December 17, 2025 Registration Open for Trying Together’s Spring CDA Cohort Trying Together has begun enrolling students in spring Child Development Associate (CDA) cohorts that begin in early January. Learn More Participants have the option to participate in one of two cohorts. The first cohort is hybrid and will run from Thursday, January 8 through Thursday, June 18. It meets virtually over Zoom Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and one Saturday per month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Trying Together’s office in Squirrel Hill (5604 Solway Street, Pittsburgh). The second cohort will run from Saturday, January 10 through Saturday, June 20 and will meet in person every other Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Trying Together’s office. To enroll, participants must complete two applications: Apply to Trying Together Apply for funding to cover the cost of the CDA program Those with questions about the program should reach out to Patty McGee at patricia@tryingtogether.org. About the CDA Credential A CDA credential is the most widely recognized credential in the early childhood field and is a key stepping stone on the path to career advancement. The CDA Credential is based on a core set of competency standards that guide early learning professionals in their work to build on their professional experience and expertise. As a nationally recognized credential, a CDA Credential enables early learning professionals to work in Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms in addition to early learning programs across the United States. Several topics are studied in a CDA program, including, but not limited to: A healthy and safe learning environment Physical, cognitive, language, and creative development Social and emotional development Positive guidance Creating positive relationships with families Program and classroom management Observation and assessments Professionalism in early childhood education By earning a CDA Credential, early learning professionals strengthen their professional skill sets, gain opportunities to advance their careers, increase their confidence in the classroom, and reinforce their commitment to support young children and families.
Child Care Programs Still Recovering from Budget Impasse, Advocates Optimistic About New Investments Some early childhood education centers are still recovering from the months-long state budget impasse, despite additional child care investments in the 2025-26 budget that Governor Josh Shapiro signed into law last month, according to a new report by the West Hills Gazette. Several long-time partners of Trying Together discussed with the Gazette how they were forced to dip into their reserves during the impasse and how getting a $25 million early childhood education retention and recruitment line item in the budget is a great start for alleviating teacher shortages. Presbyterian Day School Mary Merryman, director of Coraopolis’ Presbyterian Day School, said that low wages in the early childhood education profession has made it challenging to find teachers and resulted in a shortage of child care centers. Merryman, an alum of Trying Together’s advocacy fellowship, said that Coraopolis is a “child care desert,” meaning there are not enough centers or programs to support the number of children under age 5 in the area. Merryman, who has traveled to Harrisburg to advocate for early childhood education, said the state budget’s $25 million line item is a good start to combatting the shortages. “That will definitely help,” she told the Gazette. “If we can retain teachers, we can offer more services to families.” Riverview Children’s Center Stephanie Heakins, director of Riverview Children’s Center in Verona, said she took over the reins at the center in the middle of the impasse. Earlier this month, Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis dropped by the center to discuss the recently-passed child care investments in the 2025-26 budget. Riverview has been a long-time partner of Trying Together and has a history of advocacy work. Heakins told the Gazette that loans were not an option during the impasse because paying interest on them was “not feasible,” while laying off teachers was also not possible because she knew the center would never get them back. Riverview receives about $55,000 per month from the state for its Pre-K Counts program, which provides free pre-kindergarten classes to low-income families, the Gazette reported. More than 50 students are currently enrolled and there is a waitlist. Because Pre-K Counts and Head Start – which Riverview does not offer – did not receive state dollars during the impasse, programs like Riverview were forced to dip into their reserve funds. “(The impasse) was a big thing, but now we are hoping we can get back on track and start planning for the future,” Heakins told the Gazette. Data According to PA Partnerships for Children, there were about 3,000 open staffing positions in the child care workforce, with an average salary of $29,480, as of September 2024. Kindergarten teachers, on the other hand, make an average $67,670. The 2025-26 budget’s $25 million Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program would provide about $450 annually to employed licensed Child Care Works providers. The bonuses would support approximately 55,000 child care workers.
