September is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month. Please join The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. for a two-part webinar series. Together, we will deepen our community understanding of prenatal alcohol exposure, break down stigma, and support affected individuals and families. Register Now: (Free Social Work CE Credits) Part 1: Thursday, September 24th - 9:00 - 11:00 am – FASD: Whole-Body Neurodevelopmental Condition - Register Here Part 2: Tuesday, September 29th 9:00 - 11:00 am – FASD: Brain-Based Interventions and Environmental Tuning – Register Here See the attached flyer for more details. Let’s work together to drive community-wide understanding and support!

Join the American Academy of Pediatrics this September for a three-part FASD Awareness Month Webinar Series, featuring national experts discussing timely topics related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), including diagnosis, management, co-occurring conditions, and strategies to support children, youth, and families. Webinar Dates September 3, 2026 September 18, 2026 September 25, 2026 Time: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Central Time Whether you are in primary care, developmental-behavioral pediatrics, adolescent medicine, or another pediatric subspecialty, these sessions will provide valuable, evidence-informed insights to support clinical practice. Learn more and register:https://downloads.aap.org/DOCHW/FASD/FASD-Awareness-Month-2026.pdf We hope you can join us! Rosa Arvizu, MPH, CHES® Program Manager, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders American Academy of Pediatrics Phone: 630-626-6241 Email: rarvizu@aap.org she/her/hers

Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Newsletter - August 2026 Archived issues are available for viewing or download from our Newsletter Library. PA Early Childhood Education August 2026 View as Webpage

News Medical Life Sciences Women's Health Brain Development and more! Child Trends https://www.childtrends.org/about-us/newsroom-page

Newsletter Choices are below! Go to the weblink below to choose! https://www.pakeys.org/enews/ ` All eNews are distributed via Constant Contact by the Pennsylvania Key in partnership with Pennsylvania's Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) Conferences, Announcements, Programs, Initiatives, and More! Bright Start, Bright Kids, Bright Future -IECMHC Certification Services News Coaching: Window with a View Kindergarten Here I Am for Professionals Kindergarten Here I Come for Professionals Let's Talk Quality: PQA Blog Subscriptions PA Early Education News & Special Announcements PA Head Start State Collaborative Office (HSSCO) News The Buzz on PD in PA

Help is available for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients affected by severe weather and extended power outages following recent storms in Pennsylvania. SNAP households may be eligible for replacement SNAP benefits if their food was destroyed because of an extended power outage caused by a natural disaster or severe weather event. SNAP recipients must complete and submit an Affidavit for Replacement of Food Destroyed in a Household Disaster within 10 days of the reported food loss to confirm that the food loss occurred through a natural disaster or other unpredictable household incident. This form is available online in English and Spanish. SNAP replacements can be requested in person at PA DHS’ County Assistance Offices, by phone, or through COMPASS and the myCOMPASS PA mobile app. Affidavit forms will be available in-person at County Assistance Offices for those unable to print the form at home. To start this replacement request immediately, SNAP recipients can: Find their local County Assistance Office; Call the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930; or Upload the completed affidavit form to COMPASS or the myCOMPASS PA mobile app (learn how to update case information and upload documents to COMPASS).

PEAL offers individual assistance to families, professionals, and youth or young adults with disabilities. Where to start: You can begin by completing our online form, and a Family Resource Specialist or Intake Coordinator will reach out to you. Providing us as much information as possible will help us connect you with the correct resources from the start. https://pealcenter.org/about/need-to-talk.html OR You can contact PEAL by phone at 412-281-4404, 215-567-6143, or toll-free at 866-950-1040 (please include your county, email address, and any needed accommodation to connect with us in your message). And you can always send us an email at info@pealcenter.org Subscribe to the newsletter at pealcenter.org

