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Research tells us that, regardless of their abilities, children in high-quality child care programs are better prepared to enter school and more likely to develop healthy social and emotional skills.  When child care providers offer inclusive child care, they’re supporting not only children with disabilities but also their parents who can work, go back to school, or just take a break.  Here to talk about the importance of inclusion in early child care and Inclusive Early Learning week are Inclusion and Behavior Support Specialists Emily Graham and Alicia Prather. 

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Something new and exciting is coming to the School of Public Health at Georgia State University here in Atlanta.  The research center known as the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development has been chosen as the future home for the Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health.   Joining us to talk about plans for the Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health is Laura Lucas, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Director here at DECAL; Callan Wells is Health Policy Manager for GEEARS: The Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students; Dr. Kathleen Baggett serves on the leadership team for the Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health at Georgia State University; and Kathy Bragg and Dr. Trasie Topple serve as Board Co-Presidents for the Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health.  

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Now in its twenty-ninth year, Georgia’s Pre-K Program has more than 3,700 classes serving over 73,000 students statewide.  Those classrooms are served by 36 Pre-K specialists on a daily basis.  But who do you contact if you’re a teacher, director, parent, or the general public with a question or concern about Georgia’s Pre-K Program?  Here to talk about the Pre-K Specialist of the Day program is Jennifer McCreary, one of our Regional Managers for Georgia’s Pre-K Program.  

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Starting January 18, applications are open for Round 2 of our $1,000 POWER Supplemental Payments.  POWER stands for Providing Our Workforce Essential Recognition.  You might remember we did this last spring and summer and now they’re back for 2022…$1,000 bonus payments to some 35,000 early learning professionals and staff here in Georgia.  The bonuses are funded through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Joining us to talk about POWER supplemental payments Round 2 is Christi Moore, Director of Professional Learning here at DECAL; and Barb McWethy is Workforce Support Manager.  

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Recently we surveyed our DECAL team on topics they would like to hear featured here on DECAL Download.  One of the suggestions was to launch a new feature called “A Day in the Life” where we learn more about a member of the DECAL team and what they do for Georgia’s youngest learners and their families on a daily basis.  Today we’re spending a “Day in the Life” of Rachael Lee, Quality Improvement Supervisor in our Child Care Services Division.  

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It’s the holiday season and here at DECAL we’re making a list and checking it twice on gift ideas for your youngest learners, nutritious meals and snacks for the holidays, as well as our favorite traditions and New Year’s resolutions for 2022.  Joining us this week to help celebrate the season is Annie Blair, Infant Toddler Specialist; Ann Panzica, Child and Family Development Training Specialist; and LaToya Longshore, Northwest Region Child Care Consultant from CCS to talk about great gift ideas for children birth to five.  DECAL Nutrition Health Educator Diana Meyers is back with tips for navigating through those holiday parties and carbolicious casseroles in the kitchen at Grandma’s.  

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Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs responds to questions from our DECAL team and our followers on social media.

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Georgia’s Department of Public Health has announced that there are approximately 987,000 children ages 5-11 in Georgia who are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine...that’s about 4.4 percent of the total population in Georgia.  Commissioner, this is something we’ve been looking for and should help in containing the virus among our younger learners and ultimately making schools and child care programs safer.  Joining us to talk about COVID-19 vaccines for children in Georgia is Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner of Child Care Services here at DECAL, and Dr. Jenna Gettings, an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with the CDC currently assigned as a school team lead with the Georgia Department of Public Health.  

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In October, Commissioner Jacobs joined Governor Brian Kemp in announcing eight Georgia child care programs that have received our inaugural Quality Rated Language and Literacy Endorsement.  We’re very proud of these programs who are demonstrating a commitment to providing high-quality, language-rich environments for Georgia’s youngest learners.  Joining us to talk about Quality Rated Language and Literacy Endorsements are Laura Wagner, Community Outreach and Partnerships Director in our Quality Innovations and Partnerships Division; Angela Shelton is a Professional Learning Specialist in Georgia’s Pre-K and Instructional Supports Division; and two of the recipients of the Language and Literacy Endorsements: Beverly Johnson, owner of Discovery Point in Conyers and Jessica Whitehead, Director of Rising Star Learning Center in Mableton. 

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Ten-thousand children.  That’s how much DECAL is expanding our Childcare and Parent Services or CAPS Program, as of November 1.  Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs and Governor Brian Kemp made this announcement last month to provide additional support to Georgia’s families and child care providers and to ensure more children have access to quality early educational opportunities.  Joining us to talk about expanding CAPS by 10,000 children is Elisabetta Kasfir, Deputy Commissioner for the CAPS Program in Georgia, and Miranda Gore, a mom with five children who are a part of the CAPS Program.  

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