DECAL Download
326 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsYour source for news and information from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. You will hear from Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs and special guests to give you an update on all things DECAL.
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Episodes
Episode 25 - Economic Impact Study
April 16, 2024 19:00 - 40 minutes - 27.8 MBIn March, DECAL released the results of our most recent Economic Impact Study, which evaluates the importance of the early care and education industry to the state’s economy. This is the third Economic Impact Study we have commissioned, following the first in 2008 and the second in 2016. Like previous studies, this report is a collaboration between researchers at the Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Govern...
Episode 24 - Children's Mental Health Week 2024
April 09, 2024 19:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBDECAL will celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week in Georgia May 6-10, 2024, as we have done for the last four years in the first full week of May. 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 is our own, Laura Lucas, I...
Episode 23 - Georgia Public Library Service
April 02, 2024 19:00 - 50 minutes - 34.9 MBDespite advancements in technology and all of the screen time each of us total up in a month, the public library continues to be a popular place for individuals and families here in Georgia. There are 410 public libraries across the state…and that library card holds more value than ever. With National Library Week coming up April 7-13, this is a great time to talk about the Georgia Public Library Service with Julie Walker, State Librarian and Vice Chancellor for Libraries and Archives, and ...
Episode 22 - Early Childhood Educators of the Year
March 26, 2024 19:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MBIn December, DECAL and the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning announced our three winners for Georgia’s Early Childhood Educators of the Year for the 2023-2024 school year. Joining us today is Laura Wagner, Executive Director for the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning; Miranda Murphy is our Practice and Support Services Outreach and Project Manager. And our very special guests….the Early Childhood Educators of the Year for 2023-2024, Noel Weimer from Water Oak Family...
Episode 21 - Pathway from Pre-K to College
March 19, 2024 19:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBToday they may be learning their colors, shapes, and letters…but before you know it, those four-year-olds in Georgia’s Pre-K Program will be all grown up and headed to technical school or college. That’s why each year we join Path2College 529 Plan and the Georgia Student Finance Commission for our Pre-K to College Sweepstakes. Joining us this week to talk about Pre-K to College is Mitch Seabaugh, Executive Director of the Path2College 529 Plan; Devon Porter, DECAL’s Summer Transition Progr...
Episode 20 - POWER-ED & DECAL Scholars
March 12, 2024 19:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBDuring the COVID pandemic, DECAL offered POWER payments to all eligible early learning professionals and staff here in Georgia. POWER stood for Providing our workforce essential recognition and at $1,000 per person in three rounds totaled over $118 million in supplemental payments from the American Rescue Plan. Today POWER has become POWER-ED, a wage supplement paid through DECAL Scholars to support early child care workers as they begin or further their education. Joining us this week is A...
Episode 19 - Update from Thriving Child Care Business Academy
March 05, 2024 20:00 - 46 minutes - 31.9 MBDECAL's Thriving Child Care Business Academy opened its virtual doors in September 2023. The Academy offers a wide selection of free online trainings and educational resources to help owners and administrators of child care programs learn the best management practices that will help their businesses thrive. Joining us to talk more about the Academy is Quality Innovations and Partnerships Communications and Outreach Manager Sonja Steptoe and two of DECAL’s partners in the Academy, Gary Romano...
Episode 18 - GOAL Winner Ashley Ford
February 27, 2024 20:00 - 30 minutes - 21.5 MBAn Early Childhood Care and Education Student at Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro has been named as the school’s 2024 GOAL Student. Ashley Ford is a mother of two daughters and a child care teacher at Kids World Learning Center in Statesboro. Ashley joins us for this week's podcast, along with Sarah Beverley, who is a Student Navigator and GOAL coordinator at the college, and Dr. Christi Moore, Professional Learning Director here at DECAL. Support the show
Episode 17 - Happy Helpings
February 20, 2024 18:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBThis summer, kids throughout Georgia will continue to have access to free nutritious meals and snacks through Happy Helpings, Georgia’s Summer Food Service Program. Joining us today to tell us more about Happy Helpings are Director of Nutrition Services Tamika Boone, Marketing and Outreach Manager Cindy Kicklighter, and special guest Deborah Wilson, the founder and director of Georgia Nutritional Services and a Happy Helpings sponsor. Support the show
Episode 16 - Jennie Couture Scholarship
February 13, 2024 15:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBIf you have been around DECAL for any time over our past 20 years now, you have heard the name Jennie Couture. Jennie was our Director of Practice and Support Services who retired in 2022 after a 40 year career dedicated to special education, inclusion, and behavioral support. To honor Jennie and her love for inclusion, the Georgia Foundation for Early Care + Learning began the Jennie Couture Legacy Scholarship Fund, a program that serves early childhood educators with professional developm...
