News

July 7, 2020

A Routines-Based Approach for Young Children with Disabilities

Are you interested in learning about a routines-based approach for providing early intervention to young children with disabilities? Join ZERO TO THREE on July 15 for their free webinar, “Where Intervention Happens: A Routines-Based Approach for Young Children with Disabilities.”

About

Throughout the day, children learn during their everyday routines, including during child care. Ensuring that infants and toddlers with disabilities get the most intervention possible and the most relevant intervention possible means building their caregivers’ capacity.

This webinar will address the assessment of child and family needs, the use of a primary service provider, collaborative consultation, data collection, and how to train staff to use a routines-based approach. This webinar is best suited for early intervention professionals, as well as caregivers who have or would like to have an early intervention professional working with them.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage. For those who are unable to attend the session, please note that all registrants will receive a link to the webinar recording 24 to 48 hours after the session.

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July 2, 2020

ZERO TO THREE Annual Conference

Are you interested in learning about the latest early childhood research and connecting with thousands of fellow educators from around the world? Join ZERO TO THREE from October 5-9 for their Virtual Annual Conference!

About

This year’s virtual conference will give participants the added flexibility to be connected safely to thousands of colleagues from around the world; be inspired through an immersive experience into the latest research and education; and be prepared to move their practice forward in our changing and challenging world.

The conference package includes five days of exceptional programming and 30 days of exclusive, on-demand access to recorded sessions. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are included. Pre-Conference Forums will be available as well from September 22 to October 1 for an additional fee. Each Forum package includes a single two-day Forum event and 30-day access to the recorded session. CEUs are included.

Featured Sessions

The conference features many presentations and breakout sessions, including, but not limited to the following:

    • Bringing Self-Compassion and Care Home: Learning by Nurturing
    • Supporting Healthy Development Through Meaningful Relationships With Mother Nature, a Growing Global Movement
    • Operation HealthySteps: Promoting Safe Childcare Practices Across a Large Medical System
    • Where Trauma and Grief Collide: CPP With Child Traumatic Grief
    • How to Incorporate Mindfulness Techniques Into Family-Based Practices With Infants and Toddlers
    • Interrogating Whiteness in Early Intervention
    • Equity and Inclusion in Family Engagement Programs

See the full schedule.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage. Member and group discounts are available. If you require any assistance with your registration, contact the Customer Support team at 855.868.1192

News

June 22, 2020

Drive-Up Diaper Distribution

Join Global Links and the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank (WPDB) on June 25 for their public drive-up diaper distribution event outside of PPG Paints Arena (rain or shine). To ensure participant safety, this event cannot accommodate walk-up participants.

About

Global Links and the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank (WPDB) have partnered to host a public drive-up diaper distribution event outside PPG Paints Arena (rain or shine), thanks to support from the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation. The distribution will be equipped to serve up to 1,000 cars.

What’s Included?

Families and caregivers of young children who are experiencing financial hardship are invited to line up by car outside PPG Paints Arena to receive the following items (at no cost to families):

    • One case (four packages) of diapers per car.
    • One package of wipes per car.
    • An informational sheet listing neighborhood resource centers that can provide further diaper assistance.

Please note that two families CANNOT be represented in one car. Parents and caregivers will have the option of choosing one or two different sizes of diapers.

Traffic Details

    • All vehicles attending the diaper distribution will enter the distribution area by turning onto Logan Street from Centre Avenue. Once on Logan Street, personnel on-site will direct vehicles from the lots to the location at which the diapers will be distributed. To exit, all traffic will be routed to Fullerton Street and will exit via Centre Avenue.
    • Bedford Avenue between Washington Place and Crawford Street will be closed to traffic from downtown going uphill. Traffic from downtown can turn right onto Washington Place to access Centre Avenue or stay left on Bigelow Boulevard.
    • Wylie Avenue will be closed between Crawford Street and Logan Street.

More Information

To learn more, visit the Drive-Up Diaper Distribution event page or the Global Links website.

