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When you think about child care in Georgia, you probably picture infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and Pre-K students.  But a large number of families rely on child care for their school-age children attending elementary and even middle school. In these cases, child care providers offer homework help, tutors, STEAM activities, health & fitness, character development, crafts, and more. Joining us to talk about school-age children served by Georgia’s child care industry is Michelle Garris, DECAL School Age and Youth Program Specialist, and Brittany Sams, CCS Director of Administrative Services and Special Operations. 

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This month, DECAL is offering child care tuition assistance for early educators in Georgia to help the child care industry recruit and retain professional staff. Using funds from ARPA, this program will support the cost of child care for children of individuals working at 30 licensed child care programs in Georgia. Joining us to talk about tuition assistance for early educators is Dr. Christi Moore, DECAL Director of Professional Learning, and Shenae Holmes is our Workforce Development Specialist.  

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With the fall comes college football, pumpkin spice lattes, and of course Open Enrollment here at DECAL and with the State of Georgia. Open Enrollment begins October 16, 2023, and ends November 4, 2023,  at 12:59 a.m. ET for active eligible employees and COBRA beneficiaries. Open Enrollment is a time to review, enroll, make changes to your Flexible Benefits plan options, including dental, vision and life insurance coverage. Joining us to talk about Open Enrollment here at DECAL is HR Operations Supervisor Sabrina Henry.  

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There are over 4,400 licensed child care programs in Georgia….that’s child care learning centers and family child care learning homes. The vast majority are in good standing with DECAL, meeting our rules and regulations for health and safety. But what should you do if you have concerns about your child care program? Joining us to talk about reporting concerns with your child care program is April Rogers, Director of Enforcement Operations in our Child Care Services Division, and Tahishe Smith, Intake Unit Manager.  

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This year DECAL and Voices for Georgia’s Children are celebrating the 13th Annual Georgia’s Pre-K Week, October 2-6, 2023…our 31st year offering Pre-K to students and families here in Georgia.  Joining us to talk about Georgia Pre-K Week is Caitlin Dooley, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children, and State Representative Teri Anulewicz (District 47-Smyrna). 

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Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs responds to questions about some of the current issues now facing the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. 

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October is National Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month…an innovative way to build children’s relationship with food and the local food system through hands-on food education and gardening experiences, interactive and adventurous taste testing, and inclusion of local items into meals and snacks. DECAL and our Nutrition Team fully support the program. It’s a great way to increase access to healthy foods, boost physical activity and mental wellbeing, and support local farmers and communities. Joining us to talk about October Farm to School Month is Diana Myers, Nutrition and Physical Activity Supervisor here at DECAL. 

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Here at DECAL, we believe that a stable early care and education industry made up of thriving child care businesses is important to the state’s economic growth and to preparing future generations of young learners for academic success. A new program called the Thriving Child Care Business Academy is designed to help owners and administrators of early learning programs learn best business management practices, much like the training they receive in best early childhood education practices on other platforms. It’s another way we hope to help the child care industry in Georgia navigate through some difficult times. Joining us to talk about the Thriving Child Care Business Academy is Quality Innovations and Partnerships Communications and Outreach Manager Sonja Steptoe and from Professional Learning, Community Manager Laura Reid.  

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It is back to school time in Georgia and when you think about a child’s success in school, you may focus on cognitive skills of learning and understanding…but research shows that social, emotional, and behavioral competence is equally important. Here at DECAL, we have a special helpline designed to assist you…child care teachers, parents, and caregivers…in developing social emotional early development strategies for success. We call it SEEDS, a listening ear from birth to thrive. Joining us to talk about the SEEDS Helpline is Shayla Lewis, SEEDS Helpline Coordinator, and Veronica Thomas, Program Director for our Inclusion and Behavioral Support Program. 

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For the first time ever, tens of thousands of young children across Georgia are preparing to enter Georgia’s Pre-K Program. We’re expecting 70,000 and more this school year. Several areas of the state started school in late July, but the majority are starting now. Joining us to talk about starting school are Megan McGraw and Jessi Slater from our Inclusion and Behavior Support Division, and Karen Mobley and Megan O’Bara, both specialists in Georgia’s Pre-K Program. 

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