April 15, 2024 Working Together Webinar Pre-K for PA and Start Strong PA will host a Working Together webinar in late April that will focus on: Early learning in the 2024-25 state budget Follow up and response to state policymakers Federal advocacy update and opportunities for child care Learn More Speakers will include Pre-K for PA and Start Strong PA’s partners: First Up: Champions for Early Education Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children Pennsylvania Child Care Association Pennsylvania Head Start Association Trying Together Participants will learn how to work together to strengthen the state’s early learning system for teachers and programs and grow access to more eligible families. Details The webinar will begin at 12 p.m. on Monday, April 29. Those interested in participating can register in advance for the Zoom webinar. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
The Buzzword Is: EMERGE As part of its programming, Buzzword distributes its signature “BUZZ Boxes” to local families to help excite children from birth to age five as well as their caregivers about new words that are all around them. These family engagement kits come complete with a high-quality children’s book and enriching activities that support early literacy skills and development. This Month’s Buzzword This month’s Buzzword is EMERGE, which means to come out into view. The EMERGE Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities. Caregivers are encouraged to read through “Bloom Boom!” by April Pulley Sayre with their child. Then, they should take part in the different activities and experiments in the EMERGE Activity Book. Time should be spent explaining the meaning of the words in the book and connecting them to their child’s life experiences. Buzzword has also provided an EMERGE book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading. View the EMERGE Activity Book and book recommendations. More Information Buzzword is a free literacy resource for families. BUZZ Boxes are available at local Allegheny County Family Center locations for children up to age five. Each box contains a children’s book, activity guide, and materials for completing the activities. Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local family center about the program. You can also visit the Buzzword website or email buzzword@tryingtogether.org for more information about Buzzword.
April 9, 2024 Take Action to Fix Child Care In February, Gov. Josh Shapiro released his 2024-25 state budget approval. While the governor mentioned proposed investments in pre-K, evidence-based home visiting, and perinatal and child health, his proposal did not directly address the state’s ongoing child care teacher shortage. To accomplish our goal of keeping classrooms open and staffed, we need supporters to send a message to the General Assembly and the governor, telling them to fix child care in the 2024-25 state budget. Details on the Teacher Shortage A September 2023 survey conducted by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s PolicyLab – on behalf of Start Strong PA – provided details on the staffing crisis in 762 of Pennsylvania’s child care programs. The survey found that nearly 26,000 additional children could be served at child care programs if they were fully staffed. Additionally, 2,395 open positions have resulted in the closure of 934 classrooms. Lastly, child care providers’ inability to recruit and retain staff is having a direct impact on the quality of programming. As a result, thousands of families are unable to find the care they need to go to work. Take Action Pennsylvania lawmakers can fix this problem by tackling the child care teacher shortage. They must establish and fund a program that will help providers to better recruit and retain staff. Make your voice heard: Send a message to the General Assembly and the governor. Tell them they must fix child care in the 2024-25 state budget. Get Updates By signing on to Trying Together’s Public Policy Agenda, you’ll receive action alerts to advocate on behalf of young children, their families, and the early care and education professionals who interact with them.
April 2, 2024 American Red Cross First Aid, Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and AED Training Trying Together and ELRC Region 5 are partnering to provide First Aid, Pediatric First Aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. This single course emphasizes hands-on learning and provides life-saving skills in alliance with The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s Best Practices for Workplace First Aid Training Programs. Certification will be issued upon successful completion of the course. This certification is valid for two years. PLEASE NOTE: Successful course completion requires full participation in classroom and skill sessions, as well as successful performance in skill and knowledge evaluations. Participants will be conducting strenuous activities, such as performing CPR on the floor. If you have a medical condition or disability that will prevent you from taking part in the skills practice sessions, please let your instructor know so that accommodations can be made for the practice portion. The CPR and AED evaluations must be completed with the manikin on the ground. Session Details May 16 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Location: Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center 7219 Kelly Street Pittsburgh, PA 15208 Register Learn More The cost for this course is $38. This course is PQAS certified and must be paid for in full before registrants can participate. Registered individuals will receive additional course information prior to the start of the course. Please make sure to read all information before the start of the course. For questions about the sessions, contact Holly Cessna at holly.cessna@alleghenycounty.us. For credit questions, contact Paige Kizior at paige@tryingtogether.org.
