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Episode 26 - Upgrade to PANDA Apr 23, 2024

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This fall will be the 32nd year of Georgia’s Pre-K Program which now serves nearly 72,000 students statewide. This year we are making significant improvements to PANDA, the Pre-K Application and Database Access system for providers. Joining us today to talk about Georgia’s Pre-K Program and the online improvements is Susan Adams, Deputy Commissioner for Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports, and Brian Griffin, Manager over the new GAPREK online system.

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Episode 25 - Economic Impact Study Apr 16, 2024

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In March, DECAL released the results of our most recent Economic Impact Study, which evaluates the importance of the early care and education industry to the state’s economy. This is the third Economic Impact Study we have commissioned, following the first in 2008 and the second in 2016. Like previous studies, this report is a collaboration between researchers at the Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Joining us to talk about the economic impact of the early care and education industry in Georgia is Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships, Rob O’Callaghan, Director of Institutional Research and Data Quality, and our special guests from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, researchers Dr. Peter Bluestone and Nicholas Warner.

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Episode 24 - Children's Mental Health Week 2024 Apr 09, 2024

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DECAL will celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week in Georgia May 6-10, 2024, as we have done for the last four 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. Joining us to talk about Children’s Mental Health Week is our own, Laura Lucas, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Director at DECAL and our guests: Lisa Pace, Director of Operations from Georgia Parent Support Network (GPSN), Erin Harlow- Parker, Manager of Child Advocacy Programs, Behavioral Mental Health from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) and Maria Ramos, Senior Program Specialist from Voices for Georgia’s Children.

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Episode 23 - Georgia Public Library Service Apr 02, 2024

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Despite advancements in technology and all of the screen time each of us total up in a month, the public library continues to be a popular place for individuals and families here in Georgia. There are 410 public libraries across the state…and that library card holds more value than ever. With National Library Week coming up April 7-13, this is a great time to talk about the Georgia Public Library Service with Julie Walker, State Librarian and Vice Chancellor for Libraries and Archives, and Evan Bush, Director of Youth Services for the Georgia Public Library Service.

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Episode 22 - Early Childhood Educators of the Year Mar 26, 2024

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In December, DECAL and the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning announced our three winners for Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year for the 2023-2024 school year. Joining us today is Laura Wagner, Executive Director for the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning; Miranda Murphy is our Practice and Support Services Outreach and Project Manager. And our very special guests….the Early Childhood Educators of the Year for 2023-2024, Noel Weimer from Water Oak Family Child Care Learning Home in Roswell is the infant teacher of the year; Bianca Brown from the Greenbriar School in Evans is the Toddler teacher of the year; and Chantelle Hester from Smart Starters Academy Family Child Care Learning Home in Savannah is the Preschool teacher of the year.

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Episode 21 - Pathway from Pre-K to College Mar 19, 2024

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Today they may be learning their colors, shapes, and letters…but before you know it, those four-year-olds in Georgia’s Pre-K Program will be all grown up and headed to technical school or college. That’s why each year we join Path2College 529 Plan and the Georgia Student Finance Commission for our Pre-K to College Sweepstakes. Joining us this week to talk about Pre-K to College is Mitch Seabaugh, Executive Director of the Path2College 529 Plan; Devon Porter, DECAL’s Summer Transition Program and Outreach Manager for Georgia’s Pre-K Program, and Nicole Lewis, the parent of Griffin Lewis, a Pre-K student at Baker Place Elementary School in Grovetown, one of our scholarship recipients from last year.

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Episode 20 - POWER-ED & DECAL Scholars Mar 12, 2024

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During the COVID pandemic, DECAL offered POWER payments to all eligible early learning professionals and staff here in Georgia. POWER stood for Providing our workforce essential recognition and at $1,000 per person in three rounds totaled over $118 million in supplemental payments from the American Rescue Plan. Today POWER has become POWER-ED, a wage supplement paid through DECAL Scholars to support early child care workers as they begin or further their education. Joining us this week is Abby Mozo, Professional Learning Operations Analyst here at DECAL, and Lindsey Peterson and Charlotte Pelz, both with Care Solutions, who help us administer the program.

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Episode 19 - Update from Thriving Child Care Business Academy Mar 05, 2024

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DECAL's Thriving Child Care Business Academy opened its virtual doors in September 2023. The Academy offers a wide selection of free online trainings and educational resources to help owners and administrators of child care programs learn the best management practices that will help their businesses thrive. Joining us to talk more about the Academy is Quality Innovations and Partnerships Communications and Outreach Manager Sonja Steptoe and two of DECAL’s partners in the Academy, Gary Romano, president of Civitas Strategies; and Alyssa Foskey, Area Director with the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center at Valdosta State University.

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Episode 18 - GOAL Winner Ashley Ford Feb 27, 2024

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An Early Childhood Care and Education Student at Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro has been named as the school’s 2024 GOAL Student. Ashley Ford is a mother of two daughters and a child care teacher at Kids World Learning Center in Statesboro. Ashley joins us for this week's podcast, along with Sarah Beverley, who is a Student Navigator and GOAL coordinator at the college, and Dr. Christi Moore, Professional Learning Director here at DECAL.

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Episode 17 - Happy Helpings Feb 20, 2024

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This summer, kids throughout Georgia will continue to have access to free nutritious meals and snacks through Happy Helpings, Georgia’s Summer Food Service Program. Joining us today to tell us more about Happy Helpings are Director of Nutrition Services Tamika Boone, Marketing and Outreach Manager Cindy Kicklighter, and special guest Deborah Wilson, the founder and director of Georgia Nutritional Services and a Happy Helpings sponsor.

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