November 18, 2025 PA Head Start Report Finds Children Experiencing Homelessness on the Rise The Pennsylvania Head Start Collaboration Office has released a new report that found a 4% increase in homelessness for children from birth through kindergarten over a period of a year. Learn More According to the report, nearly 11,000 Pennsylvania children – from birth to kindergarten age – were identified to be experiencing homelessness during the 2023-24 school year. This represents a 4% increase over one year and a 13% increase over five years. The largest increase in the report was for pre-school-aged children, with a 3% increase in children identified over one year, and a 32% increase over five years. Although infants and toddlers accounted for 34% of the 10,601 children identified in 2023-24, this represented a negligible difference over the past year but a 6% decrease over five years. However, in a section of the report titled “The Good News,” it mentioned that the number of children identified as experiencing homelessness increased in part because the education system has become more effective in identifying children experiencing homelessness since 2016 due to improved coordination with multiple human service systems at the county level and an infusion of resources from the American Rescue Plan that were not available prior to 2021. Additionally, statewide collaboration expanded through the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning’s (OCDEL) McKinney-Vento Advisory Group, which likely contributed to the 32% increase in the identification of pre-schoolers and a 15% increase in their enrollment in prekindergarten programs over this five-year period.w The report is the first installment in a series designed to inform state and local practitioners and policymakers about young children identified as experiencing homelessness in Pennsylvania. The entire report is available on The Pennsylvania Key’s website.
OCDEL Announces Scholarships for Infant Mental Health Professional Development Course Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) will again offer the opportunity for early childhood education professionals in the state to participate in the University of Pittsburgh’s Infant Mental Health professional development certificate for free. Learn More OCDEL will enable licensed child care providers, Head Start/Early Head Start and PA Pre-K Counts programs to take part in the certificate with no-cost scholarships to professionals serving children and families in prenatal, infant, toddler, and preschool programs. Traditionally, the certificate has been provided to infant/toddler early intervention, OCDEL-funded home visitors, Infant Early Childhood Mental Health, and Rapid Response team members. The extension of the course to providers is a result of ongoing discussions and evaluation of requests for professional development from the field. In an announcement, OCDEL said it recognized the challenges faced by state providers in supporting the mental health and well-being of children and families in their early years. The organization believes that the early childhood system is most effective when collaborative work is relationship-based, culturally sensitive, grounded in an understanding of developmental theory, research, and supported by reflective practice. The extension of the course to providers aims to continue building the capacity of early learning professionals to partner with others and better support families in Pennsylvania. Those interested in taking the course should apply for sponsorship through The Pennsylvania Key. The application for the 2026 Infant Mental Health (IMH) Certificate and Learning Circle Scholarship will be open through Tuesday, November 25. Criteria and Other Considerations Criteria for applicants includes: Demonstrate, at minimum, one year of experience working with young children and their families. Have the ability to complete the IMH Foundations course within the timeframe of January through December 2026. Participate in virtual Learning Circles; applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the Introduction to IMH Course Webinar on January 21 and attend a minimum of two additional Learning Circles, which occur monthly for 1.5 hours at two different times with a cohort of fellow professionals to discuss course content. During the candidate approval and evaluation process, these other considerations will be taken into account: Provider type and area of service Number of children served by the provider Number of children with IFSPs and IEPs served by the provider Number of children who are dual-language learners served by the provider The applicant’s experience, education, and role The applicant’s ability to provide services in a culturally and linguistically responsive manner Supervisor approval and support for completion of the course For more information, visit The Pennsylvania Key’s website.
November 17, 2025 OCDEL Confluence Podcast Focuses on Transfers Between Child Care Facilities and Schools Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has released a new Confluence podcast that covers policies for transferring between child care facilities and school. Learn More During the podcast, host Ruby Martin – director of OCDEL’s Bureau of Certification Services – discusses the most recent announcement regarding the transfers with Chris Loos, the bureau’s division chief. In August, OCDEL announced updates to certified child care providers on rules regarding care and supervision when children are picked up and dropped off from school. Under state law, children on facility premises are to be supervised by a staff person at all times. Supervision during pick-up and drop-off times for children must be clearly defined to ensure the safety and accountability of children and child care providers. Recent updates on transfers from child care to school and school to child care include: Child care to school: Unless otherwise stated in a written agreement signed by a caregiver, care and supervision are the responsibility of the child care facility until the child gets on a school bus or enters the school building. The transfer of child care processes or policy must be documented in the child care agreement or handbook. School to child care: Supervision by the child care facility begins when the child exits the school bus, once the child enters the child care bus or van, or when a staff member arrives to walk the child to the child care facility. The latest Confluence podcast, Episode 8: Announcement C-25-03: Policy for Transferring Care Between Child Care Facility and School, is available on The Pennsylvania Key’s website.
