Dear First Up Community,

As our lives are being changed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we remain committed to all of you – to ensure you have the information and resources you need to take care of yourselves and your communities. In times of uncertainty, it’s easy for our attention to be fractured – and we don’t know where to go information. We are committed to supporting you as you navigate the changes in the ECE community and as you support your own friends and family. In the midst of it all, please remember to find time to look after your own needs as well.

To that end, we have collected some important resources about ECE Updates, fun activities parents can do with children, free meals for families who need them, unemployment compensation and advocacy updates, as well as resources for stress management.

Use the tabs below to navigate the page and please reach out to us if there is something you need that you can’t find here.

You are a valued part of the First Up family. We are in this together. Take good care.

We will be updating the following collection of links as more information, processes, and policies are released. If you want to suggest an essential link/resource not found on this list, please email Drew Martin.

Resources for Child Care Providers

Take Action Today!

  • TAKE ACTION! COVID-19 Child Care Crisis
    Pennsylvania’s economy depends on working families and working families depend on child care. Tell the Governor and General Assembly to include child care in PA stimulus package! Child care programs will not survive if stimulus funds are not available to them. Take action today to help ensure the sustainability of the child care sector and protect the health and well-being of children.
  • Share Your COVID-19 Child Care Story
    Most parents don’t have access to child care due to COVID-19 mandated closures and we need to hear from you! Are you working from home with children present? Are you working essential jobs without childcare? Have you come to a new appreciation of your child care program? Are your children missing their teachers or friends? To help policy makers understand the importance of childcare, we need to hear from you! Click here to share your story.
  • 2020 Census is now open!
    This is all the more important right now as government resources will be allocated based on the census. Complete this online from home!

From the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

ECE Operations Information & Resources

ECE Financial Assistance & Other Assistance

  • Philadelphia-specific Supports:
  • US-wide Supports:
    • U.S. SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Assistance
      Small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories are currently eligible to apply for a long-term low-interest loan due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.

Regarding Unemployment Compensation

Southeastern Pennsylvania Early Childhood Coalition (SEPECC)

Other ECE Program Resources

Resources for Families

Take Action Today!

  • TAKE ACTION! COVID-19 Child Care Crisis
    Pennsylvania’s economy depends on working families and working families depend on child care. Tell the Governor and General Assembly to include child care in PA stimulus package! Child care programs will not survive if stimulus funds are not available to them. Take action today to help ensure the sustainability of the child care sector and protect the health and well-being of children.
  • Share Your COVID-19 Child Care Story
    Most parents don’t have access to child care due to COVID-19 mandated closures and we need to hear from you! Are you working from home with children present? Are you working essential jobs without childcare? Have you come to a new appreciation of your child care program? Are your children missing their teachers or friends? To help policy makers understand the importance of childcare, we need to hear from you! Click here to share your story.
  • 2020 Census is now open!
    This is all the more important right now as government resources will be allocated based on the census. Complete this online from home!

Family Health & Wellness

Family Fun at Home – Physical Activities

Family Fun at Home – Reading and Screen Time

Family Fun at Home – Other Learning Tools & Activities

Assistance & Other Resources for Families

Regarding Unemployment Compensation

Advocacy and Civic Engagement

Your Participation and Feedback Can Help Highlight the Need for More ECE Resources

Southeastern Pennsylvania Early Childhood Coalition (SEPECC)

Online ECE Professional Development

We Are All in This Together!

First Up is glad to provide online Professional Development in support of our partners’ needs. Join us for First Up webinars through Zoom alongside your colleagues for continued virtual learning facilitated by our expert PD Instructors, Alix Cozen, Nancy Nicewonger, and Christine Haley-Brinen. We will explore an array of topics! Continue your PD goals during this time so you will come back to the classroom equipped to end the year strong!

Online pre-registration with the PD Registry is required. Registration fee per webinar is $20.00 (some financial assistance is available; contact Caroline Campana to learn more). Contact Ashley Haneiko with questions about registration.

