In September, Child's Way earned a STAR 3 designation from Keystone STARS, a quality improvement initiative for early learning programs. To find out more about what this means and why this is important, we talked with Arran Harland, Educational Coordinator for Child's Way.

What exactly is the Keystone STARS program?

Arran: Keystone STARS is a voluntary quality improvement program for early learning centers run by Pennsylvania's Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). STARS is actually an acronym which stands for: Standards, Training/Professional Development, Assistance, Resources, and Support. Keystone STARS provides goals to meet in each of these 5 areas, and then uses these goals to evaluate a facility. These evaluations result in a rating for the facility – STAR 1, STAR 2, STAR 3 or STAR 4 – ideally progressing from one to the next until reaching and maintaining a STAR 4 designation. For example, after earning a STAR 1 designation, an early learning program can start working on STAR 2 goals, which build upon the goals achieved for STAR 1.

Last week Mary Coyle and her mom toured the purple unit of the Pediatric Specialty Hospital. Mary, now 5 years old, was the first patient transferred to the Pediatric Specialty Hospital when our doors opened on Penn Avenue in 2007. Then 11 months old, Mary was pictured in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette with her primary nurse, Lois Woelfer, to announce the opening of our new facility.

To make Mary's visit extra-special, Lois was here when she toured and the two enjoyed catching up. Mary's mom brought the Post-Gazette clipping to share with Lois, as well as Mary's recent school pictures. Mary loves going to school and is happy and healthy.

The staff and children of Child's Way were extra bubbly last Tuesday!

Mindy from the Carnegie Science Center's Discovery Days with Science on the Road visited us to present Bubble Science, a hands-on program that teaches young children about chemistry. At first, all watched with awe as Mindy created bubbles as big as a preschooler. Next, she made bubbles with Helium which floated to the ceiling. Finally, it was everyone's turn to try and the Child's Way students filled the conference room with their laughter and smiles as they blew bubbles of all shapes and sizes.

"Making learning exciting and interactive is always our goal," says Arran Harland, Educational Coordinator at Child's Way. "From special programs such as this, the kids will not only remember all the fun they had blowing bubbles, but also that the Helium bubbles floated higher than all the other bubbles. That's science!" Other recent interactive programs include the music-focused Listen Closely, and the creative movement program ABC Animals on the Move.

Even though it's been a hot summer here in Pittsburgh, the children of Child's Way®, a day care for medically fragile children, at The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center have been finding ways to cool down and enjoy these summer days.

Whether taking turns on the sliding board, getting a helpful push on the swings, or making their way up the playground castle, the back yard of The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center has made a summer oasis for enjoying the sunshine!

On extra special days, the children have also been treated to the world's favorite summer treat—ice cream! A few messy smiles seem to say they enjoyed it a lot!




   

Andrea and Brett Baer, local program coordinators for Mended Little Hearts of Southwestern PA, are teaming up with us starting in August. Mended Little Hearts, a support program for parents of children with heart defects and heart disease, is dedicated to inspiring hope in those who care for the youngest heart patients of all. They offer resources and a caring support network, as families find answers and move forward to find healing and hope.

Mended Little Hearts of Southwestern PA, in its second year as a chapter, is one branch of a 60 chapter national organization. Andrea and her husband Brett took on the role as Local Program Coordinators shortly after their son Trenton was born with a congenital heart defect (AVSD) two years ago.

Trenton was born on March 17, 2009, with a complete AVSD. At three months old the little boy underwent open heart surgery at The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. As Andrea and Brett felt scared, confused, and alone, Andrea found a friend whose son had the same type of CHD and was a member of Mended Little Hearts. "I found a member of Mended Little Hearts online who educated and supported my husband and I through this difficult time," said Andrea.

We were recently featured in an aricle in the Summer 2011 issue of Western Pennsylvania Guide to Good Health. The article focuses on creating positive eating habits for picky eaters, an issue that many parents have to deal with. We've re-published the article below.

If you'd like to learn more about positive eating habits for your family, listen to our podcast where "Caring for Kids Radio" host David Martin chats with Janet Laughlin M.Ed., Infant/Child Development Specialist & Family Centered Feeding Program Coordinator for The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center.

Last week we received gifts of new, hand-made blankets lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers." The Blanketters are volunteers with Project Linus, a group of volunteers who sew blankets and afghans to donate to different organizations who serve children that are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need of some soft and cuddly warmth.

Project Linus is comprised of hundreds of local chapters and thousands of volunteers across the United States. Gail, a volunteer that has worked for three years with The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center, sorts and gives out the blankets to each of our programs including Adoption, Child's Way®, and the Pediatric Specialty Hospital.  

Last week Jeff Berman, a percussionist from Gateway to the Arts performed for The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center's children of Child's Way® medical day care. Jeff is a multi- instrumentalist, composer, improviser, and recording artist who uses music as a tool to teach kids to connect to something bigger then themselves, transcending their limitations.

The program, "Listen Closely," taught by Jeff, helps children enhance their active listening skills to develop individual and group artistry. "Everyone has rhythm," said Jeff. "Art and music are used to uplift your spirit, educationally and emotionally." Helping the children of Child's Way express their creativity and focus on uplifting music can help keep their mind-set joyous and content on the present.

Child's Way® was filled with excitement and laughter this past Tuesday as we celebrated Travis Novotny's 4th birthday! "Travis usually has a big party with his family, with around 100 people attending", said his mom Stefani. But since Stefani is expecting to have surgery in a couple days she decided to celebrate Travis's birthday with all of his friends at Child's Way®.

The mamaRoo is all the rage among celebrities like Celine Dion, Elton John, Kelly Preston, and Mario Lopez, and The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center loves it too!

mamaRoo, the innovative and award-winning infant seat, was created by moms, for moms. It comes equipped with five different ways to move, five nature sounds, and even a connection for an MP3 player. It was created by a local company and has recently become a nation-wide sensation.

The 4moms company, of Pittsburgh, is named after four moms who were the company's first focus group (it was actually five moms, but 4moms sounded better, so one mom adopted the nickname 'The Stealth Mom'). Each mom contributes her insights and expertise to the creation of 4moms' products. Earlier this year, 4moms graciously donated 20 mamaRoos to The Children's Home & Lemieux Family Center, and we couldn't be happier- neither could our kids!