News

May 10, 2023

PaTTAN Announces Summit on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments

The Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) recently announced plans to host a two-day summit for early childhood educators in August 2023.

Called, “Safe and Supportive Learning Environments: Prevention Before the Crisis Summit,” this event will help educators create welcome environments that promote learner and educator regulation, and prevent harmful behavior.

About the Summit

When is the summit?

The summit will be held on Wednesday, August 16 from 9:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. and Thursday, August 17 from 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Presenters will host a pre-summit mindfulness session from 8:45 – 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 16, before the start of the summit.

Where will the summit be held?

The summit will take place at PaTTAN Central (6340 Flank Drive, Harrisburg, Pa. 17112).

Who can attend?

The summit is open to all, but designed for:

  • school administrators
  • educators (including early childhood educators)
  • behavioral specialists (school counselors, school psychologists, special educators)
  • behavioral and mental health providers
  • emotional support teachers
  • emotional support paraprofessionals
  • parents, caregivers, and families

What will presenters share?

During the summit, national and local presenters will offer sessions a variety of topics including de-escalation, data analysis, and alternatives to suspension and expulsion. Additionally, they will share evidence-based strategies to support learners and limit exclusionary classroom practices.

How much does it cost to attend?

The cost of the two-day summit is $50, regardless of whether attendees participate one or two days. Payment is due in full on or before August 3. Registration and payment will not be available onsite during the summit.

However, Family Scholarships are available for this event. To apply for a scholarship, please complete the Family Scholarship Application.

How do I register?

Interested individuals should register on the PaTTAN website.

Learn More

Act 48, BACB, and PSYCH credits are available for this summit.

For content-related information and questions, please contact Chanda Telleen at ctelleen@pattan.net or 717-901-2246. For general registration information and questions, please contact Tina Rife at trife@pattan.net or 717-901-2278

To learn more, visit the event page on the PaTTAN website.

News

January 14, 2022

Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit

Join The Black and White Reunion for the 24th Annual Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit, Equity in Action: Navigating Intersections of Racial Justice. Registration for this event is available online.

About the Event

The Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit is a one-and-a-half-day conference dedicated to providing resources and spaces for community dialogues, sharing strategies and experiences of organizing for racial justice, healing from racial trauma, and providing connections to social support services for all attendees. The Summit is a multicultural initiative of the Black and White Reunion. It was first held in 1996, convened in response to the death of Jonny Gammage, a thirty-one-year-old Black man who was murdered by four white police officers in a suburb on the outskirts of Pittsburgh.

The Summit begins Friday night, followed by a full day of panels and sessions on Saturday. Friday night includes a fireside chat by three internationally renowned, award-winning, best-selling Pittsburgh writers:

  • Deesha Philyaw, author of “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies”
  • Brian Broome, author of “Punch Me Up to the Gods”
  • Damon Young, author of “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker”
  • The keynote opening event will also include a choral performance of “Lift Ev’ry Voice” by the Pittsburgh Heritage Gospel Chorale directed by Dr Herbert V.R.P. Jones.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, all Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit events will be held on Zoom. The Friday keynote will be accessible on YouTube and Facebook.

The Summit’s goal is to underscore the necessity and importance of critically re-evaluating our respective histories, specifically the impact of white supremacy and how it has caused widespread dehumanization and exploitation throughout global and local history. Workshops and panels will confront historical and current racial issues, including social, economic, political, immigration, and environmental justice.

Registration proceeds are used to cover the cost of hosting the Summit and for the Jonny Gammage Scholarship Fund which is awarded to law students of color with an interest in studying civil rights and social justice issues at the University of Pittsburgh Law School or Duquesne University Law School. We ask that those with access to more resources pay more and thus provide the cushion for those with less access to pay less, creating a sustainable economic underpinning for the conference.

News

November 13, 2020

Fifth Annual Healthy Schools Summit

Are you interested in translating research into action to create green and healthy schools? Join Women for a Healthy Environment (WHE) on Thursday, December 3 for the Fifth Annual Healthy Schools Summit.

About

During this virtual conference, national, state, and local experts will tackle the following questions:

    • How are school stakeholders coming together to realize their shared goal for green, safe, and healthy schools for students and staff to return to?
    • How are school leaders translating public health research into action to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
    • What resources are available for educators, nurses, parents, and students to respond to existing and emerging school health needs?

