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Many of Georgia’s kids became especially vulnerable last March when schools closed because of the pandemic.  Families were left struggling to feed their children.  And, with many parents out of work, it’s likely that more kids—as many as one in four—may face hunger in the months ahead, especially when school is out for the summer. 

DECAL’s Summer Food Service Program is one solution that helps children get the nutrition they need.  This program benefits the whole community by closing the food insecurity gap and providing local economies with federal reimbursement funds.  Joining us today to talk about how the Nutrition Division will ensure Georgia’s kids will have access to meals and snacks this summer is Tamika Boone, Director of Nutrition Services and Cindy Kicklighter, Manager of Marketing and Outreach.  

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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.  That’s why every year in February we celebrate Inclusive Early Learning Week here at DECAL.   Here to talk about the importance of inclusion in early child care and Inclusive Early Learning week are Lindsey Urry, Regional Supervisor of Inclusion and Behavior Support, and Inclusion and Behavior Support Specialists Roseanne Hamrick and Megan McGraw. 

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In January, the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE) presented its 17th edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch Report.  The report identifies and analyzes key education issues Georgia will be or should be addressing in the coming year.  Joining us to talk about the Top Ten Issues to Watch is Dr. Dana Rickman, Incoming President of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, and Dr. Robert Gaines, GPEE Director of Communications. 

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For the fifth consecutive year, DECAL has named two Georgia’s Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year recognizing the outstanding efforts of all Pre-K teachers and assistant teachers who implement this nationally recognized program every day.   Joining us today on the podcast is Alderine Healey from the YMCA Paulding Early Learning Center in Hiram, Heather Melillo from West End Elementary School in Rome, and our own Meghan McNail, Summer Transition and Outreach Manager for Georgia’s Pre-K Program. 

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Last year, the Georgia State Legislature created a new position here at DECAL designed to help support social and emotional health in a child’s critical early years of life.  Despite the budget challenges caused by COVID-19, the Legislature approved an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Director for Georgia.  Joining us to talk about Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health is Laura Lucas, the new Director of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health here at DECAL; and Dallas Rabig, who holds a similar position as Laura, in the state of Alabama as the State Coordinator for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. 

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Recently our Georgia Head Start Collaboration Office joined the American Academy of Pediatrics and child care advocates GEEARS and Voices for Georgia’s Children to study the impact of COVID-19 on Head Start programs across the state and the children and families they serve.  Joining us to talk about this collaborative effort and what they learned is Dr. Terri McFadden, professor in the Department of Pediatrics of the Emory University School of Medicine and immediate past president of the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Fozia Khan Eskew is director of child health with the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Britney Newton is policy analyst with Voices for Georgia’s Children; Callan Wells is Health Policy Manager for GEEARS; and Allison Setterlind is director of the Georgia Head Start Collaboration Office.  

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It’s almost time to ring in the New Year, as we count down the final hours of a most unusual 2020…unprecedented even…and prepare for brighter days ahead in 2021. It seemed like a good time for one of our sit-down chats with Commissioner Jacobs featuring questions from our DECAL team and social media.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, our Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning has been busy providing free child care scholarships to essential workers with children birth to five.  They have also been helping Santa with gifts for Georgia’s Foster Children through DFCS and Clark’s Christmas Kids.  Joining us from the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning is Executive Director Carrie Ashbee, along with DECAL Director of Government Relations and Special Projects Liz Young. 

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In August, DECAL received over $17 million from the Governors Emergency Education Relief funding, set aside by the CARES Act, for our new SOLVE scholarships, which stands for Supporting Onsite Learning for Virtual Education.  This provides additional childcare options for students ages 5-12 whose school systems have opted primarily for virtual learning. In addition, it will allow parents who need to return to work to have a secure option for their child, ensuring they are under professional care in a safe environment.  Today we’re getting an update on this program and details around expanding the scholarships later this month. 

Joining us to talk about SOLVE is Elisabetta Kasfir, Deputy Commissioner for the CAPS Program, and Kay Mayfield, Scholarship Administration Director for CAPS.  

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Our Pandemic Thanksgiving is behind us…now straight ahead is our COVID Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza just a few weeks away.  Seems like a good time for a special holiday episode of DECAL Download to celebrate those age-old traditions that keep our spirits merry and bright, no matter what the circumstances.

And as is our tradition, we are featuring comments from several of our DECAL team asking them what’s your favorite holiday tradition and what’s your New Year’s Resolution for 2020?  We’re also joined by DECAL Nutrition Health Educator Diana Meyers who is going to help us survive all the holiday parties and office treats that seem to be coming at us constantly this time of year.  And LaToya Longshore, CCS NW Region Consultant, and Jennifer McCreary, Regional Manager for Georgia’s Pre-K Program join us to talk about great gift ideas for children birth to five since that’s our specialty.

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