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We made some new friends recently in Savannah who are helping children discover a love for reading in a very unique way.  During a visit to one of our Summer Transition Programs for Rising Kindergarten students, Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, and Commissioner Jacobs introduced Ron Binkney and Lucky, a Golden Retriever who has turned the page in literacy for early learners. 

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Here in Georgia school starts back beginning in late July and August and our Inclusion and Behavioral Support Team wants to help families and teachers get ready with tips, strategies, and tools to promote social-emotional learning and minimize challenging behaviors, especially after a pandemic.  The campaign is called “Planting SEEDS for a Successful School Year” using our SEEDS for Success Program and Helpline.  Joining us to talk about “Planting SEEDS for a Successful School Year” is Allison O’Hara, Inclusion and Behavior Support Program Director, and Peggy Sutton, Inclusion and Behavior Support Specialist.  

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Here’s some great news for families who receive CAPS scholarship assistance in paying for child care. Through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, DECAL has allocated around $95 million to help eligible Georgia families negatively impacted by the pandemic pay for child care.  We’re using this historic investment in early learning to support families through a special initiative called ACCESS, which stands for Awarding Child Care Education Scholarship Supplements.  Joining us to talk about ACCESS and the CAPS Program is Elisabetta Kasfir, Deputy Commissioner of CAPS; and Carolyn Morkeh, CAPS Family Support Manager.  

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For the eighth consecutive year, DECAL is calling for families and caregivers of children to increase awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. On Thursday, May 27, 2021, we held this virtual news conference with the Georgia Department of Public Health and the University of Georgia. 

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Quality Rated is Georgia’s system to determine, improve, and communicate the quality of programs that provide child care. Similar to rating systems for restaurants and hotels, Quality Rated (which is a three star system) assigns one, two or three stars to early education and school-age care programs that meet or exceed the minimum state requirements. After launching in 2012, today fifty-five percent of all  eligible  child care programs in Georgia are Quality Rated.  

As many may be aware, in 2015 DECAL established a CAPS/Quality Rated goal of all providers who participate in the CAPS program being Quality Rated by December 31, 2020.  We were well on our way of achieving that goal.  But then along comes a pandemic in 2020 and impacts this goal.  The deadline has been extended to December 31, 2021. 

Joining us to talk about CAPS and Quality Rated is Shawnell Johnson, Director of Operations for CAPS Program Administration; Denise Jenson, Quality Rated Operations Director, and Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships.  

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As the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines continues and availability improves, the focus is beginning to shift to vaccinating children, ages 12-15, and possibly younger in the near future.  There has also been a change in CDC guidance on the use of masks for those who are fully vaccinated.  What impact will that have on COVID guidance for Georgia child care?  Joining us on the podcast today is Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner of Child Care Services, and Dr. Georgina Peacock who currently serves as the Georgia Department of Health Chief Medical Officer as a Center for Disease Control Assignee.  

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For the eighth consecutive year, DECAL is calling for families and caregivers to increase awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles.  Joining us to talk about our annual Look Again campaign and ways to prevent pediatric vehicular heatstroke are Dana Morrison and Rhonda Parker, both directors of field operations with Child Care Services here at DECAL; and Lisa Dawson, Director of the Injury Prevention Program for the Georgia Department of Public Health.

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This year is the 20th anniversary of the DECAL Scholars Program that provides financial and educational support to our early care and education workforce. The program is known for providing scholarships to assist with educational expenses, awards when you earn an ECE credential or degree, and incentives which provide a salary boost when you earn your entry level credential or higher education degree.  As part of the 20th anniversary celebration, DECAL will recognize two Scholars of the Year…one from a four-year college and one from a technical college.  Joining us to talk about DECAL Scholars and the 20th anniversary is Brandi Swain from CARE Solutions; Barbara McWethy our Workforce Support Manager; and Carrie Ashbee, executive director of the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning.  

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Starting May 17, applications will be open for the $1,000 POWER Supplemental Payments.  The payments were announced earlier this year by Governor Brian Kemp and Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs…a one-time, $1,000 bonus payment to some 65,000 early learning professionals and staff.  The bonuses will be funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Joining us to talk about POWER supplemental payments is Christi Moore, Director of Professional Learning here at DECAL; Barb McWethy is Workforce Support Manager; and Nina Bryant-Hunter, Early Childhood Center Director at the Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority. 

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This school year has been challenging …however before you know it, the 2021-2022 school year will begin.  We are hearing from families who have concerns about whether their children are ready for the upcoming school year.  Today we are going to focus on the transition to Kindergarten and what families can be doing now to prepare for a successful transition.  Joining us to talk about the transition from Georgia’s Pre-K Program to Kindergarten is Faith Duncan, Director of Georgia’s Pre-K Program; Jessica Cobert, Mikaela Fitzpatrick, and Jennifer Robison, kindergarten teachers with the Gwinnett County School System,; and Joslin Gumbs, a Fulton County kindergarten teacher.   

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