Send us a text On Monday, January 12, 2026, the Georgia General Assembly continues its 158th session…which began with the 2025 General Assembly in the traditional two-year cycle. It gets pretty busy around the Gold Dome and even here next door at the Twin Towers. From budget battles and education reform to healthcare, transportation, and election law changes, there is a lot going on. Joining us today to preview the session is Polly McKinney, Advocacy Director for Voices for Georgia’s Children...
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Send us a text On Monday, January 12, 2026, the Georgia General Assembly continues its 158th session…which began with the 2025 General Assembly in the traditional two-year cycle. It gets pretty busy around the Gold Dome and even here next door at the Twin Towers. From budget battles and education reform to healthcare, transportation, and election law changes, there is a lot going on. Joining us today to preview the session is Polly McKinney, Advocacy Director for Voices for Georgia’s Children...
Send us a text On Monday, January 12, 2026, the Georgia General Assembly continues its 158th session…which began with the 2025 General Assembly in the traditional two-year cycle. It gets pretty busy around the Gold Dome and even here next door at the Twin Towers. From budget battles and education reform to healthcare, transportation, and election law changes, there is a lot going on. Joining us today to preview the session is Polly McKinney, Advocacy Director for Voices for Georgia’s Children...
Send us a text This week, we are excited to shine a light on Helping Mamas, a remarkable nonprofit organization here in Georgia dedicated to connecting essential baby supplies to families in need. From diapers and wipes to car seats and strollers, Helping Mamas plays a critical role in ensuring every child has the basics for a healthy start in life. Joining us to talk about Helping Mamas is Jamie Lackey, Founder and CEO, Laura Wagner, Executive Director of our Georgia Foundation for Early Car...
Send us a text Some Georgia high school students are getting a jump start on their careers in early childhood education by taking classes on the subject as early as high school. For example, Maxwell High School of Technology in Gwinnett County offers early childhood education offerings that include a fully operational Georgia’s Pre-K Program classroom. Joining us to talk about the program is Karey McFall, an Early Childhood Education Instructor, along with Laurynn Martin, a paraprofessi...
Send us a text This week we’re excited to talk with the talented college interns who joined us during the 2025 fall semester and learn more about the projects they tackled, and the valuable lessons learned along the way. We are proud to introduce Ariana Banhan from Georgia Tech, Christine Bonaparte from Emory University, Jaida Hayes from Clayton State University, Kiersten Harris from Georgia Military College, Nava Pidugu from Georgia State University, and Zeniya Lukonde from Spelman Col...
Send us a text This week an insightful conversation with Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs as she shares updates on early childhood education, key initiatives shaping the future of Georgia’s youngest learners, and what’s ahead for families and providers. In this candid discussion, Commissioner Jacobs answers listener questions, highlights recent accomplishments, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at how DECAL is working to support quality care and education across the state. Support the show
Send us a text Today a special episode of DECAL Download coming to you from Brunswick, Georgia…the site of a recent media event announcing the launch of Chop, Look & Listen, our new statewide campaign to prevent children from choking during meal times at child care, at home, or anywhere. Joining us today to talk about Chop, Look and Listen is State Rep Dr. Rick Townsend who represents this area in the Georgia General Assembly and Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner for Child Care Services.&n...
Send us a text On this week’s episode, we’re taking you outside the studio to Seven Branches Academy in Alpharetta, Georgia, where October 28 we held the first of two Chop Look Listen events. This groundbreaking statewide initiative is all about keeping our youngest learners safe from one of the most preventable risks in child care: choking. Every year, thousands of children nationwide are treated for choking incidents, often caused by food, small toys, or everyday objects. These numbers remi...
Send us a text For many kids across Georgia, summer vacation means more fun and free time. But for kids facing food insecurity, made worse by COVID’s impact on already tight-family budgets, no school can also mean limited access to affordable, nutritious foods. That's where Happy Helpings comes in…it’s the summer food service program funded by USDA and administered by DECAL. Joining us today with an update on Happy Helpings Georgia is Cindy Kicklighter, Nutrition Marketing and Outreach ...
Send us a text This week we’re introducing a new feature on DECAL Download called Small Wonders. Partnering with the American Academy of Pediatrics, Small Wonders will bring you trusted expert advice on raising young children from birth to age five. Joining us for this first installment of Small Wonders is Dr. Nicola Chin, a pediatrician here in metro Atlanta. Dr. Chin is a native of Jamaica, West Indies. She attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology for her undergraduate studies a...
Send us a text Meals and snacks can be dangerous. Choking accidents remain a leading cause of injury and even death among young children both in child care settings and at home. In 2024, Georgia suffered two incidents where toddlers in child care choked while eating fruit and later died…one in Brunswick and one in Alpharetta. In response to those tragedies, DECAL has created a new campaign to equip caregivers, educators, and parents with practical tools and strategies to keep children s...
