Trying Together (PA)

Rising to the Moment In Challenging Circumstances

Trying Together is one of the oldest early childhood professional organizations in the United States, tracing its roots all the way back to 1963. Based in southwestern Pennsylvania, the organization supports early childhood educators and families with resources, professional development, and access to care. Their team has helped shape models used across the state and country. 

In 2020, as the pandemic disrupted daily life, the child care system was pushed to its limits. Supply shrank as programs closed or reduced capacity, while demand surged, especially from essential workers. Because of the combination of compressed supply and increased demand, Trying Together found itself in a tough position. They needed a real-time understanding of what care was available and where gaps existed. Like many systems at the time, their tools weren’t built for the moment. 

“Up to that point, we had previously been tracking the emergency care demand and supply…through phone calls, Google Sheets and other manual data processes,” said Trying Together Executive Director Cara Ciminillo. “It worked, but was quickly becoming unsustainable, and it wasn’t giving families the experience they needed.” 

Incremental fixes clearly wouldn’t be enough. Trying Together needed a responsive, human-centered approach.

An Evolving Technology Partnership

To meet the need, Trying Together partnered with BridgeCare to deliver a more modern, accessible child care search and data system. “The technology has made a real difference for families looking for care,“ said Ciminillo. “We can also now analyze supply and demand across the county in ways that weren’t possible before.” 

The BridgeCare platform enables providers to share more than basic listings, including photos, program details, and updates, giving families a clearer picture of their options. It also integrates with the state system to include  licensing and inspection information, helping families make informed, confident choices. 

Over time, the tool has expanded beyond traditional child care. Families can now search for summer camps and after-school programs in the same place, creating a more complete and streamlined experience. Just as important has been the ongoing commitment to partnership. “The BridgeCare team is accessible, responsive, and open to feedback,” Ciminillo said. “They’ve continued to evolve the system alongside us.”

As the system has grown, so has its value as a data tool. Trying Together now has a clearer, more immediate view of supply, demand, and affordability across Allegheny County. Custom dashboards translate that data into actionable insights helping the organization and its partners identify gaps, inform policy conversations, and better support families and providers. 

This strategy has required a strong, ongoing focus on engagement. The more families and providers use the system, the more accurate and useful the data becomes. 

A Broader Lesson for Communities Everywhere

Trying Together sees this work as part of a larger effort to build a more functional, equitable early childhood system. One where families can find care they trust, and providers are visible, supported, and sustainable. This means continuing to improve how information is shared, how systems connect, and how decisions are informed by real time data. Technology alone isn’t the solution, but when it’s designed around real needs, it can remove barriers that families and providers face each day. 

The child care challenges facing communities across the country are complex and persistent. Addressing them requires coordination, investment, and tools that actually work for the people using them. “BridgeCare’s ability to improve the experience for both families and providers has been a real asset,“ said Ciminillo.” It’s the kind of infrastructure more communities should be thinking about.”