May 29, 2019 HundrED Announces Pittsburgh Spotlight Selections In March of 2019, HundrED released their full list of Pittsburgh Spotlight innovation submissions. Now, after two months of careful deliberation and assessment, HundrED has announced their 12 featured innovative solutions. About the Spotlight In partnership with the Grable Foundation and Remake Learning, HundrED’s Pittsburgh Spotlight shines a light on the educators and innovators doing extraordinary things to help students in southwestern Pennsylvania succeed. Receiving 82 individual submissions from southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia schools, museums, libraries, nonprofits, government agencies, and more, the Pittsburgh Spotlight is a great opportunity for changemakers to highlight, celebrate, and learn more about the work happening in local communities. While HundrED Spotlights are designed to identify 10 of the most inspiring innovations that focus on a location or theme, Lasse Leponiemi, Executive Director and Co-Founder of HundrED said, “Pittsburgh broke that mold. The response was so robust that we chose to expand our selection to 12 innovations.” Selected Innovations Simple Interactions: This research project of the Fred Rogers Center creates free tools and resources to give educators a language for noticing and affirming their interactions with young children. These simple interactions support relationships between children and adults. Fabricating Change in Mental Wellness: Students diagnosed with mental health conditions work side by side with social workers, therapists, and teachers in this digital Fab Lab at Intermediate Unit 1. The results: increased participation, improved engagement, and fewer disruptions. The Finch: Borne out of research about what engages and excites students in learning computer science, this robot developed by BirdBrain Technologies can be programmed to do physical actions in 9 different coding languages. A free loan program makes it widely available to schools. Global Minds Initiative: Founded, designed, and run by students, this after-school program combats intolerance by fostering intercultural friendships and global understanding. Immigrant and refugee students come together with their peers in safe, inclusive spaces. Hillman Academy: At this 8-week full-time summer program at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, high school students perform cancer research under the mentorship of world-renowned scientists in a rigorous, supportive, real-world STEM environment. JAM: Two first-grade girls’ interest in making things to help their community has blossomed into an after-school maker learning program at Avonworth School District that is a catalyst for kindness in school and an engine for raising funds for community causes. MAKESHOP: The first museum makerspace, this permanent exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is a research-based learning environment where children and families make, play, and design using “real stuff.” And they offer professional development, maker learning resources, and more. Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild: This neighborhood-based community center is focused on educating and inspiring youth through the arts, with STEAM-based learning in four art-making studios. 98% of students who attend the program graduate high school on time. Summer Dreamers Academy: By combining the academic benefits of summer school with the fun of camp, this free summer program run by Pittsburgh Public Schools reduces summer learning loss while giving Pittsburgh students fun, enriching summer experiences. The Labs @ CLP Summer Skills Intensives: Part of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh‘s commitment to providing teen-driven programs and access to technology, these week-long summer programs offer teens a chance to explore topics like photojournalism, beat-making, filmmaking, and more. transformED: Allegheny Intermediate Unit is rethinking teacher professional development and support for school districts implementing innovative practices. At transformED, educators explore, discover, invent, and learn. Youth Express: Students use the tools of radio to create and distribute original programming through Saturday Light Brigade‘s 24/7 radio station. Programming is based on the idea that when youth realize that their voice matters, they realize that they matter. To learn more, visit the HundrED website. See HundrED’s official release. About HundrED HundrED is a not-for-profit organization that researches, highlights, and propels K-12 education innovations in an effort to improve education and inspire a grassroots movement by encouraging pedagogically sound, ambitious inventions to spread across the world. The Pittsburgh Spotlight is one of 6 individual spotlight categories, all centered around specific regions or topics. Through this spotlight, HundrED seeks to highlight educators and innovators in our area that are doing extraordinary things to help students. Interested in highlighting your innovative solution? Submit your innovation for HundrED’s 2020 Global Collection by June 30, 2019. *Information provided by HundrED