Episode 15 - Inclusive Early Learning Week 2024
February 06, 2024 14:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBDECAL’s Inclusive Early Learning Week will be celebrated the week of February 12-16, 2024. The mission of IELW is to promote inclusive practices within early learning environments across Georgia. This year we are also celebrating the Inclusion and Behavior Support Program’s 10-year anniversary at DECAL. Joining us to share more about inclusion and IELW, are Peggy Sutton, Inclusion and Behavior Support Regional Supervisor, Tabitha Howard, Center Director at YMCA Paulding Early Learning Center...
Episode 14 - DECAL Family Peer Ambassadors
January 28, 2024 14:00 - 39 minutes - 27.1 MBSince Fall of 2019, DECAL has had a group of volunteers working in their communities to share information with families about the resources available in our state. Our DECAL Family Peer Ambassadors are fathers, mothers, grandparents, foster parents, and other kinship caregivers of young children. They serve as leaders in their community, providing families of young children with information about child development and strategies they can use to support their children’s school readiness. Join...
Episode 13 - Meet the Interns
January 23, 2024 20:00 - 38 minutes - 26.8 MBSince 2016, DECAL has offered paid internships to students currently enrolled in a Georgia college, university, or law school with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. We took a break during the pandemic years of 2020 through 2022, but last year the interns returned. Joining us this week to talk about their experiences so far are two of our communications and government relations interns: Mackenzie Weston is a senior at Kennesaw State University, and Trey Freeman is a senior at Clayton St...
Episode 12 - Preview of the 2024 Georgia General Assembly
January 12, 2024 15:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBThe 2024 Session of the Georgia General Assembly opened recently with everything you might expect from the Wild Hog Supper to Governor Kemp’s State of the State Address. But what can we expect for DECAL and early childhood care and education in Georgia this session? Joining us to talk about the Georgia General Assembly, Governor Kemp’s State of the State address, and other topics is Polly McKinney, Advocacy Director for Voices for Georgia’s Children and a partner at Lexicon Strategies, and R...
Episode 11 - Chat with Reg Griffin
January 09, 2024 20:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBOn this week's episode, Commissioner Jacobs flips the script on Host Reg Griffin and asks him the questions. It's a chance to learn more about our Chief Communications Officer and the DECAL Communications Team. Support the show
Episode 10 - Top Ten Episodes for 2023
December 26, 2023 20:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBShould old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind…unless you’re talking about this episode of DECAL Download where we count down the top episodes of 2023 in this look back on our top stories of the year. As in past years, episodes about COVID money continue to be among the most popular….but also new initiatives like Community Transformation Grants and the Thriving Child Care Business Academy. Since we started this podcast in September 2018, we have had close to 77-thousand downloa...
Episode 9 - EXPAND Grants
December 19, 2023 20:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBEarlier this year, DECAL awarded new EXPAND Grants to seven child care providers and six nonprofit and government organizations. Supported by research and analysis showing that the availability of high-quality child care and early education plays a key role in Georgia’s workforce development and economic growth, DECAL created the EXPAND Grants with the growing need for childcare outside traditional hours in mind. Here to talk about the new EXPAND grants is Jill Taylor, Director of Community...
Episode 8 - Meet Dennis Brice / Memos and Landlines
December 12, 2023 20:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBIn May, 2019, Dennis Brice joined DECAL as our Chief Information Officer, coming to us from McKesson where he served as Vice President of Human Capitol Management and Corporate Applications. About nine months later, COVID became our new reality and, like the rest of the world, DECAL had to shift to more online offerings to keep the agency moving forward. On this episode we check in with Dennis on new DECAL projects, the challenges of AI, and why Commissioner Jacobs sometimes thinks we shou...
