ACDHS Recommendations for End of Public Health Emergency

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced that the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration, which allows families and individuals to get COVID-19-related benefits and automatic coverages, will expire on May 11, 2023.

Many PHE benefits will terminate before this date, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotments, which expired at the end of February 2023, and continuous Medical Assistance eligibility and enrollment, which will end on April 1, 2023.

To better support families through the transition, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (ACDHS) issued recommendations.

Other News

Top News

• UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation Offering Medical Grants for Children
• Gee Whiz Education Providing Free Onboarding Training for Product Users
• OCDEL Releases Updated Listings for Curricula and Assessment Tools
• ELPA Responds to Governor Shapiro’s 2023-24 Pennsylvania Budget Proposal
• Child Care Providers to Invited to Join Family and Group Child Care Home Committee

Family News

• Organizations in Allegheny County Offering Food Resources
• Shapiro Administration Urges CHIP Recipients To Update Contact Information
• 2023-2024 Kindergarten Registration Information
• Free Tax Return Preparation in Allegheny County

Provider News

• ECE Professionals Invited to Participate in Workplace Well-Being Research Study
• Trying Together Offering Child Development Trainings

Other News

• Trying Together Offering MOYC Opportunities
• New Survey Reveals Impact of Child Care Staffing Shortage

Upcoming Events

Featured Events

• Capturing Moments: Planning For and Conducting Classroom Observations
  • Thursday, 4/06 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, 4/13 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
• Introduction to ASQ-3
  • Saturday, 4/15 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Tuesday, 4/18 | 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, 5/02 | 6 - 9 p.m.
  • Saturday, 5/06 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Professional Development

• Virtual Director Roundtables, ELRC Region 5
  • Tuesday, 3/21 | 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, 3/21 | 2 p.m.
• Early Childhood Education Beginning Business Administration Series for Family Providers, Children's Village Learning Lab and ELRC Region 18
  • Tuesday, 3/21 | 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
• Supporting Children’s Play as a Way to Positively Respond to Our New Normal, Trying Together
  • Tuesday, 3/21 | 6 - 8 p.m.
• "Unlocking the How" in Building Effective Family-School Partnerships, Kidsburgh
  • Wednesday, 3/22 | 12 - 1 p.m.
• Art in the Trauma Informed ECE Classroom: Process Over Product, Early Investigations Webinars and the ChildCare Education Institute
  • Wednesday, 3/22 | 2 - 3:30 p.m.
• Talking with Families About Substance Use During Pregnancy, Office of Head Start
  • Thursday, 3/23 | 1 - 2 p.m.
• The Healing Power of Play and Optimism, Early Childhood Investigations Webinars and The Life is Good Playmaker Project
  • Thursday, 3/23 | 2 - 3:30 p.m.
• 2023 Allegheny County Legislative Forum on Education, Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU)
  • Thursday, 3/23 | 7 - 9 p.m.

Events

• Storytime at The Hub, The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center
  • Tuesday, 3/21 | 10 - 10:45 a.m.
  • Tuesday, 3/28 | 10 - 10:45 a.m.
• Buzzword Day at the Theatre!, Buzzword
  • Sunday, 3/19 | 2 - 3 p.m.
• Parenting While Black - Episode 1: Raising Bold Black Children - Fostering the Dreams, Brazelton Touchpoints Center
  • Monday, 3/20 | 3 - 4:30 p.m.
• Navigating Family Dynamics: A Native Youth Perspective, Grandfamilies & Kinship Network and National Indian Child Welfare Association
  • Tuesday, 3/21 | 1 - 2 p.m.
• Community Strategies for Vaccine Equity for Young Children, Penn State Extension Better Kid Care and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
  • Wednesday, 3/22 | 1 – 2 p.m.
• Rise Together, The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center
  • Friday, 3/24 | 6 -  7:30 p.m.
• Be My Neighbor Day 2023, WQED, PNC Grow Up Great, and Fred Rogers Productions
  • Saturday, 3/25 | 1 – 4 p.m.
• EmployHER Pittsburgh Opportunity Fair, EmployHER Pittsburgh
  • Monday, 3/27 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. & 3 – 7 p.m.
• Growing Your Strong Family: Spring 2023 Virtual Parent Cafe, OCDEL, Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania, and Be Strong Families
  • Monday, 3/27 | 6 - 8 p.m.

Save the Date: Ultimate Play Day 2023

Ultimate Play Day is a celebration of playfulness for people of all ages. This annual event is an opportunity for people throughout the Pittsburgh region to play together and raise awareness of the benefits of play for everyone. 

Save the date: Sunday, May 7, 2023 from 1 - 4 p.m. 

Ultimate Play Day 2023 will take place in Lower McKinley Park in the Beltzhoover area.

Featured Resources

Resources for March Observances

• March is Women's History Month
  • 15 Children's Books to Celebrate Women's History Month, PBS Kids for Parents
  • Diverse Children’s Books About Strong Girls, PBS Kids of Parents
  • 30 Women’s History Month Activities for Students of All Ages, We Are Teachers
  • A Guide to Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others, Trying Together
• March is National Reading Month
  • The Million Book March Collection of Books, Reading is Fundamental 
  • Book Bingo, Reading is Fundamental 
  • Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Book Lists, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
  • Buzzword Words & Activities, Buzzword 
• March 1 was Baby Sleep Day
  • Baby Sleep Advice for Parents & Kids, Pediatric Sleep Council 
  • Babies and Sleep, Sleep Foundation 
  • Helping Baby Sleep Through the Night, Mayo Clinic
• March 2 was National Read Across America (RAA) Day
  • Book Lists by Theme, National Education Association (NEA)
  • Getting Free & Low-Cost Books, National Education Association (NEA)
• March 8 was International Women's Day
  • History of International Women's Day, United Nations 
  • How to Raise a Self-Confident Girl, PBS Kids for Parents
• March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day
  • 5 Ways to Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day, Chicago Parent 
  • World Down Syndrome Day Fashion Show Celebration, Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh
  • World Down Syndrome Day Book List, The Children's Book Council 
  • Reading & Resources for Caregivers, Family, and Friends, Northwest Down Syndrome Association 
• March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility
  • Family Guide: Gender and Gender Identity, Trying Together
  • Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series: Part XI, Trying Together
  • Transgender Children & Youth: Understanding the Basics, Human Rights Campaign 
  • Transgender and Gender Fluid Books for Kids, Young Adults, and Adults, John Hopkins Medicine
  • Resources for Transgender Parents, Lambda Legal

Parenting & Family Resources

• Allegheny Summer Camps, Trying Together and APOST
• Developmentally Appropriate Parenting (DAP) Series, Trying Together
  • Childhood Physical Health 
  • Child Care
  • Transitions & Routines
• Parenting Together Pathway, Trying Together
• Family Engagement Toolkit, Trying Together
• Grandparent Video Education Series, Trying Together

Anti-Racism Resources

• Anti-Racism Resources for Families, Trying Together
• Children’s Books on Race and Equity, Trying Together
• Talking to Children about Hate Crimes and Anti-Semitism, Trying Together
• Advancing Racial Equity in Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education, EITA
• Talking About Race, Sesame Street in Communities 
• Anti-Racism Resource Directory for Families, Learning Heroes
• BLM at School Week of Action Resources for Educators, D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice

Professional Development Resources

• Request for Professional Services, Trying Together
• Professional Development Catalog, Trying Together

Advocacy Resources

• Recess Advocacy Toolkit, Trying Together & Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative
  • Examples of Play
  • PE Teachers: Advice & Tips