Healthychild

05/23/2024

Our yearlong SEL Communities of Practice culminated yesterday with 100 people at the AIU, dreaming of "The Allegheny County We Choose to Be". The conversation felt energetic, hopeful, and full of wisdom about the ways SEL can help us build a better future for our children. Thank you to the many many people who helped to make this event happen. There will definitely be more SEL in our future. Stay tuned!!

05/23/2024

How would YOU finish the sentence, "The Allegheny County We Choose to Be is..."?

This month, educators, practitioners, parents, stakeholders, and more gathered for our large group Community of Practice discussing how we can put our hopes,

05/14/2024

The awe we felt for the northern lights in Pittsburgh last weekend was right up there with the awe we feel for all those who are building relationships with children, families, and neighbors everyday. Showing up, being present, and prioritizing our connections to one another is what Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is all about. Thanks to all who have been part of our SEEKS SEL Communities of Practice this year. The seeds for Countywide SEL are officially planted! 💙🌱💛

05/09/2024

https://healthychildpitt.org/developing-a-network-of-early-childhood-educators-practicing-sel-racial-equity-aera-2024/

We had a wonderful time at the 2024 American Education Research Association conference! Dr. Tracy Larson (our fearless director) and Dr. Karl Jancart

05/09/2024

https://healthychildpitt.org/welcome-dean-eboni-m-zamani-gallaher/

Welcome, Dean Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher!

CONGRATS DEAN EBONI M. ZAMANI-GALLAHER - From all of us at OCD and HealthyCHILD!

05/09/2024

The Office of Child Development is so excited to say **CONGRATS** to our newly appointed Dean Eboni Zamani-Gallaher! We are so lucky to have you as our new leader. We can't wait to support your vision and the next chapter of the School of Education's journey! ! 💙💛

🥳 The Office of Child Development is so excited to say **CONGRATS** to our newly appointed Dean Eboni Zamani-Gallaher! We are so lucky to have you as our new leader. We can't wait to support your vision and the next chapter of the School of Education's journey! ! 💙💛

Learn more about our new dean: https://bit.ly/3JQT7h2

University of Pittsburgh School of Education

Thank you, Vernard (University of Pittsburgh's Community Engagement Center in Homewood) for helping to make this photo celebration happen!

05/06/2024

Thank you, teachers! We are SO grateful for you!

Some fun, free ways to celebrate this week in Pittsburgh:
- A free small cone at Page's Dairy Mart
- 20% off at Staples plus a free gift (in-store only)
- 20% off your meal at Buffalo Wild Wings
- One free classic cookie from Insomnia Cookies
- 15% off your purchase at Michael's
- 20% Teacher Discount at Crocs

04/26/2024

https://healthychildpitt.org/national-training-institute-on-effective-practices-2024-addressing-challenging-behavior/

Read about our time at NTI 2024 here!
National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations

04/18/2024

We are learning a lot and having so much fun at the Pyramid Model NTI Addressing Challenging Behaviors Conference in Tampa! National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations

04/15/2024

So proud of our team and OCD!!!!

AERA was amazing!! Many of us had the privilege of presenting to a packed room at the American Education Research Association meeting last week in Philadelphia. We presented 5 papers about building **Social Emotional Learning & Racial Equity** communities of practice with families, family centers, educators, leaders, and higher education. What an honor it has been to be part of the SEEKS Initiative out of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit and be able to spark conversation about ways to make our county more connected, inclusive, and compassionate!

04/09/2024

Calling all Pitt faculty, staff, and students!!

📣 Calling all Pitt faculty, staff & students interested in developing racial literacy! Register for this event, co-hosted with the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, to engage with My Racial Journey (mrj.pitt.edu) and give feedback to help us make it even better. Over 500 unique early childhood serving organizations and users, across 20 states and 7 countries have used MRJ. Stay tuned for its next iteration!

04/01/2024

Yesterday the Office of Child Development and 100 amazing families, teachers, higher educators, early educators, out of school time staff, family center staff, & community leaders gathered to imagine what Allegheny County would look like if we prioritized building equitable, affirming, and authentic relationships with each other. It was clear from our discussion that people (1) want more SEL for adults, (2) recognize that real relationships require us to disrupt the racism, ableism, sexism, and other -isms in our communities, and (3) know that people in every part of our county are needed to make this a place where we all thrive. We completely agree and are ready to build together! LET'S DO THIS!

Thank you to Jamie Upshaw ( Urban Connections Inc.), The Young Dreamers’ Bookstore, the Intermediate Unit, County Family Centers and the SEEKS Initiative for making this amazing day happen!

03/21/2024

Register at the link below!!

PRIDE is a multifaceted program helping young Black children 0-8 understand and embrace their race

03/08/2024

Part Two of our ECE Community of Learning for the AIU's Project SEEKS SES. Take a peek at how Building Relationships matters for both social-emotional development and racial literacy while we read Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow.

Welcome to our first SEEKS SES Community of Learning for the 2023-2024 school year! Please watch the video, and write your comments below in the comment sect...

02/23/2024

EC Educators, Providers, Parents, and Caring Adults! Check out the first video in our Community of Learning series, a part of our involvement in the AIU's Project SEEKS SES. Join us in reflections about creating community, racial equity, and social-emotional learning. Watch it here!

Welcome to our first SEEKS SES Community of Learning for the 2023-2024 school year! Please watch the video, and write your comments below in the comment sect...