Episode 7 - Holiday Episode
December 04, 2023 16:00 - 41 minutes - 28.6 MBIt's our annual Holiday Episode as we unwrap stories, explore traditions, and embrace the magic that makes this time of year truly extraordinary. As usual, we are joined by members of the DECAL team to discuss great gift ideas for children birth to five, some healthy recipe ideas, and holiday traditions from the DECAL team. Joining us on this episode is Pre-K Program Specialist Alice Lasseter, Nutrition and Physical Activity Supervisor Diana Myers, and a special guest from the North Pole! ...
Episode 6 - Meet Laura Evans
November 28, 2023 20:00 - 35 minutes - 24.7 MBEarly care and education professionals in Georgia have a true partner in Georgia Public Broadcasting. GPB’s education division provides FREE digital media and content for Georgia educators and students, starting with preschool and Pre-K, and going up through middle and high school. They are developing some innovative and groundbreaking programs with app and web-based learning for children as young as four years old. Joining us on this week’s podcast is Laura Evans who recently became Vice ...
Episode 5 - All Staff Meeting 2023
November 20, 2023 03:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBThis week’s podcast is a little unusual. Normally we might talk with one, two, or three guests. Today we have around 700 special guests. We are at the DECAL 2023 All Staff Meeting at the Cobb Galleria Centre. It is our first in-person All Staff Meeting since 2019 before the pandemic. Come join us! Support the show
Episode 4 - CAPS Provider Management and Payment System
November 14, 2023 20:00 - 17 minutes - 12.4 MBSome big changes in store for Georgia’s CAPS Program beginning November 15. The program that assists low-income families with the cost of child care will now administer the provider management function of the CAPS Program…work previously performed by our contractor, Maximus. We’re making these changes to provide more streamlined services and to increase service levels for the child care providers who support CAPS parents and children. Here to explain the changes happening at CAPS is Kay Ma...
Episode 3 - Georgia Literacy Council
November 07, 2023 20:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBIt’s been called an epidemic but also Georgia’s most solvable problem. We’re talking about the fact that according to the Georgia Department of Education, only about a third of most children in Georgia are reading on grade level by the third grade. That has ramifications on the future as experts say it won’t support the workforce and Georgia’s growing economy. Joining us to talk about the new Georgia Literacy Council and the work being done right now is Scott Johnson, chairman of the Georgi...
Episode 2 - Meet our 2023-2024 Georgia's Pre-K Teachers of the Year
October 31, 2023 17:00 - 31 minutes - 22.1 MBLast month, two Georgia Pre-K teachers had surprise visits from Commissioner Jacobs, CALi, and other special guests when it was announced that they are our new Georgia’s Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year for 2023-2024. The public-school winner is Charlotte Richards from Chattahoochee County Pre-K in Cussetta and the private child care center winner is Merodie Brown from New Odyssey for Children in Hoschton. They join us for this week's episode of DECAL Download. Support the show
Episode 1 - School-Age Child Care in Georgia
October 24, 2023 19:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBWhen you think about child care in Georgia, you probably picture infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and Pre-K students. But a large number of families rely on child care for their school-age children attending elementary and even middle school. In these cases, child care providers offer homework help, tutors, STEAM activities, health & fitness, character development, crafts, and more. Joining us to talk about school-age children served by Georgia’s child care industry is Michelle Garris, DECA...
Episode 50 - Child Care Tuition Assistance for Early Educators
October 14, 2023 15:00 - 22 minutes - 15.9 MBThis month, DECAL is offering child care tuition assistance for early educators in Georgia to help the child care industry recruit and retain professional staff. Using funds from ARPA, this program will support the cost of child care for children of individuals working at 30 licensed child care programs in Georgia. Joining us to talk about tuition assistance for early educators is Dr. Christi Moore, DECAL Director of Professional Learning, and Shenae Holmes is our Workforce Development Speci...
