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Episode 24 - Happy Helpings Summer Food Service Program Feb 22, 2022

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If you’re a food bank, school, camp, church, government entity, or nonprofit organization, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for serving nutritious meals to kids and teens this summer through Happy Helpings...the new name for Georgia’s Summer Food Service Program. Here to talk about how DECAL’s Nutrition Division will ensure Georgia’s kids will have access to meals and snacks this summer is Cindy Kicklighter, Manager of Marketing and Outreach.

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Episode 23 - Family Peer Ambassadors Feb 15, 2022

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Fathers, mothers, foster parents, or guardians of young children that have had a child in childcare or early intervention currently, or in the past two years…they all make up DECAL’s Family Peer Ambassadors. The Ambassadors serve as leaders in their community, engaging families in activities to provide them with information about child development and strategies they can use to support their children’s school readiness. Joining us to talk about the Family Peer Ambassador Program are Ann Panzica, Child and Family Development Training Specialists; Bridget Ratajczak, Child and Family Development Supervisor and three of our current DECAL Family Peer Ambassadors: Ni’Aisha Banks-Devore, Raymond Dockery, and Mayra Velez.

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Episode 22 - Child Care Services Consultant of the Day Feb 08, 2022

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DECAL’s Child Care Services Division is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of thousands of children in Georgia while also providing training and technical assistance, licensing new child care programs, and determining exempt programs. The division also responds to any concerns or complaints the public may have through the CCS Consultant of the Day. Joining us to talk about the CCS Consultant of the Day is Tahishe Smith, CCS Intake Manager for the Complaint Unit.

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Episode 21 - Special: WSB Radio Interview with Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs Feb 07, 2022

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WSB Radio's Scott Slade talks with Commissioner Jacobs about the availability of child care, staffing shortages, and the impact of COVID-19 in Georgia.

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Episode 20 - Early Childhood Educators of the Year 2022 Feb 01, 2022

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Early child development helps build a foundation for lifelong learning, behavior, and health. With that in in mind, DECAL and the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning have named our inaugural Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year for 2022. The infant winner is Diana Black from Pookie Bear Learning Center in Savannah, the toddler winner is Maria Claudia Ortega from My Little Geniuses in Marietta, and the preschool winner is Hannah Beth Reeves from the Academy for Little People in Chickamauga. On this week's podcast we are joined by all three winners in addition to Thea Stevens, Infant Toddler Supervisor here at DECAL, and Carrie Ashbee, Executive Director of the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning. We’re also joined by Maria Moor from Georgia's Pre-K Program who will serve as Maria Claudia’s interpreter.

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Episode 19 - Inclusive Early Learning Week Jan 25, 2022

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Research tells us that, regardless of their abilities, children in high-quality child care programs are better prepared to enter school and more likely to develop healthy social and emotional skills. When child care providers offer inclusive child care, they’re supporting not only children with disabilities but also their parents who can work, go back to school, or just take a break. Here to talk about the importance of inclusion in early child care and Inclusive Early Learning week are Inclusion and Behavior Support Specialists Emily Graham and Alicia Prather.

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Episode 18 - Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health Jan 18, 2022

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Something new and exciting is coming to the School of Public Health at Georgia State University here in Atlanta. The research center known as the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development has been chosen as the future home for the Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health. Joining us to talk about plans for the Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health is Laura Lucas, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Director here at DECAL; Callan Wells is Health Policy Manager for GEEARS: The Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students; Dr. Kathleen Baggett serves on the leadership team for the Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health at Georgia State University; and Kathy Bragg and Dr. Trasie Topple serve as Board Co-Presidents for the Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health.

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Episode 16 - Georgia's Pre-K Program Specialist of the Day Jan 11, 2022

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Now in its twenty-ninth year, Georgia’s Pre-K Program has more than 3,700 classes serving over 73,000 students statewide. Those classrooms are served by 36 Pre-K specialists on a daily basis. But who do you contact if you’re a teacher, director, parent, or the general public with a question or concern about Georgia’s Pre-K Program? Here to talk about the Pre-K Specialist of the Day program is Jennifer McCreary, one of our Regional Managers for Georgia’s Pre-K Program.

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Episode 17 - POWER Payments Round 2 Jan 07, 2022

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Starting January 18, applications are open for Round 2 of our $1,000 POWER Supplemental Payments. POWER stands for Providing Our Workforce Essential Recognition. You might remember we did this last spring and summer and now they’re back for 2022…$1,000 bonus payments to some 35,000 early learning professionals and staff here in Georgia. The bonuses are funded through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Joining us to talk about POWER supplemental payments Round 2 is Christi Moore, Director of Professional Learning here at DECAL; and Barb McWethy is Workforce Support Manager.

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Episode 15 - Day in the Life of Rachael Lee Jan 04, 2022

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Recently we surveyed our DECAL team on topics they would like to hear featured here on DECAL Download. One of the suggestions was to launch a new feature called “A Day in the Life” where we learn more about a member of the DECAL team and what they do for Georgia’s youngest learners and their families on a daily basis. Today we’re spending a “Day in the Life” of Rachael Lee, Quality Improvement Supervisor in our Child Care Services Division.

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