The special education process can be overwhelming to families. There are different laws, acronyms, and processes that are not explained easily to families. Because of that, the Wrightslaw Conference is a widely used resource that helps families across the country better understand special education law and how to advocate for their child. The PEAL Center is partnering with Parents' Place of Maryland (PPMD) to bring the Wrightslaw Special Education Law & Advocacy Conference on September 17, 2026, from 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. EST. This is a virtual opportunity that can help families feel more prepared and confident when navigating the education system. Below are a few ways Wrightslaw can support family advocacy. Understanding Your Child’s Rights Wrightslaw helps explain the rights students have under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This includes access to a free appropriate public education and learning in the least restrictive environment. Having a clear understanding of these rights can help families make informed decisions and ask the right questions. Preparing for IEP Meetings IEP meetings can sometimes feel intimidating, especially if families do not have the proper support and are unsure what to expect. Wrightslaw provides guidance on how to prepare for meetings, what documents to review, and how to actively participate in decision-making. Preparation can make a big difference in how confident families feel during these conversations. Understanding Key Terms in Special Ed Wrightslaw breaks down concepts like FAPE (Free and Fair Public Education), LRE (Least Restrictive Environments), evaluations, and procedural safeguards (rights) in a way that is easier to understand. Knowing these terms helps families follow conversations and advocate more effectively. Staying Organized with Documentation Keeping records is an important part of advocacy. Wrightslaw emphasizes the importance of organizing documents such as evaluations, IEPs, and communication with schools. Having clear documentation can help families track progress and address concerns if they arise. Improving Communication with Schools Effective communication is key when working with school teams. Wrightslaw offers strategies for writing emails, asking questions, and expressing concerns in a clear and productive way. Strong communication can help build better relationships and support collaboration. Understanding Dispute Resolution Options Sometimes families and schools may not agree on services or supports. Wrightslaw provides information about options such as mediation, due process, and other ways to resolve disagreements. Knowing these options helps families understand their next steps if concerns are not resolved. Building Confidence in Advocacy One of the biggest benefits of Wrightslaw is helping families feel more confident in their role as advocates. When families understand the system, they are better prepared to support their child’s needs and participate in important decisions about their education. Moving Forward Learning about special education law and advocacy takes time, but resources like Wrightslaw can make the process more manageable. Families do not have to navigate this system alone. PEAL offers trainings, resources, and support to help families build their knowledge and advocacy skills. Learn more by visiting our webpage at pealcenter.org/wrightslaw Subscribe to the newsletter at pealcenter.org

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Mental Health Planning Council (MHPC) will hold its quarterly meeting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. This meeting will be held virtually via TEAMS and in-person at PaTTAN (6340 Flank Dr., #600, Harrisburg, PA 17112 (Lancaster Conference Room). Agendas and meeting links will be forwarded in advance of the meeting. As a reminder, the morning Committee Meetings (Adult, Older Adult, and Children’s) will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at Noon. The Joint Committee session will begin at 12:45 p.m. and end at 3:00 p.m. For members of MHPC looking to be reimbursed for travel, please see the attached document. As a friendly reminder, travel reimbursement is only applicable for members, and the form at the end of the attached document needs to be submitted to Corinne Elliott at corielliot@pa.gov by August 7, 2026. Questions regarding the meeting and/or the MHPC can be directed to: RA-PWOMHSASMHPC@pa.gov Thank you, OMHSAS Executive Committee

Reminder: Last Day To Apply Don't miss your chance to participate in the Learning Collaborative for Supporting People with Disabilities who are Parents. Today, Tuesday, June 30th, is the last day to sign up/apply to join your colleagues and peers in discussing and identifying best practices for ensuring people with disabilities who are or want to become parents have the integrated supports they want and need. Find out more by watching the recorded informational webinar, and be sure to complete your application today! Questions may be directed to: ra-pwodp_outreach@pa.gov

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) implemented nearly 30 initiatives and distributed more than $2 billion in relief funding from March 2020 to April 2024 to stabilize the early care and education (ECE) industry and support young children and their families. Child Trends’ recent evaluation of the DECAL program found: Stabilization funds helped programs remain open. Child care programs that received stabilization funding had significantly lower permanent closure rates than those that did not. Most teachers used workforce bonus payments to help with necessities such as rent, bills, groceries, and clothing. Relief funds helped providers retain staff, avoid layoffs, delay or prevent closure, make facility repairs and improvements, and continue quality improvement activities. The expanded eligibility for child care subsidy and the temporary removal of family fees increased access to free child care, helping families keep their jobs, afford household essentials and remote learning equipment, and build savings during a stressful time. READ MORE AT Child Trends