January 19, 2023 Thriving PA Releases Report on WIC Participants and Access to Benefits Thriving PA has released a report on the results of focus group sessions with Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program participants. Entitled, “WIC Participants Encourage Improvements to Remove Barriers to Access,” the report reveals value in key elements of the WIC program and a need to increase program accessibility. About Thriving PA partnered with eight community-based organizations, including Trying Together, to recruit and facilitate focus group sessions. The results in the report are part of a continuous feedback loop with these organizations and session participants. Summary of Findings WIC Program Strengths Participants valued information on nutrition and health education provided at WIC clinics during appointments. Information on the breastfeeding program proved especially important. Participants are hopeful the increased monthly produce benefits (resulting from a congressional response to the COVID-19 pandemic) will continue even when the public health emergency ends. Participants considered the ability to use vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables at farmer’s markets as a significant strength of the program. Barriers to WIC Program Benefits Participants expressed difficulty getting to WIC offices during clinic hours. They included distance, gas prices, and inability to obtain child care as barriers to attending appointments. Because participants must visit WIC clinics to get their EBT benefits reloaded every three months, they describe in-person requirements are challenging. Participants feel the length of certification is too short and annual recertification is too frequent. Participants shared frustrations with the food options that are eligible for WIC, including sizing and diversity restrictions. Participants identified a need for an updated package that meets current nutritional standards. Participants had trouble determining what items were WIC approved in stores and said item identification and checkout need to be addressed to ensure smoother transactions. Participants expressed a desire for improvement in staff interactions at WIC clinics, as well as improved communication. Participants said they felt deterred by the stigma and shame associated with participation in WIC, especially during the checkout process. Thriving PA Recommendations Make permanent the flexibilities given to the program during the COVID-19 pandemic, which have allowed WIC agencies to adapt to families’ needs, and modernize current technology to provide the best user experience. Advance the transition to an online system as quickly as is feasible. Create a state-specific mobile app that would allow specific benefit information to be open to participants. Integrate WIC into COMPASS, which will allow eligibility and enrollment processes to be much more straightforward and easy for eligible individuals to access benefits. Explore more modern methods for outreach to capture more eligible WIC participants and educate community-based organizations, health care professionals, home visitors, and other service providers about the WIC program. Make significant vendor improvements, including care coordination, support for workforce development, federal food package updates, federal eligibility expansion, and federal relaxation of the physical presence requirement. Learn More Read the full report to learn more.
May 10, 2022 WIC Family Engagement Listening Session Thriving PA, in collaboration with Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, Allies for Children, United Way of Pennsylvania, Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger and Pennsylvania’s Prenatal-to-Age-Three Collaborative, is interested in engaging communities to hear from women, families, and present and former clients of the Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Present and former clients of WIC are invited to a Family Engagement Listening Session on Monday, May 23, from 6 – 8 p.m. At this event, participants will have the opportunity to talk about their experience with WIC in a small group setting and completely virtual. For decades WIC participation has been declining in Pennsylvania. Thriving PA wants to hear about the barriers and challenges you faced while accessing the program, as well as solutions that would make your experience more valuable. The first 25 registrants will get a $25 gift card for their time. Register now.
