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Episode 46 - Chat with the Commissioner Sep 19, 2023

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Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs responds to questions about some of the current issues now facing the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.

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Episode 45 - October Farm to School Month Sep 05, 2023

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October is National Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month…an innovative way to build children’s relationship with food and the local food system through hands-on food education and gardening experiences, interactive and adventurous taste testing, and inclusion of local items into meals and snacks. DECAL and our Nutrition Team fully support the program. It’s a great way to increase access to healthy foods, boost physical activity and mental wellbeing, and support local farmers and communities. Joining us to talk about October Farm to School Month is Diana Myers, Nutrition and Physical Activity Supervisor here at DECAL.

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Episode 44 - Thriving Child Care Business Academy Aug 29, 2023

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Here at DECAL, we believe that a stable early care and education industry made up of thriving child care businesses is important to the state’s economic growth and to preparing future generations of young learners for academic success. A new program called the Thriving Child Care Business Academy is designed to help owners and administrators of early learning programs learn best business management practices, much like the training they receive in best early childhood education practices on other platforms. It’s another way we hope to help the child care industry in Georgia navigate through some difficult times. Joining us to talk about the Thriving Child Care Business Academy is Quality Innovations and Partnerships Communications and Outreach Manager Sonja Steptoe and from Professional Learning, Community Manager Laura Reid.

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Episode 43 - SEEDS Helpline Aug 15, 2023

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It is back to school time in Georgia and when you think about a child’s success in school, you may focus on cognitive skills of learning and understanding…but research shows that social, emotional, and behavioral competence is equally important. Here at DECAL, we have a special helpline designed to assist you…child care teachers, parents, and caregivers…in developing social emotional early development strategies for success. We call it SEEDS, a listening ear from birth to thrive. Joining us to talk about the SEEDS Helpline is Shayla Lewis, SEEDS Helpline Coordinator, and Veronica Thomas, Program Director for our Inclusion and Behavioral Support Program.

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Episode 42 - Preparing for Georgia's Pre-K Program Aug 08, 2023

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For the first time ever, tens of thousands of young children across Georgia are preparing to enter Georgia’s Pre-K Program. We’re expecting 70,000 and more this school year. Several areas of the state started school in late July, but the majority are starting now. Joining us to talk about starting school are Megan McGraw and Jessi Slater from our Inclusion and Behavior Support Division, and Karen Mobley and Megan O’Bara, both specialists in Georgia’s Pre-K Program.

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Episode 41 - Special: Georgia Focus w/ John Clark Aug 01, 2023

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Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs is interviewed by John Clark from the Georgia News Network for their weekly public affairs program Georgia Focus.

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Episode 40 - CAPS Update Jul 25, 2023

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CAPS is Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services…a federal program administered by DECAL that helps pay for the cost of child care so parents can work or attend school. CAPS also helps families find high quality early learning environments and stability in their child care arrangements and connects families with resources to help them become self-sufficient and engage in two-generation strategies that support the whole family. Joining us today with an update on CAPS is Elisabetta Kasfir, Deputy Commissioner for Federal Programs and Arlene Green, a Scholarship Administration Specialist at CAPS.

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Episode 39 - DECAL Retirees Jul 18, 2023

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The data says Americans today are working longer and retiring later. Thirty years ago, the average retirement age in the US among men was 62, 59 among women. By 2021, those numbers had gone up by three years…some blame a lack of savings, some blame reduced social security benefits, and some blame COVID. Whatever the case, retirements here at DECAL always come with mixed emotions. Joining us to talk about retirement is Faith Duncan, Director of Georgia’s Pre-K Program, Judy Carter is a Georgia’s Pre-K Regional Manager. Also joining us is Sabrina Henry, HR Operations Supervisor here at DECAL.

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Episode 38 - Nutrition Services Jul 11, 2023

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DECAL’s Nutrition Services Division administers the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Happy Helpings, Georgia’s Summer Food Service Program. These federal nutrition programs, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), ensure eligible children and adults have access to nutritious meals and snacks. Joining us this week to talk about Happy Helpings and CACFP is Tamika Boone, Nutrition Services Director, and Cindy Kicklighter, Nutrition Marketing and Outreach Manager.

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Episode 37 - EXPAND Grants Jul 03, 2023

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These days finding traditional child care in Georgia Monday through Friday, from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM, can be challenge enough. But what about when you need non-traditional child care in the evenings, overnights, or on weekends? Through extensive engagement with families, child care providers, and other stakeholders, DECAL has learned that many families have child care needs during nontraditional hours that are not currently being met by available child care. That’s why we are offering our new EXPAND Grants….which stands for Expanding Parents’ Access to Nontraditional Delivery. Joining us to talk about the new EXPAND Grants is Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships; Jill Taylor is Manager of Community Partnerships and Projects; Valerie Perez is Research Analyst; and Shayna Funke is Lead Policy and Business Operations Analyst.

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