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Episode 36 - CAPS Provider Relations Jun 27, 2023

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As most people know, the program in Georgia that provides financial assistance with child care is called CAPS, or Childcare and Parent Services, and its administered here at DECAL. We are excited to announce that DECAL will soon begin administering the provider management function of the CAPS Program, work that is currently, and has historically been performed by our contractor, Maximus. Joining us to talk about the new CAPS Provider Relations Unit is Kay Mayfield, CAPS Provider Relations Director at DECAL, and Ann Panzica, CAPS Provider Relations Manager.

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Episode 35 - 2Gen Leadership Academy Jun 20, 2023

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A graduation ceremony was held recently at the Loudermilk Center in downtown Atlanta for a group of students from state agencies who have spent the last ten months looking at ways Georgia can serve children and families through a two-generation approach. The 2Gen Leadership Academy is sponsored by the Georgia Children’s Cabinet. Joining us from DECAL to talk about their experience from the Academy is Rebecca Ellis, Director of Practice and Support Services; Megan Fickes is Early Head Start Partnership Director; and Rob O’Callaghan is Senior Research Analyst in the Quality Initiatives and Partnerships Division.

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Episode 34 - Chat with the Commissioner Jun 13, 2023

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School’s out for summer but still so many things happening here at the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning….we thought it was a good time for a Chat with Commissioner Jacobs, taking a wide variety of questions from our DECAL team as well as the early childhood care and education workforce and the general public on social media. Let's get started!

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Episode 33 - Find Help Georgia (www.findhelpga.org) Jun 06, 2023

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There’s a new resource in Georgia to assist families in locating the services they need…from financial assistance and food pantries to medical services and child care. Find Help Georgia is a collaboration by DECAL, Technical College System of Georgia, and Prevent Child Abuse Georgia. Here to talk about Find Help Georgia is Amanda Tarpley, CAPS Family Support Director for Operations; Amy Roys is CAPS Director for Development and Partnerships; and Jennifer Stine is Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Georgia.
www.findhelpga.org

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Episode 32 - Summer Transition Program 2023 May 23, 2023

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For the 12th year, DECAL is offering an intensive academic program for rising Pre-K and rising Kindergarten students called the Summer Transition Program. The program was created to support students who either did not attend Georgia’s Pre-K Program or Head Start or who need additional help before taking that next step. Joining us to talk about the Summer Transition Program is Meghan McNail, Summer Transition Program and Outreach Manager; Yehymmy Mora is a Transition Coach who works with families during STP at The North Fulton Child Development Center; LaKeisha McClendon is a Rising K teacher at Newton County Head Start; and Deana Snowden is a lead teacher for the Rising Pre-K class at Cornelia Elementary School in Habersham County.

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Episode 31 - Look Again Week May 16, 2023

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Summer officially arrives on June 21….many consider it Memorial Day, May 29….either way, temperatures are rising and the danger of a child dying alone in a hot car becomes even more of a threat. For the tenth consecutive year, DECAL is calling for families and caregivers of children to Look Again…and increase awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. Joining us to talk about our annual Look Again campaign, this year May 22-26, is University of Georgia Professor Dr. Andrew Grundstein, a Geographer-Climatologist with interests on the impacts of weather and climate on human health; Rukiya Thomas, CCS Regional Manager; Kesha McNeal, CCS Regional Coordinator; and Lisa Dawson, Director of the Injury Prevention Program within the Division of Health Protection at the Georgia Department of Public Health.

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Episode 30 - Board of Early Care and Learning May 09, 2023

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This year we’re celebrating the 30th year of Georgia’s Pre-K Program and the 10th year of Quality Rated. Next year marks the 20th year for the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning and when the agency was created in 2004, the same legislation mandated that the new department have an advisory board to support our work. The board meets quarterly and is composed of 14 members appointed by the Governor, with one member from each of Georgia’s 14 congressional districts. Joining us to talk about the Board of Early Care and Learning are board members Luann Purcell, a charter member since 2006; Susan Harper joined the board in 2009; and current board chair Phil Davis joined the board in 2009.

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Episode 29 - Community Transformation Grants May 02, 2023

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From Athens to Valdosta and many places in-between, DECAL has awarded 18 Community Transformation Grants…ranging from $50,000 to $125,000…to community collaboratives serving children birth to eight and their families. We’ve also extended funding to eight grantees who received these grants in 2021. Joining us this week to discuss Community Transformation Grants is Jill OMeara, Manager of Community Partnerships and Projects, and Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships.

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Episode 28 - Georgia Children's Mental Health Week Apr 25, 2023

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For the third year in a row, DECAL will celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week in Georgia May 1-5, 2023 . 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 on the podcast today from DECAL’s Pre-K and Instructional Support Division, we have Laura Lucas, our Director of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health; Lori Ballew, Infant Toddler Specialist; Perri Walden, Pre-K Specialist; and Esther Duggan, Inclusion and Behavior Support Specialist.

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Episode 27 - Health and Safety Grants Apr 18, 2023

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Starting March 20, our Child Care Services Division began offering Health and Safety Grants to open and operating, licensed child care centers and family child care learning homes in Georgia to purchase equipment and materials that will help support compliance with health and safety regulations. There’s a total of $80 million from the American Rescue Act, with programs receiving from $5,000 to $40,000 based on capacity. Joining us to talk about Health and Safety Grants from DECAL is Jennifer Bridgeman, CCS Director of Process and Policy Initiatives, and Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner of Child Care Services.

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