: Resources, Trying Together Trying Together Releases Family Resources in Spanish, Trying Together Grandfamily Tip Sheets Provide Information on Self-Care and Youth Mental Health, Trying Together Navigating Sibling Relationships, Psychology Today Foster and Adoptive Families: Supportive Strategies, PennState Better Kid Care Blended Family and Step-Parenting Tips, HelpGuide.org Keeping in Touch With Family Can Help Keep You Healthy, WebMD.com Healthy Communication in Stepfamilies, National Stepfamily Resource Center (NRSC) Get to Know Your Stepkids, National Stepfamily Resource Center (NRSC)
April 12, 2023 Allegheny County Conservation District to Offer Free Soil Lead Screenings In partnership with Grow Pittsburgh, the Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD) will offer free soil lead screenings to interested county residents from April 19 – April 22. About Soil Lead Screening Contaminants are common in urban soil and can be hazardous to health when ingested or inhaled. With increased interest in backyard gardening, revitalization of vacant lot space, community green space, and play yard construction, residents in Allegheny County may come into greater contact with soil. Soil testing can establish risk of exposure to contaminants in soil and lead to risk reduction. Participate in Soil Lead Screening To participate in the free soil lead screening: Register for the free soil lead screening on Eventbrite at ACCDSoilScreenSpring23.eventbrite.com. Registration is required. Confirm your registration when contacted by ACCD and receive detailed instructions on how to collect, label, and drop off your soil samples. Collect and label your soil samples. Drop off your soil samples at any of the following locations: East End: Garden Resource Center, 147 Putnam Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Open: Wednesday and Friday | 3 – 7 p.m.; Saturday | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. South Side: ACCD Office @ The Highline, 317 E Carson Street, Suite 199, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Open: Wednesday – Friday | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Central: Phipps Conservatory, 1 Schenley Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Open: Friday | 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. North Side: Food for the Soul Community Urban Farm, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Open: Wednesday – Saturday | 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. West End: Farmer Girl Eb, 1 Noblestown Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15220 Wednesday – Friday | 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Receive your results. Results will be sent within two weeks along with information to help you understand and act on your results. Learn More To learn more, visit the Soil Lead Screening Eventbrite page, view the event flyer, or contact Hayly Hoch at hhoch@accdpa.org or 412-241-7645 ext. 8009 with questions.
March 13, 2023 MOYC Ages & Stages Developmental Screening In recognition of Month of the Young Child (MOYC), ELRC Region 5 will host a series of developmental screenings throughout April, at no cost to families. Screenings will be conducted using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). Screening Details Monday, April 3 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. ELRC Region 5 304 Wood Street, Suite 400 Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1928 Wednesday, April 5 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m . Hosanna House 807 Wallace Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15221 Monday, April 10 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. ELRC Region 5 304 Wood Street, Suite 400 Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1928 Learn More To learn more about ASQ screenings, visit the ASQ website or view the event flyer.
MOYC Ages & Stages Developmental Screening In recognition of Month of the Young Child (MOYC), ELRC Region 5 will host a series of developmental screenings throughout April, at no cost to families. Screenings will be conducted using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). Screening Details Monday, April 3 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. ELRC Region 5 304 Wood Street, Suite 400 Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1928 Wednesday, April 5 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m . Hosanna House 807 Wallace Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15221 Monday, April 10 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. ELRC Region 5 304 Wood Street, Suite 400 Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1928 Learn More To learn more about ASQ screenings, visit the ASQ website or view the event flyer.
MOYC Ages & Stages Developmental Screening In recognition of Month of the Young Child (MOYC), ELRC Region 5 will host a series of developmental screenings throughout April, at no cost to families. Screenings will be conducted using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). Screening Details Monday, April 3 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. ELRC Region 5 304 Wood Street, Suite 400 Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1928 Wednesday, April 5 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m . Hosanna House 807 Wallace Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15221 Monday, April 10 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. ELRC Region 5 304 Wood Street, Suite 400 Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1928 Learn More To learn more about ASQ screenings, visit the ASQ website or view the event flyer.
December 23, 2020 Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool This event is full. Please continue to monitor our website for future Ages and Stages Questionnaires® professional development sessions. Are you interested in learning how to use Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years? Join Trying Together on January 18 for our virtual course, “Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool.” About During this course, participants will learn how to use the ASQ® and ASQ:SE® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years. The session will provide information on how to administer and score the screener and share results of the screener with families. Information about additional resources for making referrals to services will be included if needed. Session Details Session Date: Monday, January 18, 2021 | 6 – 8:30 p.m. Instructor: Pamela Zimmerman Core Knowledge Area: Assessment CDA Content Area: Observing & Recording Behavior Registration Deadline: Saturday, January 16, 2021 Registration To register, visit the course PD Registry page. Space is limited. Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. PQAS and Act 48 credit available. If you do not have a PD Registry account, please complete this online form to create one. If you are unable to create an account, please contact pdregistry@pakeys.org for more information. More Information For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org.