June 9, 2020 Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Medical Clinic Don’t let your child fall behind on their needed immunizations. Visit the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to access vaccinations for children ages two months through high school, receive WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) form assistance, learn important health and safety information, and more. About the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown are partnering to bring needed vaccines, safely, to western Pennsylvania communities through the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. Appropriate physical distancing measures will be maintained. Please give yourself adequate time in case of a wait. Adults and children over age two are asked to arrive wearing a mask. A mask will be provided if you do not have one. Children must be accompanied by one parent or legal guardian. Services Provided The following services will be available: vaccinations, ages two months through high school; WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) form assistance; health and safety information; kindergarten registration information; at-home activities for summertime; and food and infant formula resources. Available Dates and Locations The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is scheduled at the following locations and times: Chartiers Early Childhood Center June 10 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 3799 Chartiers Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15204 Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh June 17 and July 15 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 10 Children’s Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Penn Hills Family Care Connection June 18 and July 31 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 10 Duff Rd, Penn Hills, PA 15235 Valley Points Family YMCA June 22 and July 16 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 800 Constitution Blvd, New Kensington, PA 15068 Homewood-Brushton YMCA June 25 and July 23 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 7140 Bennett St, Pittsburgh, PA 15208 Allegheny Valley YMCA July 2 and August 6 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 5021 Freeport Rd, Natrona Heights, PA 15065 New Castle Jr/Sr High School July 20 and August 19 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 300 E Lincoln Ave, New Castle, PA 16101 Steel Valley Middle School July 27 and July 29 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 3114 Main St, Munhall, PA 15120 Cornell School District August 31 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 1099 Maple St, Coraopolis, PA 15108 Always call the Care Mobile prior to coming to any clinic at 412.352.1059 or 412.352.1060 for updated information about any weather or mechanical difficulties. No appointment is necessary at most sites. More Information For questions, contact the Care Mobile at 412.352.1059. To view the updated schedule, please visit the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh website. Share this flyer with your network.
February 4, 2020 2020 Census | Count All Kids to Reinforce Early Education Did you know that in 2010, five percent of children under the age of five weren’t counted in the 2010 Census? That’s roughly one million young children, the highest of any age group. To ensure all young children have access to high-quality, affordable early learning experiences, we must #CountAllKids in the upcoming 2020 Census. About The United States Census informs funding decisions for critical services and infrastructure in our communities, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP); the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Toddlers (WIC); and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to name a few. However, in the 2010 U.S. Census, there was an undercount of 25,197 children in Pennsylvania, resulting in the loss of nearly $44 million in federal funding. That’s roughly $1,746 lost for every child who wasn’t counted. Undercounts like this negatively impact Pennsylvania’s children and families, as social service programs are unable to provide services to all eligible families due to limited funding. Why It Matters In their report “The Road to Success Includes High-Quality Pre-K,” Pre-K for PA states that “high-quality, publicly funded pre-k programs prepare students for kindergarten and beyond by supporting the development of the whole child.” When a child is 3- or 4-years-old, they’re developing critical skills like problem-solving, emotional self-regulation, collaboration, and more. These social-emotional skills are what the Harvard Education Magazine calls an “on-ramp” to later academic success. In fact, Pre-K for PA states that “studies of children who were enrolled in high-quality social-emotional learning programs have shown that ‘[enrolled children] score, on average, 11 percentage points higher on academic tests than children who do not receive such instruction.'” However, due to limited funding, “in nearly two out of three state Senate districts, less than half of eligible preschoolers attend a high-quality pre-k program. In half of the state House districts, less than 40 percent of eligible 3- and 4-year-olds are currently attending one.” Limited access to such programs is negatively impacting the lives of young children, as “children from low-income families are a year or more behind their more advantaged peers.” One partial solution to these issues is to ensure that all kids are counted in the upcoming 2020 Census. While an accurate count may not entirely eliminate issues of access, quality, and affordability, it will ensure that Pennsylvania receives federal dollars needed to provide health and social services to eligible families in the Commonwealth. Will you help us raise awareness about the need to #CountAllKids! Click here to view Pre-K for PA’s full report. Available Tools Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children To help increase awareness about the 2020 Census, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children developed a toolkit that features factsheets, posters, social media images, and social media post templates. In addition to the toolkit, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children highlighted a list of resources for advocates, stakeholders, businesses, elected officials, military members, parents, caregivers, families, and people with disabilities. To access the full list, visit the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children website. 