May 28, 2019 Cast Your Vote: 2019 WQED Reader’s Choice Award Community members are invited to take part in selecting the 2019 WQED Reader’s Choice Award Winner by casting their votes by Friday, May 31. About For the past 10 years, WQED has partnered with The EQT Corporation to present the Writers Contest to children throughout their viewing area. Through the support of EQT, WQED has been able to reach out directly to schools, libraries, and families throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia to encourage children to submit their original stories and illustrations. In the 10 years of sponsorship from EQT, WQED has received over 12,000 story entries, communicated with hundreds of teachers and librarians to provide them with resources, impacted thousands of WQED viewers with messages about the contest, and provided a website full of information that encourages students and arms adults with relevant literacy information. Cast Your Vote Voting is now open and will end on Friday, May 31st at 12:00 p.m. The Reader’s Choice Award Winner will be announced on Monday, June 3. To learn more and cast your vote, visit the WQED website. *Information provided by WQED
May 13, 2019 Centering the Identity of the Black Child through African Culture Join the 2nd Annual Centering the Identity of the Black Child through African Culture conference to explore African-centered parenting and guardianship, psychology, and tools to heal vitality. Child care is provided. About Bringing together parents, caregivers, the Association of Black Psychologies, health experts, creatives, and learning leaders, the 2nd Annual Centering the Identity of the Black Child through African Culture conference will highlight health and education as a central focus to optimize energy, development milestones, and success. Attendees can expect to leave the conference with tools to latch onto the high teachings that have been preserved by the knowledge bearers to help families and communities understand the role of African Culture in the development of black children. Registration To RSVP, visit the event webpage. For questions, contact 412.689.2812 or eyberscrae@gmail.com.
Lunch & Learn: Sensory Learning & the Autism Spectrum Join Parents in Toto Autism Resource Center, Seneca Valley School District, and Remake Learning to discuss the importance of sensory learning for youth on the autism spectrum, benefits of this learning, and the parent resources that are available. About Educators, administrators, community organization leaders, and parents are highly encouraged to attend and take part in this important conversation surrounding differently-abled youth in the region. Lunch will be served. More details and accessibility will be noted in an email closer to the event. For any dietary restrictions or requests, email Allie at allie@remakelearning.org. The deadline for restriction requests is June 19, 2019. Registration This event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, visit the event webpage. For questions about the event or accessibility, email Allie at allie@remakelearning.org.
May 9, 2019 Resources for Families in the Wake of Tragedy In response to the violent events happening in communities throughout the United States of America, Trying Together hopes to support young children, their families, and the caregivers who interact with them by recognizing available community-based and online resources. Trying Together extends our heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of those lost and to those injured or traumatized by such horrific events. Thank you to all of the public health and safety professionals who respond and provide service to affected communities across America, and thank you to the organizations and individuals that extend your hands and services in support. Mental Health Services and Supports resolve Crisis Services A 24-hour, 365-day crisis service, free to all residents of Allegheny County, that provides crisis counseling and support, referrals, and intervention services for adults, teens, and their loved ones: 1-888-796-8226 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline A network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-800-273-8255 For Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889 En Espanol: 1-888-628-9454 Be Well Pittsburgh Identifies free or low-cost mental health services in Pittsburgh, including hotlines, warm lines, counseling, support groups, and more. Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Counseling & Other Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Low Cost/Sliding Scale Mental Health Treatment Services Locator Highmark Caring Place Peer Support Group for children, adolescents, and families who have lost a loved one The Compassionate Friends: Pittsburgh Chapter Support Group for those who have lost children, grandchildren, or siblings UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Supportive Care Department Bereaved Parent Support Group Articles and Resources Israel Trauma Coalition Practical Advice for Parents: How to Help Your Child Following a Trauma American Counseling Association Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting Fred Rogers Productions Thoughts from Fred Rogers: Tragic Events Anti-Defamation League Gun Violence and Mass Shootings Empowering Young People in the Aftermath of Hate (In English and En Espanol) Fran Sherman in USA Today How to talk to your kids about school shootings Dr. Debi Gilboa in NEXT Pittsburgh How to talk to your kids about the mass shooting in Pittsburgh PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) Helping Children and Families Cope After a Traumatic Event Helping Children After a Traumatic Experience A Caregiver Guide Coping with Grief After Community Violence Helping Children Cope With Trauma At School Talking to Children about Hate Crimes and Anti-Semitism The Psychological Impact of the Recent Shooting Tips for Parents on Media Coverage Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth after the Recent Shooting Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers Helping Youth After Community Trauma: Tips for Educators After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal Guiding Adults in Talking to Children About Death and Attending Services Child Trends Resources to help children in the wake of a school shooting The National Child Traumatic Stress Network How to talk to children about hate crimes and antisemitism Additional Lists Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s list of information and resources
May 8, 2019 Zoo Day: Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh Celebrate spring alongside the Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh (DSAP) by joining them for a day of fun at their 2nd Annual Picnic at the Pittsburgh Zoo. About On Saturday, May 25, families and community members are invited for a day of socializing and fun at the Pittsburgh Zoo. The group will be gathering at 12:30 p.m. at the Garden Tent for lunch and socializing with all of their DSAP families and friends. Registration Registration for ALL guests attending is required, including those who hold annual zoo passes and those under the age of 24 months. However, the ticket price will be waived for these guests upon registration. To attend, RSVP by May 11 via the event webpage. Please bring your own picnic lunch; DSAP will provide snacks, dessert, and beverages. Ticket Prices General: $7 Annual Pass Holder: Free Children (2 & Under): Free
May 7, 2019 Parents Moving Forward Together | Conference Join the Allegheny Family Network for “Parents Moving Forward Together,” a one-day mental health conference focused on supporting our region’s children, caregivers, and educators. Workshops Legislative Panel with Rep. Dan Miller Building Leadership Qualities Connecting Trauma Through Stories Dissecting the IEP Teens: Intense Emotions and Suicidality Registration This event is free, but registration is required for lunch and child care. To register, call 412.246.2030. See the event’s Facebook page. Transportation Buses are available for specific areas. See the bus schedule here. Parking will be available onsite for $5. Free parking is available for Allegheny Family Network families. Share this flyer with your network.
March 20, 2019 Mission Impossible: Black Child Play as Necessity & Resistance Overview YUIR (Youth Undoing Institutional Racism), a youth-focused intergenerational anti-racist community organizing group, is hosting “Mission Impossible: Black Child Play as Necessity and Resistance,” an informative and interactive workshop on the different ways that Black children, particularly children living in poverty, play. About the Workshop The workshop will work with participants through dialogue, physical play, and multimedia presentations to analyze the ages and stages of play necessary for holistic child development, as well as the racialized and classed ways in which play is deprived as Black children age and grow. Finally, the group will consider the ways that Black children use play to respond to and protest against institutionalized racism. Learn More Learn more about YUIR by visiting their Facebook page.
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
December 6, 2018 100,000 Books Campaign: Free Book Fair United Way’s 100,000 Books initiative is giving away new and gently used books to support your students’ developing reading skills. A variety of books are available for various age groups, although this year’s selection appears to have more in the pre-k to 3rd-grade range. To qualify, your program must use a mentor – reader model. This event is first come – first serve, so show up early. Bringing boxes is recommended. Register here. What is 100,000 Books? 100,000 Books builds on research that demonstrates the importance of connecting a caring adult or older student with a child. This mentor model has been shown to have a significant impact on the life of a child and will be the primary model that 100,000 Books uses to support reading skills development. Mentors (teachers, librarians, youth workers, caring adults, older students…) will reinforce reading skills through one time and on-going read-along opportunities that will help kids to build this critical love of reading. Questions If you have any questions, please contact Tanya Baronti at tanya.baronti@unitedwayswpa.org or Joe Welsh at joe.welsh@unitedwayswpa.org.