April 1, 2024 April is the Month of the Young Child April has been designated as the Month of the Young Child. Trying Together has planned a month full of events and opportunities to tout the importance of early child care and celebrate organizations that provide vital services. History The Week of the Young Child was first established in 1971 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Its aim was to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and recognize early childhood programs and services that are centered around those needs. Over time, increased interest led Trying Together to designate the entire month of April as the Month of the Young Child (MOYC). We celebrate MOYC to elevate the important work of families and early care and education professionals, who strive to meet the needs of the young children in their care. MOYC-in-a-Box Early learning programs can request a mailed box of materials related to the month. Materials include posters to display at program locations or to give to businesses to promote the importance of child care in the community; buttons for staff and families to wear in April; and printed materials and resources from Trying Together and Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5. To request the MOYC box of materials, fill out this form. Materials are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. The last day to request materials is Friday, April 12. Events There are a number of great events to celebrate the Month of the Young Child. These include: 2024 Annual Celebration of Early Childhood Educators Dinner – Trying Together will join early care and education colleagues from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 25 at Acrisure Stadium for dinner, a photo booth, and prizes. There is currently a wait-list for this event. Homewood Early Learning Block Party – This free event will feature craft activities as well as face painting, dancing, and other activities. There will be resources from organizations in Homewood and the Pittsburgh region for caregivers and families. The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center. Affirming Black Joy: Race, Identity, and Early Childhood – The Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education (P.R.I.D.E.) program’s spring speaker series event will feature Trying Together’s Cara Ciminillo as a guest speaker. This virtual event will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10. Registration for this event is now open. Education Affiliate Dinner and Lecture – Beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, this event at Saint Vincent College will feature a dinner and lecture with Todd Whitaker, a leading authority on staff motivation, teacher leadership, and principal effectiveness. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. at the college’s Event and Conference Center and the lecture will follow at 7 p.m. at the Carey Performing Arts Center. More details are available on the college’s Education Department website. NAEYC Week of the Young Child – The NAEYC will celebrate daily themes as part of its Week of the Young Child from April 6 to 12. Visit the NAEYC’s website for more information on the daily themes and activity resources.
March 29, 2024 Kindergarten Readiness Events Planned for Northside Families in April Hi5! and Pittsburgh Public Schools will host kindergarten readiness events for northside families in April. Attendees will learn about kindergarten readiness, transition, and enrollment. Session Details The first event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on April 4 at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, located at 1230 Federal Street in Pittsburgh. Those interested in attending can register now. A second event will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on April 20 at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, located at 1201 Woods Run Avenue in Pittsburgh. Those interested in attending can register now. Both events are free. The first 20 families to register for each event will receive a free kindergarten giveaway bag. When a child reaches five years of age, it is time to enroll them in kindergarten. Details about kindergarten registration information for the 2024-25 school year in Allegheny County are now available. Hi5! Kindergarten transition efforts are led in partnership with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3 (AIU3), Trying Together, and United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania. For more information visit Trying Together’s Kindergarten Transition page.
March 22, 2024 Voice Of ECE Childcare Liability Insurance Survey The Voice of ECE is inviting child care providers to share their insights by participating in its Childcare Liability Insurance Survey. The survey was created by and for early childhood business owners. Learn More The survey’s objective is to gain a comprehensive understanding of child care business owners’ experiences with liability insurance carriers. The Voice of ECE is interested in gathering information on changes in premiums, coverage issues, or policy cancellations/non-renewals. Feedback gathered during the survey will play a crucial role in identifying areas for improvement and help to ensure that child care facilities are adequately protected. Challenges and concerns shared during the survey will help to better serve and maintain child care facility operations. All content will be utilized only for internal data collection purposes and will be treated as confidential. The Voice of ECE’s partners in the survey include Trying Together as well as Children First, First Up, Latinos Educando Juntos, the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA), and the Pennsylvania Association of the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC). How To Participate Providers who are interested in filling out the survey have until April 12 to do so. Two participants will be randomly chosen to win a $100 gift card from PennAEYC.
