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Each year, DECAL’s Look Again campaign serves as a crucial reminder for parents, caregivers, and educators about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. We're proud to highlight the collaborative efforts with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, joining forces to raise awareness and prevent tragic incidents of pediatric vehicular heatstroke. Joining us to talk about the Look Again campaign are Kesha McNeal and Rukiya Thomas with Child Care Services; Allen Poole is Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Robert Hydrick, Communications Manager for the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety; and Angel Upshaw, Media Relations Specialist. 

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DECAL celebrates Children’s Mental Health Week in Georgia May 4th – 8th, as we have done for the last six years in the first full week of May. Similar to Georgia’s Pre-K Week, and Inclusive Early Learning Week, this special week in May reminds us that the early years in a child’s life provide a key opportunity to establish safe and secure relationships and support healthy social and emotional development also known as mental health. 

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On this week’s episode, we’re talking about the Georgia’s Pre-K Summer Transition Program, a dynamic initiative that is held during June and July, offering high-quality instruction with a focus on language, literacy, and math. The STP has proven to reduce the achievement gap among young learners and provide essential support for children as they prepare for Pre-K and Kindergarten. Joining us this week to talk about the Summer Transition Program is Meghan McNail, Director for Pre-K Instruction and Regional Operations, and Devon Porter, Summer Transition Program and Outreach Manager. Also joining us are Jeff Randa, Project Director for Easter Seals North Georgia, and Pam Weiser, Project Director for Fulton County School District.  

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It's never too early to start planning a summer your children will remember! In this episode, we dive into how the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is making it easier for families to find safe, affordable, and high-quality summer camps. Whether you're seeking guidance from knowledgeable call center specialists, using a handy checklist, or exploring online resources, DECAL equips parents with the tools and support needed to make confident choices for summer care.

Joining us are Sonja Steptoe, Assistant Director of Business Supports and Operations, and Katrina Bernard, Manager of the Quality Rated Family Support Call Center. Together, they share expert advice and helpful tips on how to navigate your search for the perfect summer camp in Georgia this year. 

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For nearly two decades, Mindy Binderman has been a nonprofit leader and advocate for early childhood policy here in Georgia dedicating her career to advocacy, policy development, and driving systemic change. Recently the founding Executive Director of the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students or GEEARS announced that she will soon take on the new role of Chief External Affairs Officer at the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), a national leader in community development financial services. Joining us to talk more about early childhood education in Georgia and her new role at LIIF is Mindy Binderman. 

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High-quality educational programming plays a critical role for children from birth to age five, as these early years are foundational for brain development, language acquisition, social-emotional growth, and the establishment of lifelong learning habits. Today we’re excited to welcome back Laura Evans, Vice President of Education at Georgia Public Broadcasting who has spent more than a decade developing and sharing free, high-quality digital learning resources for Georgia's educators, students, and families. 

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Planning for college can start earlier than many families realize. DECAL and Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan are sponsoring the annual Path from Pre-K to College Sweepstakes, an initiative to help families begin saving for their children’s education while they are still in Pre-K. Joining us is Bethany Whetzel,  Treasury Program Director for Georgia's Office of the State Treasurer. Then, March 19, 2026, was Pre-K at the Capitol Day where Voices for Georgia's Children helped us announce the dates for this year's Georgia's Pre-K Week, October 5-9, 2026. We look back at the resolutions passed in the House and Senate and talk with legislators. 

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Across the country, from March 15th to the 21st, we are shining a spotlight on the providers, the sponsors, and the food service professionals who are quite literally stirring goodness into the lives of children and adults. Today we’re going beyond the meal patterns and the paperwork to talk about the real-world impact of the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Joining us today is Tamika Boone, Nutrition Services Director, and Cindy Kicklighter, Marketing and Outreach Manager, to talk about how they are fueling healthy futures, one plate at a time.

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On today’s episode, we’re looking into the findings of a recent study examining the early childhood care and education workforce in Georgia. We'll explore the challenges educators face, the opportunities for professional growth, and how these insights could shape the future of early childhood learning across the state. Joining us to talk about the State of Early Care and Education in Georgia is Dr. Mia Obiwo, Workforce Policy and Process Administrator, and Stephen McGarity, Instructional Research and Data Quality Manager.

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In a field where the well-being and developmental growth of our youngest children is at stake, it’s essential that standards, policies, and regulations are upheld with diligence and integrity. DECAL’s Audits and Compliance Team serves as the guardians of quality, ensuring that early childhood programs across Georgia meet state requirements, maintain financial transparency, and provide safe, nurturing environments for children and their families. Joining us to talk about Audits & Compliance at DECAL is Ben Appling, Director of Audits & Compliance, LeighAnn Hendrix is CAPS Compliance Manager, and Aleisha Golden is Senior Manager of Risk Management and Program Integrity. 

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