Send us a text On September 30, DECAL named our new Georgia Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year for the 2025-2026 school year with surprise visits to their classrooms. We were thrilled to spotlight two remarkable educators who have shown exceptional commitment and passion for early childhood education and today we get to meet them both personally. Joining us are your new Georgia’s Pre-K Program Teachers of the Year for 2025-2026, Autumn Hart from Bundle of Joy Academy in Marietta, repres...
Send us a text Today we’re discussing a topic that’s bringing well-deserved recognition—and financial support—to the educators who are the backbone of our child care system: the Quality Rated Workforce Bonuses. Funded by DECAL, this annual $500 bonus is a way to say “thank you” to the teachers and staff who go above and beyond in serving children and families. Joining us with an update on the Quality Rated Workforce Bonuses is Rachel Lee, Assistant Director of Quality Assurance and Business O...
Send us a text Open Enrollment for health benefits is a pivotal time for employees here at DECAL. During this annual window…this year October 20 to November 8…staff members can review, select, or update their health insurance and related coverage options to best meet their needs and those of their families. Joining us to talk about Open Enrollment is Sabrina Henry, Senior Manager of Human Resources. Support the show
Send us a text It's Georgia Pre-K Week and we're talking with Coy Bowles, a Grammy award-winning guitarist for the Zac Brown Band and advocate for children’s education and creativity, and Malcolm Mitchell, former Georgia Bulldog, Super Bowl champion, and literacy advocate, about their new book Every Amazing Story. The book takes young readers on a creative journey that shows every child they have a voice and a story worth telling. Support the show
Send us a text This week we’re excited to spotlight a very special occasion: the 15th annual Georgia’s Pre-K Week, taking place October 6th through 10th, 2025. For fifteen years, this tradition has united leaders and communities across Georgia to celebrate the power of early education. Again this year we are partnering with Voices for Georgia’s Children, and we have a very special book for every Pre-K student and classroom. Joining us to talk about Georgia’s Pre-K Week is Judy Fitzgerald, Exe...
Send us a text This week we’re talking with the Georgia Foundation of Early Care and Learning about a new round of Early Literacy Alignment Mini-Grants. With up to $5,000 in funding, these grants bring public elementary schools and local child care programs together to foster innovative, vertically aligned literacy practices. Joining us to talk about the Early Literacy Alignment Mini-Grants is Laura Wagner, Executive Director of the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning, and Pa...
Send us a text This week we’re focusing on a topic that’s essential for the safety and well-being of our youngest learners, criminal background checks. Whether you are a parent, provider, or educator, understanding how DECAL conducts these checks is crucial to ensuring that our early care environments remain safe and trustworthy. Joining us to talk about Criminal Background Checks in Georgia is Ira Sudman, DECAL General Counsel, and Greg Brown, Legal Services Officer. Support the show
Send us a text This week we’re talking about a significant development that promises to enhance support for families in our community. DECAL has created the Quality Rated Family Support Call Center that can be reached through the popular 877-ALL-GA KIDS phone number the agency created many years ago. Joining us to talk about the new Quality Rated Family Support Call Center is Sonja Steptoe, Assistant Director of Business Supports and Operations; Katrina Bernard, Quality Rated Family Support C...
Send us a text The third cohort of the Georgia 2Gen Academy celebrated its graduation in early June marking a significant milestone in the state’s commitment to fostering holistic support for children and families. Joining us to talk about their experience with Georgia’s 2Gen Academy are Quandra Obi, Special Assistant to Commissioner Jacobs and Board Liaison, Bridget Ratajczak, DECAL’s Child and Family Development Supervisor, Amanda Tarpley, CAPS Provider Relations Director, and Jill Taylor, ...
Send us a text Today, we’re shining a spotlight on a vital aspect of child care—preparing for provider inspections. Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned pro, the inspection process can feel daunting, but knowledge is the key to confidence. That’s why CCS has been offering a series of Lunch & Learn webinars breaking down what providers need to know before, during, and after inspection day. Joining us this week to talk about CCS inspections is Kaycee Purvis, CCS Central East Region...
Send us a text On Monday, January 12, 2026, the Georgia General Assembly continues its 158th session…which began with the 2025 General Assembly in the traditional two-year cycle. It gets pretty busy around the Gold Dome and even here next door at the Twin Towers. From budget battles and education reform to healthcare, transportation, and election law changes, there is a lot going on. Joining us today to preview the session is Polly McKinney, Advocacy Director for Voices for Georgia’s Children...
