ELRC Region 5

10/20/2026

The ELRC Region 5 newsletter for early learning providers is delivered to subscribers every Friday afternoon. Each weekly issue contains useful news updates, resources, and tips for providers.

Our 10/16 edition contains info about the 2026-27 Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention program, our quality coach and ELPES provider survey, and a health and safety tip about dressing for fall weather: https://mailchi.mp/alleghenycounty/elrc-providers-10162026

Want to subscribe and receive each newsletter straight to your inbox? Sign up on our website: https://www.elrc5.alleghenycounty.us/enewsletter-sign-up

10/16/2026

Are you a parent or caregiver considering a before- or after-school program for a child? Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has provided some helpful tips on what to look for regarding safety in its latest PA Promise for Children newsletter.

Visit the ELRC Region 5 website for a short and simple list of what to look for when visiting potential programs: https://www.elrc5.alleghenycounty.us/news/ocdel-provides-safety-tips-to-consider-when-choosing-childs-before-or-after-school-program

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) provided tips in its latest PA Promise for Children newsletter on what to look for regarding safety when choosing a before- or after-school program for a child.

10/15/2026

Next month, ELRC Region 5's quality partner Together is offering a hybrid First Aid, Pediatric First Aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and automated external defibrillator (AED) training.

📅 Friday, November 6
⏰ 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
📍 Trying Together (5604 Solway Street, Pittsburgh)

This course has an emphasis on hands-on learning and teaches participants the skills to save a life. Certification is issued upon successful completion and is valid for two years. (PLEASE NOTE: online Red Cross coursework must be completed prior to the in-person, hands-on learning.)

Learn more and reserve your spot:
https://www.elrc5.alleghenycounty.us/events/american-red-cross-first-aid-pediatric-first-aid-cpr-and-aed-training-3

This course has an emphasis on hands-on learning. It teaches participants the skills to save a life.

10/14/2026

How has early childhood education impacted your life? OCDEL is asking for families and early childhood educators to share a short story or video about a meaningful family engagement experience by Friday, October 23 for the chance to have it featured by OCDEL during National Family Engagement Month (November).

Learn more about what these stories celebrate and how to submit your own story: https://www.elrc5.alleghenycounty.us/news/families-providers-can-send-ocdel-family-engagement-stories-by-october-23

10/13/2026

Planning to apply for the 2026-27 Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Award? Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) asks that qualified providers update their staff registry information as soon as possible.

The award is set to be released in mid-October and, as part of the application process, providers must submit an updated staff registry report to your local ELRC. Learn more and make sure your program's staff registry is up to date: https://www.elrc5.alleghenycounty.us/news/ocdel-asks-providers-to-update-staff-registry-if-applying-for-2026-27-recruitment-and-retention-award

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is asking qualified providers planning to apply for the 2026-27 Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Award to update their staff registry information as soon as possible.

10/13/2026

The ELRC Region 5 newsletter for early learning providers is delivered to subscribers every Friday afternoon. Each weekly issue contains useful news updates, resources, and tips for providers.

Our 10/9 edition contains a request for family engagement stories, a reminder to update staff registries ASAP this fall, and a final reminder about Trying Together's fall CDA cohort: https://mailchi.mp/alleghenycounty/elrc-providers-10092026

Want to subscribe and receive each newsletter straight to your inbox? Sign up on our website: https://www.elrc5.alleghenycounty.us/enewsletter-sign-up

10/09/2026

ELRC Region 5 recognizes Cheswick Children's Discovery Center, a home-based child care program that recently achieved a STAR 4 quality rating as part of the Keystone STARS Performance Standard.

From Cheswick Children's Discovery Center's owner and lead teacher: "We're excited to learn and grow!"

Congratulations to this dedicated duo!

10/08/2026

Next month, ELRC Region 5's quality partner Trying Together will host a professional development course all about its Early Intervention (EI) toolkit. This toolkit was created to help early care and education providers develop an active understanding of their role in EI and aims to increase mutual understanding and collaboration between providers, EI, and families with young children.

🗓️ Thursday, November 12
⏰ 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
📍 Virtual (Zoom)

In this condensed training, participants will discover how to navigate the EI Toolkit to access a variety of resources for both parents and educators. Participants’ real-world needs will be used to identify resources from the toolkit to apply in their classroom settings.

Reserve your spot today: https://www.elrc5.alleghenycounty.us/events/early-intervention-toolkit-tools-and-resources-for-allegheny-county-early-care-and-education-providers

Children benefit from a team of supports. When early childhood educators are aware of the support landscape, children thrive.

10/07/2026

ELRC Region 5's winter coat program is back! Starting this week, families can visit the Wood Street office to pick up winter coats for their children. While supplies last, the following sizes will be available: 3T, 4T, 5/6, 7/8, 10/12, 14/16 and adult sizes S, M, and L (for teens only).

More details about hours and availability: https://www.elrc5.alleghenycounty.us/news/elrc-region-5-winter-coat-program-begins-october-5

Families can visit Early Learning Resource Center Region 5 starting Monday, October 5 to pick up winter coats for their children.

10/06/2026

This week's Provider Tip of the Week focuses on encouraging children to explore outside as seasons change! 🍂

As autumn arrives in Pennsylvania, early childhood educators should use the changing of the seasons to create meaningful learning experiences for children, said Kathy Wolfe, the STARS designator for ELRC Region 5. Simple activities - such as sorting leaves by color or size, counting acorns, reading fall-themed books, and exploring seasonal textures - can help build language, math, science, and observation skills.

Visit our website to find additional resources about the benefits of outdoor play throughout the year: https://www.elrc5.alleghenycounty.us/news/tip-of-the-week-encourage-children-to-explore-outside-as-seasons-change

As autumn arrives in Pennsylvania, early childhood educators should use the changing of the seasons to create meaningful learning experiences for children, said Kathy Wolfe, the STARS designator for ELRC Region 5.