For information on the Summit sessions, please see the list below or view the full Summit Agenda.

 


 

Morning Sessions

    • “From Research to Action and Knowledge to Practice”: Keynote Address
      by Tracy Enger, Program Manager, U.S Environmental Protection Agency
    • “Public Health Decision Making for School Leaders: A Panel Discussion”
      with panelists Dr. Farhad Ahmed (PA Dept of Health), Aimee Eckmann (Perkins + Will), Dr. Megan Freeman (Children’s Hospital), and Dr. Robert Scherrer (Allegheny Intermediate Unit
    • “Clearing the Air: Indoor Air Quality in the Time of COVID-19”: Expert Panel
      with panelists Nina Hwang (Green Seal), Al Pater (Riverview School District), Lynn Rose (Environmental Health Consultant), and Raj Setty (Setty & Associates)

Afternoon Sessions

    • “The Future of Green and Healthy Schools” Afternoon Address
      by Anisa Heming, Director, Center for Green Schools, US Green Building Council
    • Celebrating Five Years of Success through Our Healthy Schools Recognition Program: Virtual Awards Ceremony
      • Option A – Learning Through Pandemics Past: Bringing Public Health and Civics into the Classroom
      • Option B – “It’s Just a Cold” Navigating Student Health During COVID-19: Panel Discussion
      • Option C – Civic Engagement Through Climate Literacy

 


Registration

To register for the Summit, visit the Eventbrite page. For questions, please email Kara Rubio, Healthy Schools Manager at kara@womenforahealthyenvironment.org.

News

September 28, 2020

Early Childhood Education Summit

Are you interested in engaging with early childhood thought-leaders and gaining knowledge through online professional development? Attend the Virtual Early Childhood Education (ECE) Summit from October 18 – 21, 2020. PQAS and Act 48 credit will be available.

About

The ECE Summit features 12 sessions, 60 workshops, and four online specialized networking opportunities that offer early learning professionals opportunities to learn, dialogue, and share information on a vast array of current topics to support their professional learning goals.

This is a fully virtual event. Each day will feature a Keynote presentation and four tracks of workshop sessions. Opportunities to connect with peers will be available through live chat. Sessions will be recorded. Paid attendees will be able to view sessions after the Summit and earn PQAS and Act 48 credit.

Featured Topics

The Summit features a wide range of workshops, including, but not limited to, the following:

    • Emotionally Safe Environments for Infants and Toddlers
    • Yoga and Mindfulness for Preschoolers
    • Trauma-Informed Assessment in Early Childhood
    • Family Engagement Through a Strengths-Based Lens
    • Designing Classrooms with the Brain in Mind
    • Getting Little Hands on the Land
    • Supporting Infant Teacher Degree Attainment
    • Advocacy 201: Crafting and Sharing Your Message
    • Managing Challenging Behavior

Registration

To register for the Conference, visit the event webpage. A Summit Schedule and workshop descriptions are available on the Early Childhood Education Summit website. View the schedule. 

More Information

For more information, visit the Early Childhood Education Summit webpage or call 717.657.9000.

News

November 14, 2019

Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) Parent Summit

The Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) Parent Summit is a half-day experience that empowers families by offering workshops that will enable them to better support their child and work with schools. Workshop sessions will be offered by school district staff in collaboration with parents and community organizations.

Workshop topics have been identified by PPS parents and families and will serve as a support to help their students be successful.

Registration

Registration is required and space is limited. If child care is needed, please specify during your registration. Child care will be provided. To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

News

October 9, 2019

2019 Trauma Summit | Building Connections & Hope

Join Pressley Ridge from October 23–24 for their 2019 Trauma Summit.

About

Over the course of two days, the 2019 Trauma Summit will be an exchange of information, an exploration of successful strategies, and an opportunity for deeper dialogue on what sustains hope for those who have experienced significant adversity.

Participants are also invited to join a private reception with Dr. Bruce Perry on the eve of the Summit, October 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 at Pressley Ridge’s headquarters. Click here to learn more.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

Questions

For questions, contact Pressley Ridge at 412.872.9400 or ​info@pressleyridge.org.

News

September 17, 2019

Healthy School Summit 2019

Join Healthy Schools Pennsylvania on Friday, October 25 for their 4th Annual Healthy Schools Summit to learn, collaborate, and commit to creating healthier, greener, and more sustainable learning environments for all children in our region!