News

June 10, 2020

Infant/Toddler Movement as a Foundation for Learning

Are you interested in exploring movement as the foundation of learning? Join the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness (NCECHW) on June 23 for their webinar, “Tummy Time: Infant/Toddler Movement as a Foundation for Learning.”

About

Infants enter the world prewired and primed to move. In this session, participants will learn about the impact tummy time has on brain and muscle development and its influence on developmental milestone progression. Additionally, participants will learn their role in how to create an environment that stimulates, promotes, and supports motor development.

This webinar is best suited for early childhood education teachers and administrators; family child care providers; infant/toddler coaches, consultants, and specialists; Child Care Resource and Referral leadership and staff; parents; and guardians.

Featured Topics

Topics include the following:

    • gross motor development,
    • tummy time best practices,
    • creating an environment that supports an active child, and
    • the caregiver/parent’s role in tummy time.

Registration

To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.

More Information

For questions, contact NCECHW at health@ecetta.info or 888.227.5125.

News

May 6, 2020

Navigating Transitions During COVID-19 for Infant/Toddler Families

We would like to invite you to join us for a live informational webinar from the Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports. This live web series is about what families can expect during the closure of face-to-face Early Intervention Services. These sessions will assist in navigating transitions during COVID-19 for infant/toddler families. The live informational webinars will be recorded and posted on the EITA (Early Intervention Technical Assistance Portal) Portal for those who are unable to join live.

Registration

There is no need to register for this event because this is a public webinar to help families maneuver through this difficult time. To attend, you can very simply join from PC, Mac, iOS, or Android on May 13 at 2 p.m. Attendees can also join us by phone if they choose. Attendees can also join us by phone if they choose. When dialing in, callers can access the webinar by entering 855.880.1246 on your keypad and using the following Meeting ID: 988 8060 8928

More For Infant/Toddler Families During COVID-19

For more information on this live webinar series or on Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA), contact Sarah Holland at saholland@pa.gov. To find resources that support early intervention (EI) work during COVID-19, click here.

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April 9, 2020

Navigating Early Intervention Services During COVID-19

Families are invited to join a live informational webinar from the Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports about what families can expect during the closure of face-to-face Early Intervention services. There is no need to register.

A recording of the event will be available on the Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) portal after the event for individuals who are unable to attend. Professionals may be asked to sign off if participant levels get close to capacity.

Available Sessions

The following sessions will be available:

    • For Families fo Children Receiving Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Services | 12 – 1 p.m.
      Join from PC, Mac, iOS, or Android: https://paiu.zoom.us/j/904942246
      Join by Phone: 312.626.6799, Meeting ID: 904 942 246
    • For Families of Children Receiving Preschool Early Intervention Services | 2 – 3 p.m.
      Join from PC, Mac, iOS, or Android: https://paiu.zoom.us/j/380197977
      Join by Phone: 312.626.6799, Meeting ID: 380 197 977

 

News

April 6, 2020

COVID-19 Impact on Child Care Survey Now Available

Many states, including Pennsylvania, have ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses to close their physical spaces as a mitigation effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). While lists of impacted businesses often include gyms, movie theaters, and clothing stores, they also often include a critical service that impacts families and caregivers across the nation: child care.

To better understand the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on families and caregivers, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has launched a detailed survey and is seeking submissions from the public.

About

On March 12, 2020, NAEYC launched a survey asking child care programs to share the challenges they were expecting to face and to comment on what they needed to protect children, families, and our nation’s supply of child care programs. NAEYC received responses from 11,500 educators in family child care and center-based programs across the country, which has helped shape federal and state responses to the pandemic. 

Now, several weeks into the pandemic, as many states take action and a federal stimulus bill has passed, NAEYC is launching a more detailed survey with the intention to help organizations and policymakers understand the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and the solutions that have been put forth thus far.

Complete the COVID-19 Impact on Child Care Survey

This survey is for everyone, including center-based programs, family child care programs, and others. However, not all questions may apply to your specific situation. Please complete the survey and fill out applicable questions to help NAEYC gather a range of perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on child care. To participate, please visit the survey page.

