Pinwheels DTS

07/14/2026

07/11/2026

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services announced that help is available for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients affected by severe weather and extended power outages following last weekend’s storms. SNAP households may be eligible for replacement SNAP benefits if their food was destroyed as a result of the extended power outage caused by a natural disaster or severe weather event.

SNAP households that experienced an extended power outage or are still without power can immediately request a replacement in person or by phone with their County Assistance Office and must apply within 10 days of the incident.

“A power outage and loss of food can be extremely difficult to recover from for households on limited incomes, especially if they have already used their allocation of SNAP benefits for the month,” said PA DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “If any Pennsylvanian who receives SNAP is in this situation, help is available. I urge SNAP recipients who lost food because of a power outage from the weekend’s storms to request replacement SNAP benefits as soon as possible so they can safely recover and get back on track.”

Find your County Assistance Office: dhs.pa.gov/CAO

PA Emergency Management Agency

07/02/2026

Please take a minute to contact your legislators and urge them to pass the budget!

Pennsylvania’s infants and toddlers deserve timely, high-quality Early Intervention (EI) services, and the professionals who support them need adequate resources to deliver that care. You can help with your voice!

We need your help to urge legislators to support increasing funding by a minimum of $14 million in this year’s budget to continue the progress we've made in increasing rates for the Early Intervention workforce! This funding is proportional to the 7% increase the program received in last year’s budget and would go a long way in helping our underfunded system. A recent Rate and Methodology study found the Infant and Toddler Early Intervention program is underfunded by nearly 40%—a gap that would require upwards of $116 million to close today. Fully addressing that gap will require sustained investment, and the $14 million increase we are requesting this year is a necessary step toward addressing EI workforce strain and identifying and serving additional children and their families.

Trying Together

06/19/2026

Families and professional leaders - check this out!

https://www.pakeys.org/sac/

The Pennsylvania State Advisory Council (SAC) is now accepting applications for family and professional leaders interested in serving on one of the Council’s five supporting subcommittees.

As outlined in the Governor’s Executive Order, the SAC advises the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) on planning for the expansion and coordination of effective early learning and development services for young children and their families across the Commonwealth.

The five SAC subcommittees are:

1. Access to Programs

2. Child Care Certification and Quality Rating

3. Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging

4. Physical, Behavioral and Mental Health

5. Professional Development

Participation on a SAC subcommittee is an opportunity to help shape discussions, provide feedback, and support initiatives that impact Pennsylvania’s early childhood education system, children, and families. The subcommittees serve as focused workgroups that provide specialized expertise, develop recommendations, and support the implementation of initiatives aligned with the Council’s broader goals and priorities.

Family members, early childhood professionals, advocates, community partners, and system leaders are encouraged to apply.
To learn more about the State Advisory Council, visit PA Keys – State Advisory Council.

Apply here:
SAC Subcommittee Application

06/01/2026

Summer parent cafes! Check them out!

2026 Virtual Parent Café Series
DIVE INTO SUMMER! Parent Cafés are guided group meetings where parents come together to talk, share, and support each other. Parents learn ways to keep their families strong. These cafés are for Pennsylvania families in Early Intervention or Home Visiting programs.
Seats are limited to this event. Register soon!
Join us
•June 24, 2026 10:00am-Noon
•July 21, 2026 1:00-3:00pm
•August 11, 2026 6:00-8:00pm
for our summer café series

•Cafés are virtual. A Zoom link will be sent after registration.
•Registration survey provides an opportunity for ADA accommodation requests.
•Childcare reimbursement available if needed to participate in the café.

Scan the QR code or visit https://bit.ly/SummerCafe2026 to register.
Questions? Contact Maggie Parke: [email protected]

First image shows a family of four: Dad, Mom, Preschool aged daughter and toddler aged son all smiling at the camera.
Second image shows a Mother and toddler aged daughter reading a book together and smiling.
Be Strong Families logo
Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania logo
Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning logo

04/08/2026

Today is National IEP Writing Day. We want to shout out all the AMAZING special education teachers and administrators who dedicate their careers to providing individualized care to the students who need extra help. Give a teacher who made a difference in your life a shout out in the comments!

Want help preparing for an upcoming IEP meeting? See our toolkit at https://www.autismspeaks.org/tool-kit/guide-individualized-education-programs-iep

04/01/2026

Spring Family Event in Chester County! Please share 🐰🌸