DECAL Download
Your 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.
Episodes
321 episodes since 2018
Episode 47 - Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Training and Workforce Support
This week we’re highlighting early childhood workforce development opportunities in the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health space. Joining us is DECAL’s Laura Lucas, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Director, Dr. Bentley Ponder, De...
September 17, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 47
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32:17
Episode 46 - Family Peer Ambassadors
Since Fall 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 parent...
September 10, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 46
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20:23
Episode 45 - Car Seat Safety Awareness Week
The third week in September is Care Seat Safety Awareness Week which focuses on the proper use of car safety seats for children. The national campaign urges parents and caregivers to protect their children making sure they secure them in the co...
September 03, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 45
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33:24
Episode 44 - LITTLE Grants
Licensed Family Child Care Learning Homes and Child Care Learning Centers in Georgia who are two or three-star Quality Rated are eligible for grants aimed at fostering early language and literacy skills of infants and toddlers. The LITTLE grant...
August 27, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 44
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30:45
Episode 43 - CDC's "Let's Rise" (Routine Immunizations on Schedule for Everyone)
New data from the CDC here in Atlanta show that vaccinations among kindergarteners has declined to its lowest level in decades and an estimated 750,000 young learners entered kindergarten during the COVID-19 pandemic who were not up to date on ...
August 20, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 43
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24:20
Episode 42 - Georgia's 2Gen Academy
The second class of a two-generation academy created by Commissioner Jacobs has now graduated. The Georgia 2Gen Academy is presented each year by the Georgia Children’s Cabinet and facilitated by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the U...
August 13, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 42
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35:52
Episode 41 - Preparing for Pre-K
As the new school year approaches, thousands of children across Georgia are getting ready to take their first steps into the world of structured learning in Georgia’s nationally recognized Pre-K Program. It’s an exciting time, but it can also b...
August 06, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 41
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33:01
Episode 40 - State School Superintendent Richard Woods
For nearly a decade, Richard Woods has served as State School Superintendent here in Georgia. He has over 30 years of experience in public education, from Pre-K through 12th-grade. He was a high school teacher for 14 years, serving as departme...
July 30, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 40
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53:49
Episode 39 - We Care Child Care Sweepstakes & Careers at DECAL
You’re getting two topics for the price of one on this week's podcast. First, it’s never too soon to start saving for your child’s college education. DECAL and Path2College 529 Plan are making that easier with the We Care Child Care Sweepstakes...
July 23, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 39
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40:58
Episode 38 - New State Laws and their impact on DECAL
Last month, we looked at the impact on DECAL of the $36-million Fiscal Year 2025 budget signed by Governor Kemp in May. There several bills passed by the Georgia General Assembly and signed by the Governor that took effect July 1 and have an im...
July 16, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 38
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24:32
Episode 37 - Open Records
Open Records play a crucial role in promoting an open government by providing citizens with the tools to engage with and understand the workings of their government. The concept of Open Records in grounded in the principles of transparency and ...
July 09, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 37
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35:54
Episode 36 - Update on CAPS Payments to Providers
Last year, DECAL took over the provider management function of the CAPS Program, something previously handled by our contractor, Maximus. We implemented these changes to offer more streamlined and effective services to child care providers who ...
July 02, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 36
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29:38
Episode 35 - Children's Author Kelly Young-Silverman
A Georgia teacher and author has a new children’s book that takes readers on a food tour of our state. Kelly Young-Silverman is a teacher at The Lovett School in Atlanta. She lives in Marietta with her husband and daughter. The book is ca...
June 25, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 35
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34:41
Episode 34 - FY2025 Budget Impact on DECAL
In May, Governor Brian Kemp signed the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget at a signing ceremony in the North Wing of the State Capitol. It’s a $36-billion budget that includes raises for state employees and public school teachers as well as an influx of $...
June 18, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 34
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37:20
Episode 33 - Chat with Pam Stevens
With over 4,300 licensed child care programs in Georgia, our Child Care Services Division is dedicated to ensuring a safe and healthy learning environment through licensing, monitoring, and professional development. We do it all to suppor...
June 11, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 33
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27:17
Episode 32 - A Magnificent Field Trip to the Governor's Mansion
When Author, Super Bowl Champion, and Valdosta Native Malcolm Mitchell sat down to write his second book for Georgia’s Pre-K Program, he set the story at the Georgia Governor’s Mansion where the First Couple welcomed students on a field trip to...
June 04, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 32
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35:35
Episode 31 - Retiring DECAL employees
A career in state government offers employees an engaging and diverse work environment that allows them to fulfill personal and professional ambitions while taking pride in providing services that contribute to Georgia’s success. The work of a ...
May 28, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 31
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31:17
Episode 30 - Look Again
For the eleventh consecutive year, DECAL is reminding families and caregivers of children to increase their awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. Joining us to talk about preventing vehicular heatstroke is Allen P...
May 21, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 30
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25:07
Episode 29 - CareSource
Our Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning recently received the Heart of Community Award from CareSource, a nationally recognized, nonprofit managed care organization serving over 2 million members across five states including Georgia....
May 14, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 29
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18:24
Episode 28 - Educators Luncheon
Friday, April 19, was a big day for DECAL, the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning, and all of our educators of the year being honored this year. The Georgia Lottery and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon h...
May 07, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 28
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35:53
Episode 27 - Summer Plans
It might be May but the Summer of 2024 is just around the corner…starts June 20 according to the calendar, but really kicks in sooner than that here in Georgia. The question is….are you ready? Joining us to talk about Summer Plans i...
April 30, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 27
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27:47
Episode 26 - Upgrade to PANDA
This fall will be the 32nd year of Georgia’s Pre-K Program which now serves nearly 72,000 students statewide. This year we are making significant improvements to PANDA, the Pre-K Application and Database Access system for providers. Joini...
April 23, 2024
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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38:45
Episode 25 - Economic Impact Study
In 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, followi...
April 16, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 25
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40:19
Episode 24 - Children's Mental Health Week 2024
DECAL 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 re...
April 09, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 24
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30:14
Episode 23 - Georgia Public Library Service
Despite 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 t...
April 02, 2024
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Season 6
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Episode 23
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50:42