2020 Census: Be Counted 2020 Census: Be Counted provides information and resources to Pittsburgh and Allegheny County residents about the upcoming U.S. Census. The website highlights important dates, census submission options, an example of the questionnaire, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and more. For organizations, the website offers a toolkit, email newsletter, mini-grants, and more. Request a Mail-In Ballot Pennsylvania is now offering two options community members can choose from to submit their vote if they are unable to get to the polls on election day, including a mail-in ballot and absentee ballot. Registered voters can submit either ballot via mail or in person at their county election office. To request a mail-in ballot, please complete the online application by clicking here. Both mail-in and absentee voters will receive a ballot in the mail to complete and return to their county election office by 8 p.m. on election day. More Information If you’re interested in learning more about the 2020 Census, read our “Count All Kids in the 2020 Census” news post. The post features additional resources and information about who counts, submitting your data, safety, confidentiality, and more. *Information provided by Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, Pre-K for PA, and the United States Census Bureau
July 15, 2019 Cliff Effect Public Service Announcement Seeks Focus Group Circles Greater Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Child Development are seeking individuals who are willing to be interviewed and recorded for a Public Service Announcement that will raise awareness on the Cliff Effect. Participants selected will be compensated. About The Cliff Effect impacts individuals who are: working, but still eligible for certain subsidies such as Section 8 or public housing, Child Care Assistance, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and more at risk of losing benefits because of an increase in income faced with choosing between a raise/increased income or receiving benefits Available Sessions There are two available session dates: Thursday, July 18, 6 – 8 p.m. Carnegie Library East Liberty | 130 S. Whitfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Saturday, July 20, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Gallery on Penn | 5937 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Registration To register for the Cliff Effect groups, complete this form. Share this flyer with your network.
July 3, 2019 Adjusted WIC Income Guidelines Effective Starting July 1 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that starting July 1, 2019, adjusted income eligibility guidelines will be used to determine the income eligibility of persons applying to participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). About Income Guidelines Income eligibility for the WIC Program is determined using income standards as prescribed under section 9(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The income limit is 185 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines, as adjusted. Section 9(b) also requires that these guidelines be revised annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. The annual revision for 2019 was published by the Department of Health and Human Services on February 1, 2019. In accordance with the established income guidance, the revised WIC income eligibility guidelines are to be used in conjunction with WIC regulations. See the Revised Guidelines Click here to view the revised WIC Income Guidelines. More Information To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania WIC website or call 412.350.5801. *Information provided by the USDA
January 17, 2019 Community Check-Up Community Check-Up is a satellite clinic of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Every second and fourth Wednesday, an advanced practice provider and pediatrician see children and young adults ages birth–26 years old (birthday). Services include: Asthma and Allergy Care Check-Ups Driver Permit Physicals Hearing and Vision Screenings Immunizations and Flu Shots Lead and Anemia Screenings Mental Health Services and Resources Needs-Based Resources Sports Physicals WIC Forms Schedule an Appointment To schedule an appointment, call 412.310.7114. The last appointment begins at 3:30 p.m. Share this flyer with your networks.
December 20, 2018 OCDEL Reports Progress on Infant/Toddler Policies In 2017, the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and stakeholders completed a policy scan with National State Capacity Building Center that identified short, medium, and long-term policy goals to support infants and toddlers in Pennsylvania. Goal Progress OCDEL is proud to report progress on those goals: Short-Term Goal The short-term goal to “adopt a shared definition of relationship-based care” across the ECE system is underway. OCDEL and Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) staff, in partnership with the National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement, are focusing on Relationship-Based Competencies and developing shared definitions and language across systems. Medium-Term Goal The medium-term goal is to “develop a triaging protocol that creates a system akin to Early Head Start that will connect families of infants and toddlers in child care with comprehensive health (including oral) and family support services in their community.” This goal is reflected in the work of the ELRCs which are charged with ensuring all families have access to needed services beyond child care, such as CHIP, WIC, and family supports, including home visiting. Long-Term Goal The long-term goal is to “explore vouchers and contracts that fund the true cost of serving infants and toddlers.” Through the Infant/Toddler Contracted Slot Pilot, OCDEL is piloting contracted slots for infants and toddlers in Keystone STAR 3 and 4 programs. The pilot seeks to understand how contracted slots can support continuity of care for infants, toddlers, and their families and the financial impact on high-quality providers interested in seeking financial stability for the classrooms serving their youngest learners. More Information Additional details will be released in later editions of the PA Early Ed News. *Information provided by the PA Early Ed News
