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Episode 54 - Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year Sep 06, 2022

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For the second year in a row, DECAL and the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning are seeking applications for the 2022-2023 Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year Program, recognizing the teachers of our very youngest learners…infants, toddlers, and preschool. Joining us to talk about our Early Childhood Educators of the Year is Laura Wagner, Interim Executive Director for the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning; Thea Stevens, DECAL’s Infant Toddler Manager; and Rebecca Ellis, Director of Practice and Support Services.

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Episode 53 - DECAL North East Region Community Partnerships Aug 30, 2022

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Over the past few months, we’ve been taking a tour of DECAL’s six regions by talking to our Community Partnership Coordinators, representatives from our Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, and introducing you to child care providers in each region. Joining us to talk about the North East Region are Clayton Adams, Lead Community Partnership Coordinator for the North East; Dr. Victoria Long-Coleman, an Early Care and Education Specialist from Quality Care for Children; Elainne Aguilara, a Family Child Care Learning Home provider; Amy Kay, Director of the Child Development Lab at the McPhaul Center; and Janna Rookis, Peer Support Network Ambassador in Gwinnett County.

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Episode 52 - Quality Rated 10th Anniversary Aug 23, 2022

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You have probably heard something about Quality Rated, Georgia’s child care rating and improvement system. But did you know that this year marks the 10th anniversary of Quality Rated here in Georgia…and were you aware that we are kicking off the celebration with the National Champion Atlanta Braves? Joining us to talk about Quality Rated and the Decade of Stars Celebration is Sonja Steptoe, Communications and Outreach Manager for Quality Innovations and Partnerships; Denise Jenson is Quality Rated Director of Operations; and Dr. Bentley Ponder is Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships here at DECAL.

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Episode 51 - CRRSA & ARPA Spending Plan (Projects Supporting Child Care Providers) Aug 16, 2022

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia received over $2-billion in federal money to help stabilize the child care industry, increase access to high quality child care for all families of young children, and support the state’s early childhood education workforce. The money comes from the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and from the American Rescue Plan Act. We are now announcing how we will spend the remaining $400-million in a list of projects supporting child care providers, the ECE workforce, families, and other groups. Joining us to discuss our plans for supporting child care providers is Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner of Child Care Services, and Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner of Quality Innovations and Partnerships.

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Episode 50 - Meet Laura Wagner, Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning Aug 09, 2022

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Last month, Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs announced a new Interim Executive Director for the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning to replace outgoing director Carrie Ashbee who recently moved with her husband and daughter to Mobile, Alabama. Laura Wagner is no stranger to DECAL. She comes to the new role from Quality Initiatives and Partnerships where she served Quality Rated and Partnerships Director. On this episode, we get to know Laura better.

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Episode 49 - DECAL Central West Region Community Partnerships Aug 02, 2022

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This week we return to our tour of DECAL’s six regions talking to our Community Partnership Coordinators, representatives from our Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, and introducing you to child care providers in each region. Today, we’re talking about the Central West Region that includes Cobb and Paulding Counties to the North with Clayton and Fayette County furthest East. Furthest West we have Carroll, Heard, Troup, and Harris reaching the Alabama border. Joining us to talk about the Central West Region are Bridgette Washington-Collier, Early Education Community Partnership Coordinator; Taylor Reid, a Team Lead for Central West Early Childhood Education Specialists, Quality Care for Children; Camilla Mason, a Family Child Care Learning Home provider; Noni Walton, the Executive Director of Oak Leaf School; and Dr. Kiki Singletary- Williams, a Peer Support Network Ambassador in Clayton County and also a Family Child Care provider.

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Episode 48 - Cyber Security Jul 26, 2022

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There’s no doubt about it…we are all living in a digital world and, since the start of the pandemic, more and more of what we do is virtual and online. With so much emphasis on smartphones and computers, cyber criminals are also at work trying to take advantage of businesses and individuals alike. Joining us to talk about cybersecurity is Dennis Brice, Chief Information Officer here at DECAL, and Radha Datla, Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Technology Officer for DECAL.

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Episode 47 - CRRSA & ARPA Spending Plan (Projects Supporting Families) Jul 20, 2022

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia has received over $2-billion in federal money to help stabilize the child care industry, increase access to high quality child care for all families of young children, and support the state’s early childhood education workforce. The money comes from the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and from the American Rescue Plan Act. We recently announced plans for spending the remaining $400-million in a list of projects supporting child care providers, the ECE workforce, families, and other groups. Joining us to discuss our plans for supporting families is Elisabetta Kasfir, Deputy Commissioner for Federal Programs.

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Episode 46 - Happy Helpings Summer Food Service Program Jul 11, 2022

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For many kids across Georgia, summer vacation means more fun and free time. But for kids facing food insecurity—made worse by COVID’s impact on already tight-family budgets—no school can also mean limited access to affordable, nutritious foods. That’s where Happy Helpings comes in, the summer food service program funded by USDA and administered by DECAL. Joining us today with an update on Happy Helpings Georgia is Tamika Boone, Nutrition Services Director here at DECAL, and Cindy Kicklighter, Nutrition Marketing and Outreach Manager.

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Episode 45 - DECAL Central East Region Community Partnerships Jul 05, 2022

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We're taking a tour of DECAL’s six regions by talking to our Community Partnership Coordinators, representatives from our Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, and introducing you to child care providers in each region. Today, we’re talking about the Central East Region. The Central East region consists of 23 counties, beginning with DeKalb County to the left and stretching all the way to Lincoln, Columbia, Richmond, and Burke counties on the South Carolina border. Joining us to talk about the Central East Region are Hannah Smith, Early Education Community Partnership Coordinator; Deidra Fitzpatrick, a Technical Assistance Coordinator with LEAP Early Learning Partners, one of our child care resource and referral agencies; Beverly Johnson, owner of Discovery Point Child Development Center #61 in Conyers; and Antoinette Elliott, who is a family child care provider in DeKalb County and a member of our Peer Support Network.

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