The Private Industry Council (PIC) was pleased to serve as a valued partner to the Western PA Operating Engineers, beginning with preparation coursework on January 10th & 17th, 2026 and concluding with testing held from January 21st - 27th. Operating engineers are...
The Private Industry Council (PIC) Afterschool Program, funded through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative, and administered by the state of PA made a meaningful impact on students and families in Fayette and Westmoreland...
The holiday season is a time of joy. However, it also comes with busy schedules, gift shopping, and year-end deadlines. Taking care of yourself is essential not just for your well-being, but so you can truly enjoy the holiday season. Here are some cheerful self-care...
Families enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start of Fayette County were invited to “Alphabet Safari” held at the Lemont Furnace Head Start Center on November 19, 2025. The theme of the event was to focus on language and literacy skills from the program’s school...
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Head Start / Early Head Start FAQs The Private Industry Council discusses frequently asked questions for Head Start and Early Head Start students. Private Industry Council operates the Head Start / Early Head Start program for Beaver and Fayette Counties in the...
Michel Keller, Dan Bell, & Michelle Ferguson (pictured left to right) attended the Healthy Marriage & Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) Roundtable Conference at the Great Wolf Lodge in Phoenix, AZ on May 2-3, 2023. DADS MATTER was 1 of 4 grantees who was asked to showcase their successes, accomplishments, and how to overcome challenges to peer grantees.
Michelle expressed her excitement, indicating “This is the opportunity that I’ve been waiting for. It’s time to share the best kept successful secret of DADS MATTER at the federal level.”
Michel shared Workforce Opportunities including high priority occupations in our workforce development area and short-term training options that yield long-term stability and a healthy work/life balance. Dan discussed Connecting in Virtual Settings during COVID-19 challenges, including positive unanticipated benefits like seeing the father/child interactions at home and connecting dads across multiple counties. Michelle began her presentation by waving her #1 Dads Terrible Towel. Her topic focused on Keeping the Team Connected and the key benefits of cross-training and cohesive communication to ensure continuous support among the DADS MATTER Team. She concluded the presentation by asking the audience to hug themselves as a reminder that “Self-care is not selfishness. It is essential so that we can continue to provide nurturing and supportive services to our dads, families, and communities.”
The audience’s key takeaways were displayed in the word cloud below.
We hope you take some time to practice self-care every day!
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