More Information

For questions, please contact NAEYC at info@naeyc.org or 800.424.2460. For more information on COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 Resources page here.

News

February 11, 2020

Promoting Infant and Toddler Social and Emotional Development

Are you interested in learning how to better support children’s social and emotional development? Join Trying Together for our online course, “Promoting Infant and Toddler Social and Emotional Development.”

About

This online session will explore the questions: “What is social and emotional learning within infants and toddlers, and why is it important?” Participants will be provided with positive social-emotional opportunities for infants and toddlers and develop skills necessary to build a solid foundation for very young children. Course instructors will discuss how to support very young children to form secure relationships with others to ultimately be able to focus and learn in their day to day experiences. Also, skills and techniques will be provided to engage with infants and toddlers to teach them to feel good about themselves while developing confidence and self-control.

Three hours of PQAS and/or Act 48 credits will be offered.

    • Core Knowledge Competencies (CKCs): K1.9 C2 and K2.2 C2
    • Keystone STARS Alignment: SQ. 3.4.4

Timeline

This online course will be available from March 9 through March 30, 2020. Please note that this event listing is not a day-of, in-person event. Once registered, course instructors will provide further information on accessing the course.

Registration

To register for this course, complete the form below.

 

More Information

For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis, Professional Learning Program Manager, at 412.567.3933 or jasmine@tryingtogether.org.

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News

January 27, 2020

Take Action to Support Infants and Toddlers in Pennsylvania

Are you interested in advocating to increase access to and the affordability of child care for infants and toddlers in Pennsylvania? Take action by completing Start Strong PA’s current advocacy ask!

About

In December 2019, a campaign for high-quality child care in Pennsylvania called Start Strong PA delivered a New Year’s resolution photo frame to every member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The frames included a spot for a photo, a place for their signature, and the following resolution:

In 2020, I resolve that all children deserve to start strong.
I will support the healthy development of all Pennsylvania’s infants and toddlers by fighting for greater access to high-quality child care.

Now, Start Strong PA is encouraging the General Assembly to take a picture with the signed photo frame and share it across their social media platforms. However, Start Strong PA needs your help! Throughout January, the campaign is asking Pennsylvania families and caregivers to send in photos of their infants and toddlers to place inside the frames. Will you reinforce Start Strong PA’s mission to increase access to and the affordability of high-quality infant/toddler early learning programs?

How You Can Help

To send in a photo, complete the following steps:

    • Find your Senator or Representative by visiting: http://bit.ly/StartStrongPAresolution.
    • Type in your address and press search.
    • You will be given links to your Pennsylvania House and Senate members.
    • Click on the link (their name) and you will be sent to their website. On the left-hand side, you can find their Harrisburg office address.
    • Place the 4 x 6 photo(s) and a message that says “Make me your New Year’s resolution!” in an envelope, add postage, and mail to their Harrisburg office.

Looking to go a step further? Send your Senator and Representative a reminder as well by completing a pre-filled form on our Take Action page!

More Information

For questions or to send your picture to Start Strong PA, email info@startstrongpa.org.

News

January 21, 2020

Raising Readers Together Club | Ages 0-5

The Raising Readers Together Club runs weekly and explores the importance of acceptance, equality, and tolerance through reading. Thursday sessions are suitable for children ages five and younger.

Raising Readers provides free books, discussion, food, songs, storytelling, and resources.

Winter 2020 Books

    • February 6: Thank You, Mr. Panda
    • February 13: Funderpants!
    • February 20: Knock Knock
    • February 27: My First Elements
    • March 5: Sulwe
    • March 12: Dream Big
    • March 19: The Too-Scary Story (Session Cancelled)
    • March 26: Thinker: My Puppy Poet and Me (Session Cancelled)

Questions

For questions or more information, contact Cynthia Battle at 412.567.1304 or cynthia@tryingtogether.org.

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