The ARIN Intermediate Unit 28 Early Intervention (EI) Preschool Program provides a variety of programs and services for children from their third birthday until entry into school. Services for children during the preschool years are provided at no cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements. Individual Education Programs (IEPs) are written to define the services that will be provided to those eligible children.

Preschool Services may include:

• Screening and Evaluation
• Support in Early Childhood Environments
• Specialized Instruction
• Speech
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Hearing
• Vision
• Specialized Classrooms
• Transition to School Age Programs

Green = Student Classes in Session

Yellow/White/Purple= No Student Sessions

Attention birth parents who have a closed case with a county children and youth agency, let your voice be heard. The Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center (CWRC) is hosting parent listening sessions and wants to hear from you. Parents are the experts regarding the needs and strengths of their families. This expertise provides opportunities for partnership with professionals in the child welfare system. Parents are invited to meet and share their experiences with the County children and youth agency and to share input to help inform the system.

These events are by invitation only and selected parents will receive a $300 honorarium for time, travel, and child care. Parent Listening Sessions will be held from March to June 2025. Applications are being accepted until December 31, 2024. As registrations are received, event locations will be selected based on proximity to the applicant's County of residence. To sign up, go to www.parentleadership.pitt.edu.

This is a collaborative effort of the Department of Human Services and the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center.

Spanking a child may increase aggression in a child and may do long-term harm to a child, says a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The use of spanking is also ineffective in teaching a child responsibility and self-control. Evidence shows it may cause harm by impacting a child's normal brain development.

Research has shown that striking a child and yelling at or shaming them can increase stress hormones and lead to changes in a child's brain. Harsh verbal abuse is also linked to mental health problems as children get older.

Other methods teach children right from wrong and are safer and more effective. Depending on the age and development of a child, different techniques may include redirecting their attention, distraction, changing the subject, positive reinforcement, time out, and natural consequences. Visit the PA Promise for Children website and watch the short video below for resources related to parenting and discipline.

Contact your Early Learning Resource Center for more information about programs to support families in your community.

Armstrong County Community Action:

Phone number: 724-548-3408

Facebook Page

Website

Indiana County Community Action:

Phone number: 724-465-2657

Facebook Page

Website

Email: mfaught@iccap.net

The SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) helps individuals and families in need by providing funds for purchasing nutritious food. If you're interested in learning more or would like to apply for SNAP benefits, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank offers a simple referral form. Once submitted, their staff will contact you within 2-3 business days to assist with the application process and answer any questions you may have. This service ensures that eligible residents can access the food support they need.

For more details, visit the https://pittsburghfoodbank.tfaforms.net/4834451...

Have you ever done a storybook walk? It is an outdoor activity where individual pages from a children's picture book are displayed along a walking path, allowing people to "read" the story as they stroll along! Enjoy a stroll through Freeport on December 7. Begin at the library, 428 Market St., Freeport.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now accepting applications. LIHEAP is a federally-funded program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) that provides assistance for home heating bills so those Pennsylvanians meeting eligibility and income guidelines can stay warm and safe during the winter months. Assistance is available for renters and homeowners.

Pennsylvanians can apply for LIHEAP online at www.compass.state.pa.us or can complete an application in person at a county assistance office.

Do you know about Power Library, Pennsylvania's electronic library? With Power Kids, you and your child can access things like:

• BookFlix: Watch videos and read books
• CyberSmarts: Learn how to be a safe, responsible and smart citizen with eBooks
• TrueFlix: Learn about people, places, nature, history and science from videos and eBooks
• Chat with a Librarian

In addition, many libraries throughout Pennsylvania offers their members access to downloadable or streaming eBooks and audiobooks through Axis 360 and Hoopla. Enjoy new bestsellers and old favorites on your compatible digital device! Check with your library for additional info.

Looking for a fun, free activity to do with your child(ren)? Check out your local Lowe's for the December 14th workshop! You can either complete the activity at the store, or get it to take home and complete!

Spark imagination with DIY-U kids' Firehouse Dog Bank workshop! Budding architects and future firefighters alike will delight in assembling this charming bank, complete with a firehouse facade and a friendly Dalmatian peeking out. Not only will mini builders enjoy the thrill of creating their own savings companion, but they'll also learn about fire safety and the role of firefighters in our communities. Join us for a day of building, bonding, and crafting memories that will inspire young minds to dream big and save with style!

Click here to register for the workshop! Change your store to the Lowe's location closest to you!

Check availability in your area!

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library provides books free of charge each month to children from birth to age 5. Wondering how it works? See below!

Sign up for the FREE monthly Kindergarten, Here I Am eNews!

Each month get activities, tips and resources you can use to help your kindergartner prepare for and have a successful Kindergarten year.

December: In the Car or on the Bus!

Each month offers activities families can do together in a variety of settings. The activities within the Learning is Everywhere Calendar and on the website are aligned with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards (ELS).

These guidelines can be used to determine what infants, toddlers, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten children may know or be able to do within specific age ranges.

Before your trip, help your preschooler cut out pictures from a magazine of things they might see while in the car, such as a stop sign, a bicycle, a bus, etc. and store in an envelope or plastic zip-top bag. Once in the car, have them search outside the window for items that match the cut-outs. Language & Literacy

Give you preschooler a puppet while traveling. Ask the puppet to sing a song, or have the puppet tell you a story, or what it sees when it looks out the window. Play “I Spy”—can it see the clouds? Can it see trees, or the big truck? Creative Thinking & Expression Using a book, have the puppet “read” the story. Language & Literacy

Sing up for the FREE monthly Learning is Everywhere eNewsletter!

• Tub Toys by Terry Miller Shannon
• Do Pirates Take Baths? by Kathy Tucker
• Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel
• Puppy Takes a Bath by Christine Ricci
• King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood
• Estelle Takes a Bath by Jill Esbaum
• Barnyard Bath! by Sandra Boynton
• Five Little Monkeys Jump in the Bath by Eileen Christelow
• Five Minutes’ Peace by Jill Murphy

• Each month Learning is Everywhere provides a list of books that compliment the activities. What can you do with this list?

  • Make a short video of your child reading or giving a book review of one of the books on the list. What was their favorite part of the book? Share the video with family and friends. Tag PA's Promise for Children on Facebook or Instagram!
  • Share the list with your friends who have children.
  • If you are a teacher, print this list and give it to the families of your students, or post this list where families can see it. They'll know which books are being read in your classroom.
  • If you are an early learning community partner, host a special reading event for families using the monthly book lists. Each month has a different focus--find them at PA's Promise for Children. Include an activity from the monthly list to engage families.
  • Print the list and take it to your local library. Your librarian can help you find the books on the list. Then read the books with your child. Help your child circle or cross out the books on the list as you read them.

  
  

  How do you use this book list? Share on PA's Promise for Children, the Facebook page, or send it to Mary at marhal@pakeys.org.

Parent to Parent matches parents of children with special needs or disabilities with other families who've had similar journeys. A new diagnosis for your child might feel overwhelming, but P2P wants to ensure that you don't feel alone. By being matched to another family, they can provide emotional support, advice, stories of their own experiences, or just a listening ear!

Click here to complete a new match intake form

Want to become a Peer Supporter? Click here!

For more information, call 1-888-727-2706