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
July 11, 2023 Trying Together Raises Over $3,000 to Support the Work of Early Childhood in Highmark Walk Fundraising for the 2023 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community closed last month, and Trying Together successfully trotted away with $3,205. Walk dollars will aid Trying Together’s continued efforts to support the work of early childhood, children, child care professionals, and families. Trying Together’s 2023 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community Campaign To extend the reach of the Highmark Walk, Trying Together invited early learning programs to create walk teams on behalf of Trying Together, committing to donate 75% of funds raised by early learning programs back to them. With provider participation, Trying Together developed six walk teams which collectively raised the $3,205 total—64% of the $5,000 goal. Team SMYL (Trying Together’s main team) raised the most funds at $1,320. Crafton Children’s Corner came just behind them with $1,000 raised. Here’s how the rest of the funds are broken down: Team SMYL – $1,320 Crafton Children’s Corner – $1,000 Presbyterian Day School – $275 St. Paul’s Weekday Ministries – $160 Dunkin’ Run – $85 Thomas Child Care and Learning Academy – $25 Team success depended on the efforts of individual team members, and a few team members drove funds. Top participants included: Mary Merryman – $265 Kristin Ash – $205 Laura Pollick – $180 Kendall Davis – $150 Maria Snyder – $115 Because of the dedication of these individuals and many others, Trying Together can directly support participating child care programs and use remaining funds to further aid local children, families, and professionals. The entire organization offers a great many thanks to all of those who made and continue to make that possible. Regional Participation & Impact Through the 2023 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community, Trying Together and 66 other organizations in the Pittsburgh region raised $309,653 for their missions, reaching 77% of their 400,000 goal. Find a list of participating Pittsburgh organizations on the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community website. About the 2023 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community Part of the Highmark Bright Blue Futures charitable giving and community involvement program, the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community is an annual fundraising walk that benefits local health and human service agencies in regions across Pennsylvania and Delaware. Held since 2003, the primary goal of the walk is to help participating organizations raise money for their individual missions by giving 100% of funds raised back to fundraisers. Through 2023, the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community events have raised more than $17.6 million for more than 500 health and human service nonprofit organizations. This year, the walk was held at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday, May 13, with fundraising continuing throughout the month of June.. Learn More To learn more, go online: Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community 2023 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community Pittsburgh Trying Together’s 2023 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community campaign Related Content & Resources Trying Together – Vision & Mission Trying Together – Strategic Roadmap Trying Together – Community Reports Trying Together – Support Trying Together – Give Now
June 26, 2023 Trying Together Shares Advocacy Tools for Families and Child Care Providers Trying Together has created two new advocacy tools to aid families and child care providers in their efforts to impact state budget negotiations and persuade state legislators to directly invest in the workforce behind the workforce by raising child care wages. Trying Together Advocacy Tools Simple, everyday advocacy efforts often start with quick, common interactions between providers, educators, families, and legislators. Calling your state representative or emailing with waitlisted families are great ways to communicate challenges facing the child care industry and advocate for change. Phone and email scripts can assist on these occasions. For Providers & Families: Phone Scripts for Calls to State Representatives & Legislators For Providers: Email Response to Waitlisted Families Take Action with PennAEYC Tell your legislators how important child care is to you and take action in seconds. The Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) has constructed a tool that allows you to send an email to your legislators stressing the importance of child care with a single click. Take action now. Additional Advocacy Tools The Pre-K for PA and Start Strong PA campaigns, of which Trying Together is a partner, have also compiled advocacy tools for family and provider use. Some of these include: State Fact Sheet: Pre-K in Pennsylvania County Fact Sheets: Pre-K in Pennsylvania County Fact Sheets: Child Care in Pennsylvania Pre-K and Child Care Maps: High-Quality Child Care in Pennsylvania EI Fact Sheet: Infant and Toddler Early Intervention in Pennsylvania Learn More To learn more, visit the Trying Together “Take Action” page.
May 18, 2023 P.R.I.D.E. and Trying Together to Host Author Britt Hawthorne for Anti-Racist Seminar The University of Pittsburgh’s Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education (P.R.I.D.E) Program, in conjunction with Trying Together, will host Britt Hawthorne, author of “Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Guide,” for a community discussion on Wednesday, May 24. Held via Zoom from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m., all community members are welcome and invited to participate. Part of the P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series, this event is free to the public, but requires registration. Interested individuals can register online or through the University of Pittsburgh’s video conferencing page. About Britt Hawthorne Hawthorne is the author of the New York Times best-selling book, “Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide.” Also an antiracist educator, teacher, speaker, and advocate, Hawthorne remains committed to raising a generation of antiracist children. They center families of the global majority and create equitable environments for students and children of all ages and backgrounds. Hawthorne’s work moves the idea of equity in education from a goal to a reality. They partner with action-oriented educators to create classroom environments that are inclusive and equitable for all learners. Their work has been recognized by PBS, the National Education Association (NEA), Drew Barrymore, Google Edu, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Rice University, the Association Montessori Internationale, and countless others. Hawthorne travels extensively to speak at conferences, authors publications, and appears on podcasts covering social justice, liberation, and equity in education. Learn More To learn more, view the event flyer or visit the P.R.I.D.E. website.
