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Send us Fan Mail It's Georgia's Pre-K Week and Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs talks about it with WSB Radio's Scott Slade on Atlanta's Morning News.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Georgia youth are returning to school either virtually or in an environment that is drastically different from the one they left in March. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, our kids were already facing a mental health crisis – one that is now exacerbated by these uncertain times. Voices for Georgia’s Children is partnering with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Deve...

Send us Fan Mail With the deadline to respond to Census 2020 rapidly approaching, participation is extremely important. The results will be felt by Georgians for the next ten years.  At stake are billions of dollars used for education, public health, infrastructure, and other related areas. The process is quick, easy, and confidential but most importantly it is making sure that everyone counts.  J...

Send us Fan Mail From smiling and taking those first steps, to waving bye-bye and even temper tantrums, starting this month, we’ve got a new resource for families to track the developmental milestones of their children.  Joining us to talk about the new Developmental Milestones website are Bridgett Ratajczak, Child and Family Development Supervisor at DECAL, and Ann Panzica, Child and Family Devel...

Send us Fan Mail If you’re the parent of a school age child, ages 5 to 12, in a public school using all virtual learning, DECAL may have some financial assistance for you to help pay for child care.  It’s called the SOLVE Program, which stands for Supporting Onsite Learning for Virtual Education.  Joining us to talk about the SOLVE Program and how families can apply is Elisabetta Kasfir, Deputy Co...

Send us Fan Mail It may be traditional, hybrid, or full distance learning…but Georgia’s Pre-K Program is back for the 2020-2021 school year.  Over 3,800 classes at more than 1,800 locations all across the state.  So how are things going?  For the best information straight from the Pre-K classroom we’re talking today with our Georgia’s Pre-K Teachers of the Year, Heather Williams from Central Georg...

Send us Fan Mail Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs is interviewed by Scott Slade for WSB Radio's Atlanta's Morning News about the new SOLVE Program, financial assistance for school age children involved in virtual long distance learning.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail With Georgia child care programs reopening and welcoming back children and families, DECAL is joining the Governor’s Office and the Georgia Department of Public Health in offering new COVID-19 guidance for Georgia Child Care facilities.  We’re committed to supporting early childhood learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and we recognize the vital role that providers, including the...

Send us Fan Mail On Tuesday, August 11, DECAL held a special Virtual Town Hall webinar on COVID-19 for Georgia child care providers and advocates featuring Governor Brian Kemp and Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health.  This was an opportunity for child care providers to hear directly from state leaders and ask their questions as many programs reopen and retu...

Send us Fan Mail Who’s ready for Back to School?  From virtual at-home learning to in-person classroom instruction and everything in between.  But this year, it’s about more than backpacks and notebook paper, it’s asking if your child is socially and emotionally prepared for school in the age of COVID-19.  Joining us to talk about COVID Considerations in returning to school is Allison O’Hara, Prog...

Send us Fan Mail While parents are at work, many of Georgia’s children spend time in afterschool programs. These programs offer a safe and supportive environment with structured activities and good nutrition. As schools begin to reopen with in-person and virtual learning options, afterschool programs are also developing plans to successfully and safely welcome back students. Katie Landes, director...

Send us Fan Mail Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs talks with 12 year-old Lydia Denton inventor of a car seat device that detects when babies have been left in a hot car. Lydia is joined her mom, Covie Denton who is a science and math teacher. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Classes in Georgia’s Pre-K Program have been closed since March due to COVID-19.  Teachers and students utilized distance learning to finish out the year.  Now, plans are underway to reopen Pre-K this fall, balancing quality learning with health and safety.  Joining us to talk about plans for reopening Georgia’s Pre-K Program is Susan Adams, Deputy Commissioner for Georgia’s Pre-K...

Send us Fan Mail Last April, a $250,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and United Way of Greater Atlanta allowed our Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning to assist essential workers and child care providers during COVID-19.  Joining us to talk about the grant, part of the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Recovery and Response Fund, is Carrie Ashbee, Executive Director of...

Send us Fan Mail Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs is interviewed by Scott Slade for WSB Radio's Atlanta's Morning News about this year's Look Again campaign. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail For the seventh consecutive year, DECAL is calling for families and caregivers to increase awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles.  This year’s Look Again campaign is held in conjunction with National Heatstroke Prevention Day, recognized nationally on July 1, 2020, which urges Americans to understand how to prevent pediatric vehicular heatstroke.  Joi...

Send us Fan Mail Each year, DECAL’s Child Care Services consultants conduct more than 14,500 visits to more than 4,500 licensed child care programs in Georgia to ensure they are caring for children in safe, healthy, and nurturing environments.  But when COVID-19 hit Georgia in March and the number of open child care programs dropped to 30-percent the scope of those visits changed.  Here to talk ab...

Send us Fan Mail As school districts across Georgia announced system-wide closures to help minimize the spread of COVID-19, many families and advocates were concerned that children who rely on schools to provide healthy meals would be deprived of critically needed nutrition. DECAL’s Nutrition Services works year-round to mitigate food insecurity among Georgia’s children through the Child and Adult...

Send us Fan Mail Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs talks with Host John Clark about the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning and current issues facing early child care and education in Georgia. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail It’s never too early to be thinking about your child’s college education.  Even if your child is in one of Georgia’s licensed family childcare learning homes, child care learning centers, or Georgia’s Pre-K Program.  And now, here’s something fun to do with the kids that could entertain and help secure their future!  It’s called "My Life’s Dream" Challenge and here to ta...

Send us Fan Mail For the eleventh year, DECAL is offering a Summer Transition Program for students preparing to enter Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Kindergarten.  However, this year, the program will be a little different due to the COVID-19 coronavirus.  Joining us to talk about the Summer Transition Program is Jackie Shivers, Director of Quality Support for Georgia’s Pre-K Program, and Meghan McNa...

Send us Fan Mail With many businesses reopening here in Georgia, the need for child care is on the rise so parents and families can return to their jobs.  Family Child Care Learning Homes and Child Care Learning Centers are operating under some strict guidelines that include smaller class sizes, temperature checks at the door, and meals served in classrooms. Joining us to discuss the child care co...

Send us Fan Mail The age-old expression says, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”  That was the case in April when schools and many child care programs closed due to COVID-19 and families moved to online learning for their children.  Here at DECAL, we introduced Georgia’s Pre-K At Home for four and five year olds, and Toddler Time At Home for children 12 to 36 months old.  Joining us to talk a...

Send us Fan Mail Across the nation, COVID-19 has taken its toll on the childcare industry…either shutting down programs completely or reducing enrollment capacity due to CDC and health department requirements.  Now many programs here in Georgia are gradually reopening and trying to determine how best to use federal aid issued through the CARES Act.  To assist these programs, DECAL and Quality Care...

Send us Fan Mail Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs is interviewed by Scott Slade for WSB Radio's Atlanta's Morning News. Support the show