September 30, 2020 Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool This event is full. Additional Ages and Stages Questionnaires® courses will be available soon. Are you interested in learning how to use Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years? Join Trying Together on October 12 for our virtual course, “Using Ages and Stages Questionnaires® as a Screening Tool.” About During this course, participants will learn how to use the ASQ® and ASQ:SE® as a screening tool for children ages three months to five years. The session will provide information on how to administer and score the screener and share results of the screener with families. Information about additional resources for making referrals to services will be included if needed. Session Details Session Date: Monday, October 12, 2020 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Instructor: Pamela Zimmerman Core Knowledge Area: Assessment CDA Content Area: Observing & Recording Behavior Registration Deadline: Saturday, October 10, 2020 Registration To register, visit the course PD Registry page. Space is limited. Participants will receive the course Zoom link via email within 24 hours before the start date for the course. PQAS and Act 48 credit available. If you do not have a PD Registry account, please complete this online form to create one. If you are unable to create an account, please contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org for more information. More Information For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org.
July 9, 2020 Virtual Service Delivery Webinar Series To support family-facing providers in their online work with children and families, Brazelton Touchpoints Center is offering a series of free one-hour webinars and an online learning community that will explore how to manage the challenges posed by virtual service delivery and share strategies providers have found for building and sustaining strong relationships with families virtually. About In partnership with Parents as Teachers and the Rapid Response Virtual Home Visiting (RR-VHV) Collaborative, Brazelton Touchpoints Center will build on lessons learned from virtual home visiting, adapted for all family-facing providers. All professionals who work with families of young children—including those who work in health care, early care and education, early intervention, child welfare, and family support—are encouraged to attend these webinars. Brazelton Touchpoints Center is pairing the webinars with an online learning community where webinar participants can engage with one another and BTC facilitators on topics and strategies discussed in the webinars. Featured Webinars Engaging Families Using a Strengths-Based Approach in the Virtual World Wednesday, July 22 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Partnering with Families Virtually Wednesday, August 5 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Providing Staff Support and Supervision Virtually Wednesday, August 19 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Developmental Screenings on Your Screen Wednesday, September 2 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Challenging Conversations with Families Virtually Wednesday, September 16 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Taking Care of Yourself as a Virtual Service Provider Wednesday, September 30 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Register Registration To register and learn more, visit the Brazelton Touchpoints Center website. Participants can register for the entire series or for individual webinars. More Information For questions, email touchpoints@childrens.harvard.edu.
May 7, 2020 Keeping Our Children Well During COVID-19 Join former American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) president, Colleen Kraft, MD, FAAP, for a discussion on how early care and education (ECE) providers can support families’ medical care during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. About ECE programs can support families’ access to needed medical care. The AAP recommends children under 24 months maintain their Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) immunization schedule to prevent the breakout of communicable diseases. Many pediatricians are conducting well-child visits through telehealth appointments. However, families may be struggling to access these services. To learn how ECE providers can support families’ medical care during the pandemic, register to attend this webinar. Registration To register, visit the event webpage. The registration link can be used for both the live event and on-demand viewing. The recording will be available to watch on-demand starting 30 minutes after the live event ends, until May 31, 2020. Because access to the live event is limited and the session may be full, event hosts recommend watching the webinar on-demand. A version with English closed captions will also be posted on the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) in the future.
April 17, 2020 CHIP Will Maintain Enrollment During COVID-19 Crisis On April 15, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that it is “making temporary changes to Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to keep families enrolled in CHIP for the duration of the public health emergency and to ease access to medical services for children being screened or receiving treatment for COVID-19.” What is CHIP? The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is Pennsylvania’s program to provide health insurance to uninsured children and teens who are not eligible for or enrolled in Medical Assistance. For most families, the program is free. Families with incomes above the free CHIP limits pay low monthly premiums and copays for some services. CHIP covers any uninsured child or teen up to the age of 19 and guarantees 12 months of coverage unless the family no longer meets basic eligibility requirements. There is not a waiting list to enroll in the program. Caregivers must renew their coverage every year to continue receiving services. To learn more and apply, visit the CHIP webpage. Included Changes The following changes to CHIP will be in effect until the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency: Families will not be denied or disenrolled from coverage for administrative or financial reasons. An example of an administrative reason would be not being able to provide proof of income. Families will not pay a copay for services that are for COVID-19 screenings, testing, or treatment. Families who cannot provide paperwork to verify information on an application or renewal can provide self-attestation of information by signing the application or renewal. Families will be given more time to pay premiums, if needed. These changes were made due to the economic and financial hardship that many families across the Commonwealth are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, families must still provide verification of information provided on an application and are still responsible for copays for services not related to COVID-19. Families will still be required to pay premiums, if applicable. However, if a family is unable to pay due to a decrease in or loss of income, that family must contact their managed care organization immediately and can request a reassessment because of an income change at any time. More Information For more information, read the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ full press release.