December 8, 2025 Support Our Work: Donate Before the End of the Year When you donate to Trying Together, you become part of a community of supporters who value the work of early childhood. Your financial support ensures that Trying Together can continue to advocate for young children, develop community resources to help families thrive, and provide professional growth opportunities for educators. As 2025 draws to a close, Trying Together needs your help reaching our year-end fundraising goal. Whether you’re donating for the first time or you regularly give, your support is welcome and appreciated. Donate now. The Impact of Your Contribution Wondering about the impact your contribution may have on the lives of those we serve? Below are just a few programs and initiatives your donation supports: $100 covers CPR training for an educator $250 helps one educator complete their Child Development Associate (CDA) portfolio $500 supports an early educator complete the Child Care 101: New Hire Orientation Professional Development Series $1,000 sponsors a group day trip to Harrisburg to advocate for increased investments in early education $2,500 underwrites a site-wide training for a provider serving 40+ children Maximize Your Impact Once you’ve donated, you have the opportunity to double your donation by requesting a matching gift from your employer. The process is simple – once you make a donation, you will be prompted to check for matching gift opportunities. You simply enter your employer’s name, and the Double the Donation database will identify whether your employer has a matching gift program and determine if you are eligible. If eligible, you will be guided through the process of submitting a matching gift request to your employer. Search now to see if your employer will match your donation.
December 5, 2025 Registration Open for UnConference: Kindergarten Transition Registration is now open for Trying Together’s UnConference: Kindergarten Transition scheduled for Monday, February 16 at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Learn More The UnConference will highlight multiple aspects of preparing children for kindergarten, from early intervention practices and engaging parents to play-based learning and emotional regulation. Attendees will hear from a keynote speaker as well as a panel of experts on kindergarten registration and readiness. Participants will also attend sessions in the morning and afternoon that are led by local and national early childhood organizations. More Details The UnConference will run from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, located at 475 E. Waterfront Drive in Homestead. The fee to attend is $25. Registration is required and now open. Free parking will be available in the AIU parking lot, and overflow parking is available across the street. A light breakfast with coffee and tea will be available and lunch will be provided as part of the registration fee. The event will begin with keynote speaker Swati Adarkar, the former deputy assistant secretary for policy and early learning at the U.S. Department of Education. Then, participants will listen to a panel of experts who will discuss how early intervention plays a critical role in supporting kindergarten transitions and how to support and improve on-time kindergarten registration and readiness. A total of 4.5 PQAS and Act 48 credit hours will be available for attendees. Trying Together will host the event in partnership with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, United Way of SWPA, and Hi5!. Workshops Attendees will take part in two sessions – one in the morning and another in the afternoon – led by local and national early childhood organizations. During registration, participants will be asked to make selections for the two workshop time slots. Workshops include: How Community Partnerships Strengthen Kindergarten Readiness Efforts A K.I.N.D. Framework for Engaging Parents Preparing for Kindergarten with Fred Rogers Productions Strengthening My Early Learner: A Parent’s Journey The Power of Play About UnConference The UnConference is an innovative, hands-on professional development training format in which a deeper experience is provided around a particular theme. Local and national speakers are invited to present and participants are encouraged to engage hands on in the workshops. The day concludes with a roundtable discussion on how to apply these experiences and ideas in the early childhood environment and share ideas on how to partner with new colleagues.
