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Episode 40 - Act Early Ambassador Jennie Couture Jun 12, 2019

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In 2011, Atlanta-based CDC joined with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities and the Heath Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau to launch “Learn the Signs. Act Early," an initiative to address skyrocketing rates of autism among American children. Jennie Couture, DECAL's Director of Practice and Support Services, serves as Georgia's ambassador for this nationwide program. We talk with Jennie about the importance of early intervention.

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Episode 39 - DECAL Scholars Jun 05, 2019

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Our 2016 Economic Impact Study of the Early Care and Education Industry in Georgia showed that early care and education provides more than 67,000 industry jobs statewide. The DECAL Scholars program promotes high-quality, stable learning environments for Georgia’s children, by supporting the early care and education professionals who work with them day after day. DECAL administers these programs to encourage, support and reward Georgia’s early care and education workforce. Here to talk more about DECAL Scholars is Charlotte Pelz, Program Director for DECAL Scholars.

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Episode 38 - Quality Rated Peer Support Network May 29, 2019

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Child care providers sharing ideas, success stories, and lessons learned during their experience in our Quality Rated Program. That’s the idea behind the Quality Rated Peer Support Network, established in 2015 as an additional support to providers. We'll talk with Rachael Lee, Quality Rated Peer Support Network Specialist, and Michelle Smith-Lank, owner and director of the Kid’s World Learning Center, a three-star Quality Rated program in Statesboro.

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Episode 37 - Look Again May 22, 2019

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For the sixth consecutive year, DECAL and several other state agencies are calling for families and caregivers of children to have a heightened awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. From our Child Care Services Division, we will talk with Rhonda Parker and Dana Morrison, both Directors of Field Operations, about the Look Again campaign.

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Episode 36 - Wellness Committee and Activity Challenge May 15, 2019

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We all know how difficult it is to live healthy and eat healthy, especially with demanding schedules at the office and at home. But here at DECAL, we have a group of health-minded employees who work hard to keep it top of mind. DECAL Business Analyst Barbara Sanders, part of our IT division, chairs the Wellness Committee and joins us to talk about the mission of the group.

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Episode 35 - Early Education Community Partnerships May 08, 2019

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DECAL is a statewide agency but we realize the real work in promoting early childhood education and working with children and their families takes place at a grass roots level in cities and towns across the state. That’s why earlier this year we launched our Early Education Community Partnership initiative and named community coordinators in each of our six regions. Our special guests in studio are Jill O’Meara, Early Education Community Partnership Manager, and Clayton Adams, Lead Community Coordinator in our Athens and Northeast Region, with field reports from all of our coordinators.

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Episode 34 - Inspections for Georgia's Pre-K Program May 01, 2019

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Since 1993, Georgia has had a nationally recognized Pre-K Program funded by the Georgia Lottery that prepares four year olds for success in Kindergarten. Children four years of age on September 1 of the current school year who are Georgia residents are eligible to attend Georgia's Pre-K Program. This year, we have over 81,000 students enrolled in over 3,800 classrooms around the state…both public schools and private child care centers. Here to talk about our ongoing inspections of Georgia’s Pre-K Program classes is Judy Blasingame, Quality Support Coordinator, and Devon Porter, Pre-K consultant.

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Episode 33 - Summer Camps Apr 24, 2019

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School will be out soon and Georgia children will be participating in summer camps, church camps, cheer camps, and other traditional activities. DECAL and Quality Care for Children are again collaborating to help parents ensure the camps they have chosen are safe places for children to play and learn. On this episode, we talk with Pam Tatum, CEO at Quality Care for Children, and Pam Stevens, DECAL's Deputy Commissioner for Child Care Services.

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Episode 32 - Language and Literacy Endorsement Apr 17, 2019

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Building on the success of Quality Rated and several of Georgia’s early learning programs, Governor Brian Kemp and DECAL have announced the creation of a language and literacy endorsement. We know that early learning provides a strong foundation for the development of children’s reading skills and this endorsement will only strengthen that foundation.

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Episode 31 - Zell Miller Foundation Apr 10, 2019

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You can’t tell the story of Georgia’s nationally recognized Pre-K Program without quickly coming across the name Zell Miller. After all, it was Governor Miller who in 1990 proposed the creation of the Georgia Lottery for Education…and that the lottery would support a new preschool program and college scholarship. In 1992, the referendum passed and a pilot program brought 750 at-risk four-year-olds to 20 sites across Georgia. Today Georgia’s Pre-K Program serves over 83,000 four year olds and is clearly part of Governor Miller’s legacy.

Joining us to talk about his grandfather and the foundation that celebrates Governor Miller’s leadership and legacy is Bryan Miller, Executive Chairman of the Zell Miller Foundation.

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