November 14, 2025 PA Dept. of Health Announces Infant Botulism Outbreak Linked to Formula The Pennsylvania Department of Health has issued a health alert network announcement regarding an infant botulism outbreak that is linked to infant formula. Learn More On November 11, ByHeart, Inc. recalled all lots of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ongoing investigation into a recent outbreak of infant botulism. According to the company’s website, the formula was sold through its website, ByHeart.com, as well as through retail stores nationwide, including Amazon, Kroger, Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, Sam’s Club, and others. Infant botulism is a rare but potentially fatal paralytic illness that affects babies less than 1 year old. Symptoms can include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, a weak cry, and progressive muscle weakness. Treatment with botulism immune globulin, BabyBIG®, obtained from the California Department of Health, is recommended for all suspected cases of the illness. Infant botulism is a reportable disease in Pennsylvania. All suspected cases must be reported to the state’s Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH or to a local health department. For more information, read the health alert network announcement on The Pennsylvania Key website.
November 12, 2025 Pennsylvania One Book Initiative Makes Its 2026 Selection The Pennsylvania One Book initiative has announced that its 2026 PA One Book selection is “The Great Cookie Kerfuffle.” Learn More The Pennsylvania One Book initiative is a program that highlights the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers and the significance of reading early and often to children. It also stresses the importance of engaging them in conversation and other activities around books. This year’s selection, “The Great Cookie Kerfuffle,” was written by Jessica Shaw and illustrated by Pauline Gregory. In the book, a farm breaks into chaos as increasing numbers of farm animals fight over a dropped cookie until they realize they have bigger troubles overhead. Uniting against a common enemy, the animals learn that friendship and taking care of each other is more important than winning a fight. Activities to accompany the book will be released in the near future. Representatives from numerous organizations make up the PA One Book Committee – including the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), The Pennsylvania Key, and others. Each year, the committee chooses a children’s picture book to be highlighted. For more information on this year’s selection, visit the PA One Book website.
November 3, 2025 Pennsylvania Key to Offer School-Age Care Professional Development This Fall The Pennsylvania Key will offer several courses in November and December that will focus on school-age care professional development. Learn More The courses – as part of the Pennsylvania Key’s Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) – cover five topics all having to do with child and youth development, behavior, and emotions. One course focuses on how youths’ behavior may reflect their big emotions as well as how to manage those emotions. Another involves tools to use for challenging behaviors by children in kindergarten through sixth grade. The topic of one course is what to expect at each stage of development from kindergarten through sixth grade and how to identify developmentally appropriate milestones, while another discusses the developmental needs of fourth to sixth grade students and how to empower them to have a great after-school experience. There is also a class that focuses on social-emotional standards and how to incorporate them into daily activities. All courses include PQAS credits. The class schedule includes: School Age Care Spotlight on Social Emotional Standards: November 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and November 13 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. What to Do with Older SAC Kids: November 24 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. SAC Child Development: December 1 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Introduction to Youth Behavior Reflection Support Tool: December 3 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. SAC Youth with Big Emotions: December 4, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
October 22, 2025 IECMHC Provides Resources for Helping to Calm Children Down There are many skills that take great effort for children to muster from an early age, and one of them is the ability to calm themselves down. Learn More In a recent newsletter, the Pennsylvania Key’s Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) provided resources on methods to help calm children down and how to teach children to calm themselves down. Children are not born with self-control, the IECMHC wrote in the newsletter, so it’s important that caregivers help children to grow their ability to control their emotions, respond in appropriate ways to frustration, get along with others, and become independent. The IECMHC’s resources discuss how caregivers can help young children learn skills to help them control or regulate themselves and how a calm-down corner – a special area of the classroom with calming materials and tools – can be useful for when children’s emotions feel too big for them. Resources in the newsletter on calming corners and other calming methods include: Calm Down Corners (The Pennsylvania Key) How to Set Up and Use a Calming Corner for Kids The Peace Corner: An Essential Classroom Resource Break Card: When to Use Self-Regulation Breathing Strategies “We Can Be Problem Solvers” children’s book Relaxation in a Bottle activity
September 17, 2025 Webinar to Focus on Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Children The Pennsylvania Department of Health and The Pennsylvania Key will hold a webinar focusing on healthy eating and physical activity for children in October. Learn More The Pennsylvania Out-of-School Time (OST) Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) Program Webinar will provide information to attendees about the HEPA program. It will include discussion of web-based asynchronous professional development events, resources, and strategies through the Out-of-School Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative (OSNAP). The HEPA program supports out-of-school programs to improve policies and practices to help children eat healthier snacks and move more. The webinar is recommended for anyone who currently runs an out-of-school time program for kindergarten through eighth grade students – including administrators and program staff, DHS-certified child care, 21 CCLC grantees, libraries, recreation programs, Boys and Girls Club administrators, and tutoring support. The event will run from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Oct. 22 on Zoom. The program is free to attend and will award up to $750 in innovation awards. Registration is open. If you cannot attend on this date and time, register and the recording will be available. Any further questions should be directed to Betsy O. Saatman at betsaa@pakeys.org or 484-955-5909.