December 3, 2025 Trying Together Surpasses Fundraising Goals for Give Big Pittsburgh Thanks to the generous support of donors, Trying Together exceeded its fundraising goal for Give Big Pittsburgh, a 24-hour online fundraising effort held on GivingTuesday that was hosted by Pittsburgh Magazine and presented by GBU Life. The organization’s goal for the day was $5,000, but ultimately raised $7,180. Learn More The donation form will remain open until the end of the year, but individuals who want to make a year-end donation can do so on Trying Together’s website. Cara Ciminillo, Trying Together’s executive director, said that donations made on GivingTuesday will help to further the organization’s mission of ensuring that every child has quality early care and education. “Thank you to those who donated through Give Big Pittsburgh on GivingTuesday,” she said. “Every gift, whether big or small, fuels this work. And every dollar moves our community closer to the care system children deserve. I’m incredibly fortunate to lead an organization filled with people who show up every day for children, families, and early educators across Southwestern Pennsylvania. We believe in a future where every child has access to affordable, high-quality care and education – and where the educators who make that possible are valued, supported, and fairly compensated.” Double Your Donation Donors can double their donation if their employer has a matching gift program. Once an individual makes a donation, they will be prompted to check for matching gift opportunities. They will be prompted to enter their employer’s name and the Double the Donation database will identify whether the employer has a matching gift program and determine if the donor was eligible. If eligible, the donor is guided through the process of submitting a matching gift request to their employer. How Donations Help Individuals who donate to Trying Together are helping to support a number of initiatives, including: Community-Based High School Child Development (CDA) Program Buzzword literacy initiative Rapid Response Team Developmentally Appropriate Parenting (DAP) Resources series Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center Diaper & Formula Banks Institute for Early Childhood Career Pathways Pediatric First Aid/CPR Facilitation and Instruction Home-Based Child Care Business Cohort To learn of other giving opportunities, visit Trying Together’s Give Now page.
November 20, 2025 PA Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women Hosts Discussion on Child Care Crisis The Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women hosted a virtual discussion earlier this week between business and government leaders and child care advocates about the state’s child care crisis. Learn More The discussion – which took place on Monday – focused on the ongoing child care crisis, which has forced many parents to leave the workforce due to the lack of access to affordable child care. “Ensuring affordable, high-quality child care depends on bold, ongoing investment in the educators who power our commonwealth,” said Cara Ciminillo, Trying Together’s executive director. “Early educators are the workforce behind every thriving community. By continuing to invest in them, Pennsylvania can strengthen its economy, support families, and build a child care system that positions our state for long-term prosperity.” The topics focused on during the discussion – which included Trying Together and various other organizations – will inform the commission’s future recommendations to the Shapiro Administration. Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed the state budget, which secured the following investments in child care: $25 million for a new Child Care Staff Retention and Recruitment Program, providing about $450 per employee annually to licensed Child Care Works providers A $7.5 million increase in Pre-K Counts rates, enabling providers to raise wages and stabilize the early educator workforce Continued support for the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, which encourages businesses to help employees cover child care costs, and the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit for working families A $10 million increase for Early Intervention to provide coaching support and services to families and children with developmental delays and disabilities “Child care and the early learning professionals who make this work possible play an important role in supporting child development and fueling our economy,” said Shante Brown, deputy secretary of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). “Our child care workforce makes it possible for parents to go to work knowing their children are learning and growing in an enriching, caring environment.”
November 10, 2025 Trying Together Exec Director to Participate in Discussion on How Child Care Shapes PA Economy Trying Together Executive Director Cara Ciminillo will take part in an upcoming virtual discussion on how child care shapes Pennsylvania’s economy. Learn More The state Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women will host a virtual discussion on Monday, November 17 on child care’s role in Pennsylvania’s economy. The event will be a candid conversation featuring participants from business and economic development, state government, and child care advocacy. It will explore the workforce, policy, and cultural shifts needed to strengthen child care in Pennsylvania. The state is currently facing a child care crisis that affects every sector of its economy. Due to a shortage of 3,000 child care positions affecting care for more than 25,000 children, families are being forced to choose between cutting work hours or leaving the workforce entirely. Since nearly 70% of children have working parents and 95% of child care workers are women, the issue is deeply intertwined with women’s economic opportunity. The virtual discussion will focus on identifying the problem and shaping solutions that help families, employers, and the economy. Panelists include Ciminillo; Shante Brown, the deputy secretary of the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL); Alex Halper, senior vice president of government affairs for the PA Chamber of Business and Industry; and Kevin Schreiber, president and CEO of the York County Economic Alliance. Tracy Lawless – government affairs counselor for K&L Gates and chairwoman of the Women in the Workforce Subcommittee of the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Women – will be the moderator. Those interested in attending can RSVP online.