02/08/2024

02/07/2024

We often get asked, "What is SEL, exactly?" Here is the definition we created. It is one sentence but says it all. All year the Office of Child Development is leading Communities of Practice using our favorite picture books, to help adults understand what SEL is, why it is so important, and how we build the SEL skills needed to support the next generation. Share this definition today and help make sure everyone in Allegheny County knows, "What is SEL, exactly?"

02/02/2024

At the Office of Child Development, our vision is a just world, ROOTED IN LOVE, where children and families have the resources, support, and relationships needed to thrive.

There are lots of ways to define LOVE, but we believe that LOVE… is seeing and embracing humanity in all people and being committed to achieving justice for everyone, unconditionally. This kind of love challenges, corrects, acknowledges power, and makes space for all. It is because of love, that we hold each other accountable when harm is done.

How do YOU define LOVE?

You can spread love to the adults and children in your life by sharing these beautiful BOOKS FOR CHANGE titles about LOVE … however you define it!

01/16/2024

Today, on Kellogg Foundation's National Day of Racial Healing, our staff will gather to reflect on what needs to be healed and how to do it. In true Office of Child Development style, we are using an amazing picture book to kick off our conversation ("That Flag" by Tameka Fryer Brown) and a framework inspired by Drs. Terry Husband and Kerry-Ann Escayg (2022). Thank you to our Literacy & Learning team for always helping us find just the right book!
Stay tuned for an upcoming chapter by our P.R.I.D.E. Director and Executive Director (Drs. Aisha White & Shannon Wanless) on how to use picture books to bring anti-racism to early childhood education.

WKKellogg

01/05/2024

Our thoughts are with those affected by today's shooting at Perry High School near Des Moines, IA.
News of violence in schools can confuse and frighten children and youth who may feel in danger or worry that their friends or loved ones are at risk. Caregivers and school personnel can help children feel safe. Tips for talking to students about school violence can be found in our Guidance at a Glance: https://buff.ly/47nGh2U or on our website: https://buff.ly/3H7Hoch

01/02/2024

Happy New Year! May your heart be filled with kindness, compassion, and gratitude, and your days with love, laughter, and memorable moments! With much love, the HealthyCHILD Team

12/04/2023

You've donated so many books over the past few years, but we are just getting started! THANK YOU for your support, and now it is time to keep it going. Supporting love & justice is not a one-time act. It is an ongoing commitment to change. Make the Books for Change book drive one of your annual commitments to making a more just & equitable world. Donate a book (or a few!) TODAY!!!

Donate Books: bit.ly/BuyBooksforChange
Donate Money: bit.ly/BookDriveFund

City of Asylum Bookstore at Alphabet City

12/04/2023

Looking for a place to donate this holiday season? Check out Donors Choose! You can sponsor a classroom project based on topic, grade level, location, and more! There are many in the Pittsburgh area that have projects available, as well as other schools across the country.

DonorsChoose connects teachers in high-need communities with donors who want to help.

11/20/2023

🍁💙🍁💛🍁 Are you looking for high quality, racially-affirming picture books to talk to children about ***Gratitude & Togetherness*** this week? Check out these titles from our experts in the office's Literacy & Learning Division. 🍁💙🍁💛🍁
And for more info on how to choose, use, and donate BOOKS FOR CHANGE follow the link below. https://www.ocd.pitt.edu/programs-services/books-change

10/31/2023

We had so much fun at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh's Sensory-Friendly Halloween event! Check out our post below for a great sensory newsletter and more info on how to make overwhelming holidays more manageable! What will you be dressing up as for Halloween tonight?

https://healthychildpitt.org/sensory-friendly-halloween-2023/

Check out this sensory-friendly newsletter for your Halloween celebrations.

10/23/2023

The Greater Hazelwood Family Center received a delivery of kid shoes and kid coats up to size 14. If you are in need of coats and shoes please come down and grab some. We have days scheduled for next month 11/3 and 11/29 10:00-3:30 pm.

10/12/2023

We are excited to announce that HealthyCHILD and HealthyInfants were selected to be part of Georgetown University's Center of Excellence (CoE) for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation’s (IECMHC) Implementation Collaborative, along with 18 IECMHC programs from across the country. Together, we will be looking more closely at the 5 core implementation components of IECMHC: program structure, program evaluation, workforce, equity, and policy & financing, guided by the CoE's Program Planning and Reflection Tool (PPRT) and learning from content experts, all while exchanging ideas, and “real world” experiences with other IECMHC programs across the country.

IECMHC is a prevention-based approach that pairs a mental health consultant with adults who work with infants and young children in the different settings where they learn and grow, such as child care, preschool, home visiting, early intervention and their home. Mental health consultation is not abo...

10/10/2023

Early Childhood Educators & Providers who work in the following zip codes:
15108, 15110, 15137, 15148, 15084, 15065, 15132, 15235, 15147, 15120, 15136, 15122, 15104

JOIN US for a Community of Learning on social-emotional practice, social justice, and building relationships. For more information, fill out this survey! - https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2i1UwNxA6AAuwPI

09/20/2023

If you don't know about Healthychild, turn to page 13 in Pitt's new Community Impact Report and read on! HC works with many early childhood educators to create safe, supportive and responsive relationships and classrooms. Social emotional and mental wellness is the foundation of lifelong thriving--and we are lucky to have the HC team bringing this to over 3000 children and families in our community. ⭐ 💙 For more info, follow the links below. -->


University of Pittsburgh Office of Engagement and Community Affairs
https://bit.ly/Pitt23Impact-OCD
www.healthychildpitt.com