Morning Sessions

    • Foundations for Student Success: How School Buildings Influence Student Health, Thinking, & Performance
      Keynote Speaker – Erika Eitland, MPH Program Manager, Schools for Health, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health
    • What Does it Take to Create a Healthy School?
      Panel Discussion – Cassandra Brown, RN, Pittsburgh Public Schools; Jake Douglas, Food Services Director, Deer Lakes School District; Christine Schott, Parent and Sustainability Coordinator, Steel Valley School District; Vicki Ammar, Teacher, Pittsburgh Public Schools
    • Celebrating Success through Our Healthy Schools Recognition Program
      Awards Ceremony and Luncheon
    • Working Lunch: What Makes a Successful School Grant Proposal?
      Featuring Tracey Reed Armant from the Grable Foundation

Afternoon Sessions

    • Teaching Resiliency and Environmental Justice in the Classroom
      Educator Workshop – Katie Modic, Director of Education Initiatives at Communitopia
    • Creating a Game-Plan for Whole-School Sustainability
      School Administrator Workshop – Donnan Stoicovy, Head of School, State College Friends School
    • Engaging Parents and Community Partners for Healthy Schools
      Parent and Partner Workshop – Monté Robinson, Community Schools Coordinator, Pittsburgh Public Schools and LaKeisha Wolf, Executive Director, Ujamaa Collective

Registration

To register, visit the Eventbrite page.

Learn More

For questions, email Healthy Schools Coordinator, Kara Rubio, at 412.404.2872 or kara@womenforahealthyenvironment.org.

News

August 22, 2019

Young Children Experiencing Homelessness Summit

Congress approved provisions prioritizing children who experience homelessness to be served by Head Start, the Child Care Development Fund, and other high-quality early learning programs. On September 16, professionals are invited to the “Young Children Experiencing Homelessness Summit: Educate. Collaborate. Inspire.” to explore these changes, identify challenges, and discuss the future.

About

Thousands of young homeless children are in shelter or living doubled up in Pennsylvania, in New Jersey, and in Delaware. High-quality early learning programs like Head Start can strengthen their resilience, but access is a challenge. Featuring keynote speaker Dr. Deborah Bergeron, National Director of Head Start, this Summit will explore what has happened since those changes, identify local and national challenges, and consider the role of intermediaries.

Registration

To attend the Summit, complete the event registration webpage.

Learn More

To learn more, visit the event page.

For questions, contact Joe Willard at 267.777.5851 or jwillard@pec-cares.org.

*Information provided by the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey

News

May 2, 2019

2019 PA Community Alliance Summit

The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council invites you to a day of networking, discovering alliances and collaboration building among diverse organizations throughout Pennsylvania led by and/or supporting underserved/unserved populations who experience marginalization and oppression.

About the Summit

Oppression affects many of us, for different socially constructed reasons: racism, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual identity and orientation, disability, economics, rural/urban location, religion, and so much more. Although our discrimination experiences may be different, we can be a valuable support and resource to each other in our struggles for equality, inclusion, and social justice.

Join the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council on May 21 and 22 to participate in the discussion. This year, the Summit will focus on the goal of meeting and engaging new potential allies, stimulating learning from one another, and exploring opportunities for partnerships and collaboration.

Download the Summit agenda.

Registration

Registration is free and may be accessed via the event page. Availability is on a first come first serve basis.

More information on the event, hotel accommodations, travel, and more can be found on the event page.

Questions

For questions, contact Dana Thompson at 717.214.8103 or danathomps@pa.gov.

News

April 8, 2019

BreastFED: Breastfeeding Summit

Join Healthy Start for BreastFED, Pennsylvania’s only regional breastfeeding summit. BreastFED is a two-day regional symposium aimed at providing information from professionals and community experts locally, regionally, and nationally on innovative approaches to address the needs of mothers and lactation practitioners in this region.

Throughout the two days, participants will receive both clinical and community perspectives and will be able to share insights and experiences to move forward with best practices and groundbreaking methods to changing the culture of feeding our babies.

See the full agenda.

Continuing Education Units & Credits

CEU’s are available for:

  • Lactation
  • Nursing
  • Social Work
  • Midwifery

This summit is approved for a maximum of 10.75 continuing nursing education contact hours.  The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Learn More

To learn more about the summit and to register, visit the event website.

For any questions, contact Healthy Start by phone at 412.247.4009 or email at email@hsipgh.org.