Will You Give Big This GivingTuesday? This GivingTuesday, Trying Together will participate in Give Big Pittsburgh, a 24-hour online fundraising effort hosted by Pittsburgh Magazine and presented by GBU Life. When you donate to Trying Together on December 2, you are part of a community of supporters who value the work of early childhood. Your financial support ensures that Trying Together can continue to advocate for young children and their caregivers, provide professional growth opportunities, and develop community resources. Will You Help Us Reach Our Goal? This year, we’ve set a goal of $5,000 — but we can’t reach that goal without your help! We encourage you to not only donate, but also to also raise money on behalf of Trying Together. Make a plan for December 2 to share with your friends and family members the important work we do, and ask them to join us in making a difference. You also have an opportunity to maximize your impact through our Double the Donation page. Simply search for your workplace and if they offer a matching gift program, you will be guided through how to submit a matching gift request. How to Give Gifts to Trying Together will be accepted on the Give Big Platform from Tuesday, Dec. 2 through Tuesday, Dec. 31. Donating to Trying Together on GivingTuesday is easy – simply complete the online donation form on the Give Big Pittsburgh platform. How Your Donation Helps When you donate to Trying Together, you are supporting a number of initiatives, including: Community-Based High School Child Development Associate (CDA) Program The Buzzword literacy initiative Developmentally Appropriate Parenting (DAP) Resources Series Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center Diaper & Formula Banks Institute for Early Childhood Career Pathways Pediatric First Aid/CPR Facilitation and Instruction Home-Based Child Care Business Cohort Rapid Response Team
November 7, 2025 Donate to Trying Together This GivingTuesday Trying Together will participate in Give Big Pittsburgh, a 24-hour online fundraising effort hosted by Pittsburgh Magazine and presented by GBU Life, this year on GivingTuesday. When you donate to Trying Together on December 2, your financial support ensures that Trying Together can continue to advocate for young children and their caregivers, provide professional growth opportunities, and develop community resources. Learn More This year, we’ve set a goal of $5,000. We encourage you to not only donate, but also to also raise money on behalf of Trying Together. Make a plan for December 2 to share with your friends and family members the important work we do, and ask them to join us in making a difference. You also have an opportunity to maximize your impact through our Double the Donation page. Search for your workplace and if they offer a matching gift program, you will be guided through how to submit a matching gift request. How to Give Gifts to Trying Together will be accepted on the Give Big Platform from Tuesday, Dec. 2 through Tuesday, Dec. 31. Donating to Trying Together on GivingTuesday is easy – simply complete the online donation form on the Give Big Pittsburgh platform. How Your Donation Helps When you donate to Trying Together, you are supporting a number of initiatives, including: Community-Based High School Child Development Associate (CDA) Program The Buzzword literacy initiative Developmentally Appropriate Parenting (DAP) Resources Series Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center Diaper & Formula Banks Institute for Early Childhood Career Pathways Pediatric First Aid/CPR Facilitation and Instruction Home-Based Child Care Business Cohort Rapid Response Team
November 3, 2025 From Cradle to Career: How Child Care Shapes Pennsylvania’s Economy The state Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women will host a virtual discussion on Monday, November 17 on how child care helps to shape Pennsylvania’s economy. Learn More The event will be a candid conversation featuring participants from business and economic development, state government, and child care advocacy. It will explore the workforce, policy, and cultural shifts needed to strengthen child care in Pennsylvania. Panelists include Trying Together Executive Director Cara Ciminillo and Shante Brown, the deputy secretary of the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), among others. The discussion will run from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Those interested can RSVP online.