March 20, 2024 Trying Together Receives Rapid Response Team Grant Trying Together was one of 18 early childhood organizations to receive state mini-grants for $200,000 in November. Learn More The Pennsylvania Key, on behalf of the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), awarded the Rapid Response Team grants to begin a six-month planning with six months implementation or a one-year grant implementation starting in January. The grant will support an approach that has emerged in several Pennsylvania communities to provide a Rapid Response Team to support a child, family, and educator when a child is at risk of being suspended or expelled. Trying Together will use the OCDEL grant to expand the services currently provided by the existing Rapid Response Team in Allegheny County. Funding from the grant will be used to hire additional staff to respond within 24 hours of a referral; to provide program- and classroom-wide support such as mentoring and coaching, technical assistance, and professional development; and to increase the number of functional behavior assessments based on the needs of the child. ELRC Region 5’s Rapid Response Team will continue to refer families and educators to additional services such as Early Intervention and Infant Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH). Early Learning Connections in Butler received the grant in ELRC Region 3 and Engage Kidz LLC in Murrysville received the grant in ELRC Region 4. About Rapid Response Rapid Response Teams enhance the system of support available within the state’s early childhood system. The teams include behavioral health professionals, Early Intervention professionals and ELRC staff. The program is a piloted, short-term triaging support to enhance the early childhood system of support in each ELRC region in the state, which also include quality coaching, IECMH and School-Age Child Care, focused mental health consultation, Early Intervention services and supports, and home visiting. To learn more about Rapid Response Team implementation mini-grants, visit the PA Keys website.
August 23, 2023 IPA-USA National Day of Loose Parts Play The International Play Association-USA chapter presents National Day of Play on September 16, 2023! To celebrate this international recognition of the importance of play, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative is hosting a special, pop-up play day on Saturday, September 16 at Lytle Land and The Elizabeth Street Parklet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Playful Pittsburgh “IPA-USA National Day of Loose Parts Play” event is a free, family-friendly opportunity for all communities throughout Pittsburgh to enjoy a day of play. The event will focus on embracing loose parts play to highlight how everyday items, such as cardboard boxes, paper tubes, string, and various fabrics can be representative of items from around the world. Using our imagination, we will celebrate cultural differences and similarities of play through a range of activities. When: Saturday, 9/16 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Where: Lytle Land Park, 5113 Lytle Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15207 (Hazelwood) Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. We know you’ll leave the play day feeling inspired and creative, so the fun can continue wherever your family travels! Loose parts are all around us! Don’t miss this celebration of play from perspectives around the world! Partnering Organizations Include: Open Field Child in Mind Consulting Global Links Kaleidoscope PGH City Squeakers Trying Together Lion of Judah Enterprises
July 17, 2023 Trying Together Offering Free Idlewild & SoakZone Tickets Through Summer Giveaway Trying Together is offering families a chance at two free Idlewild Park and SoakZone tickets through an online Summer Giveaway. About the 2023 Summer Giveaway Hosted on Facebook, the contest requires audiences to take three actions: Follow Trying Together on Facebook. Share any one post about the giveaway on Facebook. Tag any one friend in the comment section of the post they intend to share. Individuals who meet these requirements will have the opportunity to win the two free tickets. Offer available now through Sunday, July 23. Winners will be notified via Facebook messenger on Monday, July 24. The winner may receive their tickets in the mail or visit the Trying Together office at 5604 Solway Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15217 during regular operating hours to pick them up. Enter the 2023 Summer Giveaway Interested individuals should visit the Trying Together Facebook page to participate. About Idlewild Park and SoakZone Since 1878, Idlewild & SoakZone has been provided smiles on faces and laughter in the hearts of all who visit. What started out as a simple picnic ground along the Ligonier Valley Railroad has grown into one of the most scenic and well-loved entertainment facilities in all of Pennsylvania. Nationally recognized as “Best Children’s Park” by Amusement Today magazine and “Best Park for Families” by the National Amusement Park Historical Association, Idlewild & SoakZone is your place for family fun! It offers seven theme areas of fun, including the nostalgic Story Book Forest and Olde Idlewild coupled with new and exciting areas such as SoakZone and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Jumpin’ Jungle, Hootin’ Holler, and Raccoon Lagoon Kiddieland round out the fun. Visit the Idlewild Park and SoakZone website for more information. Learn More To learn more, visit the Trying Together Facebook page or email info@tryingtogether.org with any questions. Related Content & Resources CitiParks Announces Free Pool Access for Area Youth Carnegie Museums Offer Free Memberships to Teens CitiParks Publishes Summer Guide Allegheny County Shares Summer Safety Guidance CitiParks Announces Summer Activity Schedules for Concerts, Movies, and More