Episode 49 - Open Enrollment 2023
October 10, 2023 19:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBWith the fall comes college football, pumpkin spice lattes, and of course Open Enrollment here at DECAL and with the State of Georgia. Open Enrollment begins October 16, 2023, and ends November 4, 2023, at 12:59 a.m. ET for active eligible employees and COBRA beneficiaries. Open Enrollment is a time to review, enroll, make changes to your Flexible Benefits plan options, including dental, vision and life insurance coverage. Joining us to talk about Open Enrollment here at DECAL is HR Operati...
Episode 48 - Reporting Concerns with a Child Care Program
October 03, 2023 19:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBThere are over 4,400 licensed child care programs in Georgia….that’s child care learning centers and family child care learning homes. The vast majority are in good standing with DECAL, meeting our rules and regulations for health and safety. But what should you do if you have concerns about your child care program? Joining us to talk about reporting concerns with your child care program is April Rogers, Director of Enforcement Operations in our Child Care Services Division, and Tahishe Smit...
Episode 47 - Georgia's Pre-K Week 2023
September 26, 2023 19:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBThis year DECAL and Voices for Georgia’s Children are celebrating the 13th Annual Georgia’s Pre-K Week, October 2-6, 2023…our 31st year offering Pre-K to students and families here in Georgia. Joining us to talk about Georgia Pre-K Week is Caitlin Dooley, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children, and State Representative Teri Anulewicz (District 47-Smyrna). Support the show
Episode 46 - Chat with the Commissioner
September 19, 2023 18:00 - 39 minutes - 27 MBCommissioner Amy M. Jacobs responds to questions about some of the current issues now facing the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. Support the show
Episode 45 - October Farm to School Month
September 05, 2023 19:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MBOctober 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...
Episode 44 - Thriving Child Care Business Academy
August 29, 2023 19:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBHere 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 ...
Episode 43 - SEEDS Helpline
August 15, 2023 19:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBIt 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 ...
Episode 42 - Preparing for Georgia's Pre-K Program
August 08, 2023 19:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBFor 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. Support the show
Episode 41 - Special: Georgia Focus w/ John Clark
August 01, 2023 19:00 - 26 minutes - 17.9 MBCommissioner Amy M. Jacobs is interviewed by John Clark from the Georgia News Network for their weekly public affairs program Georgia Focus. Support the show
Episode 40 - CAPS Update
July 25, 2023 18:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBCAPS 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, Dep...
Episode 39 - DECAL Retirees
July 19, 2023 02:00 - 37 minutes - 25.9 MBThe 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 Georg...
Episode 38 - Nutrition Services
July 11, 2023 19:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBDECAL’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. S...
Episode 37 - EXPAND Grants
July 03, 2023 22:00 - 47 minutes - 32.6 MBThese 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 ...
Episode 36 - CAPS Provider Relations
June 27, 2023 19:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBAs 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 Di...
Episode 35 - 2Gen Leadership Academy
June 20, 2023 18:00 - 48 minutes - 33.3 MBA 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...
Episode 34 - Chat with the Commissioner
June 14, 2023 01:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBSchool’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! Support the show
Episode 33 - Find Help Georgia (www.findhelpga.org)
June 06, 2023 19:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBThere’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 Preven...
Episode 32 - Summer Transition Program 2023
May 23, 2023 19:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBFor 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 fam...
Episode 31 - Look Again Week
May 16, 2023 13:00 - 27 minutes - 19.3 MBSummer 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....
Episode 30 - Board of Early Care and Learning
May 09, 2023 19:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBThis 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 tal...
Episode 29 - Community Transformation Grants
May 02, 2023 19:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBFrom 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 a...
Episode 28 - Georgia Children's Mental Health Week
April 25, 2023 19:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBFor 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 Di...
Episode 27 - Health and Safety Grants
April 18, 2023 19:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MBStarting 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 Jennife...
Episode 26 - School Age Grants
April 11, 2023 19:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBImportant news this week for any Georgia child care program that serves school-age children or has served school-age children in the past year. You may remember receiving an e-mail about DECAL’s School-Age Grants, financial support based on your program’s licensed capacity. Joining us to talk about School-Age Grants is Michelle Garris, School Age and Youth Programs Specialist; Brittany Sams, CCS Director of Administrative Services and Special Operations; and Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner ...