Hello Baby Expansion
to over 10,000 children, while Early Learning Program Engagement Specialists assisted over 200 relative providers in meeting eligibility criteria for program participation. Additionally, DHS launched funding for emergency childcare and helped provide financial support to families ineligible for the federal subsidy yet unable to afford childcare expenses. In addition to supporting families in accessing high-quality childcare, DHS expanded other supports to meet families’ basic needs. In partnership with Footbridge for Families, DHS significantly expanded one-time financial assistance for families to keep utilities running, cover their first month’s rent and security deposits, and ensure access to transportation for work. Furthermore, DHS partnered with Beverly’s Birthdays to establish the region’s first and only public formula bank network, offering bridge- based support services to help families struggling financially or seeking formula to feed their baby. Formula was provided to nearly 1,000 babies in 2023 through this initiative. Finally, in collaboration with the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank, DHS distributed 1,050,633 diapers which served an estimated 10,000 unique children.
Launched in 2020, Hello Baby is an innovative intervention that uses integrated data to prioritize prevention services for families with new babies based on their level of need. Hello Baby offers tiered supports, integrating universal, geographic, and intensive targeted strategies with data-driven decision-making to strengthen families, improve child outcomes, and maximize child and family well-being, safety, and security. Designed to reach all Allegheny County families with a newborn, Hello Baby adopts a universal approach that minimizes the stigma often associated with the need for support as a new parent. The tiered, differentiated approach allows for flexible program delivery, recognizing that each family is unique and has varying levels of needs and barriers to support. The program incorporates community-level support and utilizes home visiting techniques, employing culturally competent staff with lived experiences to support families with moderate to high needs. While the program initially launched in 2020, it expanded in 2023 to include all birthing hospitals, accept community referrals, and reach every family in Allegheny County identified in the top 20% of need. Approximately 40% of families reached chose to utilize a service, including Healthy Start, Family Check-Up, Family Centers, Prepared Meals, and Rental Assistance.
Discounted Fares Program Implementation
In December 2023, Allegheny County DHS announced an agreement with Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) to implement a discounted fare program for all county Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries, scheduled to commence in early 2024.
Expanding Support for Childcare & Families’ Basic Needs In 2023, DHS and its community partners expanded families’ access to high-quality childcare. DHS Early Learning Resource Center Family Specialists extended childcare subsidies
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