September 8, 2025 OCDEL Asks Licensed Child Care Providers Charging Private Pay Rates to Take Survey The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is requesting that licensed child care providers who charge private pay tuition rates complete a survey between Sept. 8 and Dec. 8. Learn More OCDEL is required to collect up-to-date tuition information from all licensed providers every three years. The 2025 Child Care Market Rate Survey helps OCDEL set child care subsidy payment rates that are reflective of the private pay market. Even programs that don’t accept subsidies should fill out the survey. When all providers complete the survey, the date gives a more accurate picture of child care tuition rates across Pennsylvania. Benefits of filling out the survey include: The results help to set payment rates for child care subsidies over the next few years. When more providers respond, rates are more fair and reflect real tuition rates. It supports policies that better reflect the real structure and value of child care services statewide. It strengthens the case for public investment in child care for everyone. If you don’t respond, decisions may be based on other programs that don’t reflect your rates. Participants who complete the survey will be entered into a raffle and could win a gift card. A total of 100 winners will each get a $100 e-gift card. Surveys can be filled out online or on paper. A paper copy of the survey will be sent in mid-September to all programs that have not yet completed the survey online. Surveys should be returned in the pre-paid return envelopes that are provided. Or, those taking the survey can scan or take photos of it and submit it to ChildCareResearch@psu.edu. It is being conducted by the Institute of State and Regional Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg, in partnership with OCDEL and the Pennsylvania Key. The survey should be filled out between Sept. 8 and Dec. 8.
August 26, 2025 The Importance of Routines and Tips for Enforcing Them with Children The Pennsylvania Key’s newsletter, Bright Start, Bright Kids, Bright Future, recently noted that the beginning of a new school year provides a great opportunity for caregivers to help children get into routines. Learn More After the summer – a season that, for children, provides more freedom than usual – it is important to ensure that children are getting back into routines. Doing so can create a sense of the familiar and stability. Routines can help to promote healthy and social emotional development. According to Bright Start, Bright Kids, Bright Future, routines can help children to: Make sense of the world and learn how it is organized Feel secure and safe when many things in their environment are constantly changing Develop their ability to regulate their own emotions and behavior Learn skills and internalize habits through repetition Learn self-discipline and develop personal responsibility Set internal body clocks through such actions as eating meals or going to bed at the same time every day Have a sense of independence and autonomy when much of what happens is out of their control Engage in fewer power struggles, arguments, or conflicts with caregivers Develop confidence and self esteem as various tasks are mastered Anticipate and look forward to what comes next Have continuity, consistency, and predictability in their lives, which is important in a world that is unpredictable Bright Start, Bright Kids, Bright Future also provided some tips on how to establish and enforce routines. Caregivers should create visual reminders or a picture schedule for a typical day. They should plan structured activity periods – for example, play a game right after a nap. Caregivers should break routines into steps – such as ordering activities when getting ready for bed: bath, pajamas, brush teeth, story time, and singing. It is also helpful to prepare a child for transitions from one activity to the next – for example, tell them that in a certain amount of time the next activity will commence. Developing regular routines for daily activities – meals, bed time, or quiet time, for example – is important. But caregivers should also be flexible and creative and try not to be rigid or unable to adjust to specific circumstances. Other resources include a Creating Routines infographic; Visual Supports for Routines, Schedules, and Transitions; and School-Age Learning Environments: Schedules and Routines.