May 3, 2023 Ultimate Play Day Returns to Pittsburgh on Sunday, May 7 Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, alongside event partners Trying Together, Citiparks, and ZeroFossil, will host its annual Ultimate Play Day from 1 – 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 7. Ultimate Play Day is an opportunity for people throughout the Pittsburgh region to gather together, play together, and raise awareness of the benefits of play for everyone. This year, Ultimate Play Day will be held at Lower McKinley Park in the Beltzhoover/Knoxville area of Pittsburgh. Local partners and community organizations offer play activities for all ages each year. This year, more than 28 vendors are participating with hands-on playful activities, entertainment, and refreshments. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of “playful” activities from vendors, including ultimate frisbee, basketball, soccer, imagination/dramatic play with costumes, bean bag toss, oversized classic games like Connect 4 and Jenga, and plenty of arts and crafts projects. Share the Ultimate Play Day flyer with your friends, family, and neighbors! Ultimate Play Day is a part of Remake Learning Days. Remake Learning Days returns to Southwestern PA May 4 – May 23, 2023. A special thank you to Remake Learning for providing a mini-grant to The Collaborative for Ultimate Play Day. SLB Radio Ultimate Play Day Interview Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative was a special guest on the Neighborhood Voices show, hosted by The Saturday Light Brigade, to talk about Ultimate Play Day! Assistant Director of Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Adam James and Nicole Stevens from Beltzhoover Consensus Group joined SLB Radio to talk about this special day of play, why play is important for everyone, and how this event will connect neighbors throughout the City of Pittsburgh. Visit the Ultimate Play Day webpage to listen to this interview. Getting to Ultimate Play Day Ultimate Play Day is the same day as the Pittsburgh Marathon. That means there will be adjusted traffic patterns to be aware of, but that won’t stop the fun! You can find additional directions to get to Lower McKinley Park on the Ultimate Play Day webpage. Check out this map provided by the Pittsburgh Marathon to check the rolling road closures and openings on Sunday, May 7. Lower McKinley Park Learn more about Lower McKinley Park and its history before Ultimate Play Day. Check out this informational flyer on McKinley Park from Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Remake Learning Days Remake Learning Days hosts 1200+ learning events reaching 150,000 families. The festival features events across the southwestern PA region for youth, families, grandparents, caregivers and educators to explore creative and fun ways of learning. For more information, visit remakelearningdays.org/southwesternpa. Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative is a group of organizations dedicated to advancing the importance of play in the lives of children, families, and communities in the Pittsburgh region by raising awareness on play being a critical life element for people of all ages, educating decision-makers (from parents to legislators) to support access to play for all, and modeling play through various recreational and professional activities. For more information, visit playfulpittsburgh.org.
May 1, 2023 Trying Together and ELRC Region 5 Partnering to Offer First Aid & CPR 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 to early childhood professionals throughout June, July, and August. Participants will receive training through a single, six-hour, in-person course offered on multiple dates and at varying times throughout the summer. About the Course This 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 2 years. Course Offerings Courses are available: June 3 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Trying Together (5604 Solway Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217) July 20 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center (7219 Kelly Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15208) August 8 | 3:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | Trying Together (5604 Solway Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217) August 26 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. | TBD Register via the links above. Learn More The cost of the course is $35. The 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 their registered session. 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 25, 2023 Advocacy Organizations Release Report on Rural Early Care and Education Trying Together, in partnership with Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA, recently released a report on the current state of early child care and education in Pennsylvania’s rural counties. Entitled, “A Snapshot of the Rural Early Care and Education Landscape: Examining data from 13 counties in Pennsylvania,” the report shows that families in rural Pennsylvania communities have limited access to quality care, despite having a higher proportion of parents in the workforce, and a greater prevalence of long and nontraditional hours and commutes. About Rural Counties and the Rural Early Care and Education Report Authors of the report considered counties in which the number of people per square mile amounted to less than 291 (the statewide average), rural. Of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, 72% met this definition, and just over 162,000 children under five live in them. This report highlights data in the following rural counties: Armstrong, Butler, Centre, Clarion, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, and Washington. It also includes data from Lancaster, Westmoreland, and York counties. These counties aren’t classified as rural based on the population, but include pockets of rural communities facing similar challenges. Report Findings Rural families and child care providers have some of the greatest challenges in accessing and providing child care in Pennsylvania. This is due to the unique realities of rural areas, including fewer high-quality options, distance and travel, limited transportation, higher teacher turnover, fewer qualified individuals living in the region, and lower family