Supporting Families with Alix Cozen

  • Thursday, April 2nd: Families as Partners: Concrete Ways to Enhance Partnerships
    11:00am-1:00pm
  • Friday, April 3rd: Mindful Families
    11:00am-1:00pm
  • Tuesday, April 7th: Families as Partners: Concrete Ways to Enhance the Relationship
    2:00-4:00pm
  • Wednesday, April 8th: Mindful Families
    2:00-4:00pm
  • Thursday, April 9th: A Teacher’s Guide: Effective Communication & Leadership
    2:00-4:00pm

Coaching with Christine Haley-Brinen

  • Wednesday, April 1st: Coaching for Leaders, Part 1
    1:00-3:00pm
  • Thursday, April 2nd: Coaching for Leaders, Part 2
    1:00-3:00pm
  • Friday, April 3rd: Coaching for Leaders, Part 3
    1:00-3:00pm

FLIP IT! with Alix Cozen

  • Tuesday, March 31st: FLIP IT! Building Resilient Children, Part 1
    2:00-4:00pm
  • Wednesday, April 1st: FLIP IT! Building Resilient Children, Part 2
    2:00-4:00pm
  • Thursday, April 2nd: FLIP IT! Building Resilient Children, Part 3
    2:00-4:00pm

Learning with First Up Staff

  • Wednesday, April 8th: Social and Emotional Development for Infants and Toddlers with Christine Haley-Brinen
    1:00-3:00pm
  • Thursday, April 9th: Implementing and Supporting Social and Emotional Learning in a Preschool Classroom with Patti Chapman
    2:00-4:00pm

Assessment & Observation with Nancy Nicewonger

  • Tuesday, March 31st: Child Observation and Assessment: Integrative Practice
    10:30am-12:30pm
  • Wednesday, April 1st: Curriculum and Assessment: Lesson Planning
    10:30am-12:30pm
  • Thursday, April 2nd: Developmentally Appropriate Practices
    10:30am-12:30pm
  • Friday, April 3rd: Understanding and Using Classroom Assessments
    10:30am-12:30pm

Self-Care with Alix Cozen

  • Tuesday, April 7th: Mindfulness
    11:00am-1:00pm
  • Wednesday, April 8th: Stress Management
    11:00am-1:00pm
  • Thursday, April 9th: Leadership 101
    11:00am-1:00pm

Best Practice with Nancy Nicewonger

  • Tuesday, April 7th: Inclusion with Intention
    10:30am-12:30pm
  • Wednesday, April 8th: Understanding Behaviors
    10:30am-12:30pm
  • Thursday, April 9th: Implementing Curriculum with Best Practices
    10:30am-12:30pm

First Up will also be providing FREE online Professional Development in support of our partners’ needs. First Up will be offering the following free webinars through Zoom alongside your colleagues for continued virtual learning facilitated by our expert PD Instructors Nancy Nicewonger, Kim Farmer, Lissette Rivera, and Wendy Wagner. We will explore topics and ideas to enhance your classroom learning centers and learn more about literacy. Continue your PD goals during this time so you will come back to the classroom with exciting, new ideas and activities for your children.

Online pre-registration with the PD Registry is required even though the following sessions are free of cost. Contact Ashley Haneiko with questions about registration.

Curriculum with Nancy Nicewonger

  • Tuesday, March 31st: Out of the Box Ideas for the Science (Discovery) Center
    8:00-10:00am
  • Wednesday, April 1st: Out of the Box Ideas for the Writing Center
    8:00-10:00am
  • Thursday, April 2nd: Out of the Box Ideas for the Math Center
    8:00-10:00am
  • Friday, April 3rd: Out of the Box Ideas for the Block Center
    8:00-10:00am
  • Wednesday, April 7th: Out of the Box Ideas for the Library Center
    8:00-10:00am
  • Thursday, April 8th: Out of the Box Ideas for the Block Center
    8:00-10:00am
  • Friday, April 10th: Loose Parts
    8:00-10:00am

Literature Links with Kim Farmer, Lissette Rivera, & Wendy Wagner

  • Thursday, April 2nd: Active Reading: Unlocking the Power of a Children’s Picture Book with Kim Farmer
    8:00-10:00am
  • Friday, April 3rd: Ideas listas para usar en el Centro de la Biblioteca con Lissette Rivera
    8:00-10:00am
  • Friday, April 3rd: Emergent Literacy with Wendy Wagner
    10:00am-12:00pm
  • Wednesday, April 8th: Active Reading: Unlocking the Power of a Children’s Picture Book with Kim Farmer
    10:00am-12:00pm
  • Thursday, April 9th: Emergent Literacy with Wendy Wagner
    10:00am-12:00pm
  • Friday, April 10th: Ideas listas para usar en el Centro de la Biblioteca con Lissette Rivera
    8:00-10:00am

Additional Webinar Links and Opportunities