incomes. Specifically: Working Families Child Care Needs Nearly every rural county in PA shows a majority of all available parents in the labor force. Seven of the counties reviewed have a higher proportion of working parents than does the state. Over 80% of parents in Butler County are in the workforce, as are three quarters of parents in Indiana and Somerset counties. In rural areas, options for evening, overnight, or weekend hours are scarce, with one parent describing them as non-existent. Child Care Provider Capacity The number of Child Care Works (CCW) subsidy-eligible children who need child care exceeds the licensed capacity in every county reviewed, with the exception of Centre. Families are eligible for the CCW subsidy if their incomes are at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level ($60,000 for a family of four). Most rural child care programs are not operating at full capacity because they don’t have enough staffing. Statewide home-based providers make up about 30% of licensed programs, yet home-based providers comprise a much higher proportion in some of the rural counties analyzed. In Greene County, home-based providers account for over 70% of licensed options, and for over half in Franklin County. Indiana County home-based providers make up 48% of licensed options, and in Armstrong and Somerset counties, home-based providers are 42% of licensed child care. Public Funding for Child Care and Pre-K The state only serves a quarter of CCW-eligible infants and toddlers. Unfortunately, this figure is even lower in every rural county reviewed. In rural counties, both subsidized and private pay infant and toddler care is difficult to find and afford. Pre-K children are served at much higher rates than infants and toddlers, given that pre-k investments have been more consistent and sustainable. Clarion, Greene, Indiana, and Lawrence counties are serving more than half of their eligible three- and four- year olds. The Child Care Workforce Pennsylvania is experiencing a dramatic decline in teachers from pre-k to 12th grade, and rural communities have been the most significantly impacted by this decline. No county shows median annual earnings above $26,000, with six counties below $20,000 a year. The median earnings fall well under the cost of living in every county. Providers highlighted the difficulty of training staff, especially with changing requirements and when onboarding new employees. Another challenge that providers raised is the lack of mental and behavioral health and early intervention services. Recommendations Early childhood programs can’t continue to operate with their current budgets and expenses. Additionally, middle class families cannot continue to shoulder the brunt of the cost, while child care teachers subsidize the system through their own low wages. Thus, Trying Together, Start Strong PA, and Pre-K for PA recommend the following: Invest long-term, sustainable funding for early childhood educator wages. Conduct further research on family child care needs and choices in rural communities. Support resources and quality for home-based and relative care providers. Increase infant and toddler contracted slots (grants). Move to an alternative cost methodology for setting subsidy rates. Increase early intervention, mental health, and behavioral health resources, and professionals. Provide more support and resources to help rural providers meet training requirements. Learn More To learn more, read the full report.
April 20, 2023 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 is available in multiple sessions. It 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 2 years. Session Details June 3 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Instructors: Loni Gooden Theresa Hetler Allison Hritz Location: Trying Together, Training Room 5604 Solway Street Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Registration: Register Registration closes June 1 at 11:55 p.m. July 20 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Instructors: Jillian Miller Bliss Letang Nicole Banner Holly Cessna Location: The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center 7219 Kelly Street Pittsburgh, PA 15208 Registration: Register Registration closes July 18 at 11:55 pm. August 8 | 3:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Instructors: Allison Hritz Bliss Letang Nicole Banner Location: Trying Together, Training Room 5604 Solway Street Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Registration: Register Registration closes August 4 at 11:55 p.m. August 26 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Instructors: Loni Gooden Jillian Miller Theresa Hetler Location: Western Allegheny Community Library 181 Bateman Road Oakdale, PA 15071 Registration: Register Registration closes August 24 at 11:55 p.m. Learn More The cost for this course is $36. 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.
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 is available in multiple sessions. It 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 2 years. Session Details June 3 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Instructors: Loni Gooden Theresa Hetler Allison Hritz Location: Trying Together, Training Room 5604 Solway Street Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Registration: Register Registration closes June 1 at 11:55 p.m. July 20 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Instructors: Jillian Miller Bliss Letang Nicole Banner Holly Cessna Location: The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center 7219 Kelly Street Pittsburgh, PA 15208 Registration: Register Registration closes July 18 at 11:55 pm. August 8 | 3:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Instructors: Allison Hritz Bliss Letang Nicole Banner Location: Trying Together, Training Room 5604 Solway Street Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Registration: Register Registration closes August 4 at 11:55 p.m. August 26 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Instructors: Loni Gooden Jillian Miller Theresa Hetler Location: Western Allegheny Community Library 181 Bateman Road Oakdale, PA 15071 Registration: Register Registration closes August 24 at 11:55 p.m. Learn More The cost for this course is $36. 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.
