DECAL June 2013 Decidedly DECAL Highlighting the Events That Shape Who We Are June 2013 - In This Issue By the Numbers Important Links Summer Food Program Summer Transition Program Early Learning Panel June Birthdays Board of Early Care and Learning Child Care Liability Insurance Healthy Choices Early Reading DECAL Welcomes Sherron Murphy DECAL By the Numbers 122 - Child care programs now Quality Rated 1,251 - Total child care programs participating in Quality Rated 126 - Classrooms in 2013 Pre-K Summer Transition Program 84,644 - Children served by Children and Parent Services 1,667 - Sites in 2013 Summer Food Service Program 1,141 - Circus tickets redeemed by children in the 2013 Red Fez Reading Club Quick Links DECAL on Facebook DECAL on Twitter DECAL Website Summer Food Service Kickoff DECAL will join the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Food Bank Association for the official kickoff of the 2013 Georgia Summer Food Service Program on Tuesday, June 18, 2013, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, at Grant Park in Atlanta. "Providing nutritious summer meals to children who would normally receive free breakfast or lunch during the school year is part of DECAL's commitment to keeping Georgia's children healthy," said DECAL Commissioner Bobby Cagle. Commissioner Cagle said the SFSP provides reimbursement to non-profit and government organizations that provide free meals to eligible children especially in low-income areas during the summer months when students are out of school where they would normally receive breakfast and/or lunch. Approximately 3.5 million meals were served through the SFSP during the summer of 2012. To find a Summer Food Service Program in your area, call 1-866-3HUNGRY, visit www.nokidhungry.org/summer or text FOODGA to 877-877. Classrooms Awarded Summer Transition Program DECAL has announced that 126 classrooms across Georgia have been awarded a six-week Summer Transition Program for rising kindergartners who either did not attend Georgia's Pre-K or Head Start, or attended but need additional support to be ready for Kindergarten next Fall. The six-week high quality instructional program begins on Monday, June 3, 2013, and is targeted for children whose families are eligible for Child and Parent Services (CAPS) which is administered by the Department. A total of 126 classes will be offered. "We are pleased to be partnering with these outstanding child care centers and schools in offering this important support for our State's youngest learners," said DECAL Commissioner Bobby Cagle. "These six weeks can potentially make all the difference in the world for these students as they prepare to enter kindergarten this fall." "This is a great opportunity for these young students to build skills and confidence before moving up into kindergarten," said Susan Adams, assistant commissioner for DECAL A complete list of child care centers, schools and their locations and contact information can be found on our website . Early Learning Panel Discussion Commissioner's Corner by Commissioner Bobby Cagle Last month, it was my honor to join with the leaders of five other state agencies and three partner organizations in calling for parents and caregivers of children to have greater awareness of the dangers associated with leaving children unattended in vehicles. In the shadow of the Gold Dome, we held a news conference to express our concerns and demonstrate how fast temperatures can rise inside a closed vehicle, especially in the spring and summer, and especially here in Georgia. Participating agencies included the Georgia Department of Public Health; Georgia Department of Human Services; Georgia Department of Public Safety; Georgia State Patrol; Governor's Office of Highway Safety; and the Governor's Office for Children and Families. Supporting partners included Safe Kids Georgia, Grady Hospital, Emory Center for Injury Control and the Georgia Chapter of the American Association of Pediatrics. As we enter the hot summer months, I want to stress to each of you that leaving children unattended in vehicles has become the leading cause of non-traffic vehicular deaths in the nation. We're told that more than half of all vehicle-related heatstroke deaths in children are caused by a child accidentally being left in a car, and more than 30 percent are from a child getting into a hot car on their own. Between 1998 and 2012, Georgia recorded 20 hyperthermia deaths of children in vehicles. Children's body temperatures warm at a rate three to five times faster than adults putting them at a much higher risk for heatrelated illness. The bottom line is never leave a child alone in a car. One of the speakers at the news conference was Jenny Stanley, a local parent who in August 2010 lost her six-year-old daughter Sydney when the child became trapped inside the family's car while parked in their garage. "I had always heard the term 'died of a broken heart,' but I thought it was just a saying. I now know that it is an actual physical pain, and I felt like dying," said Ms. Stanley, who is a very courageous and brave woman in carrying this message forward. On the same day as the news conference, DECAL partnered with Safe Kids Worldwide in hosting a webinar on this issue made available to all of the child care programs in Georgia. More than 200 people participated. I hope you'll join me in relaying these simple reminders to providers, teachers and parents across the state: NEVER leave a child in a vehicle unattended ALWAYS lock your car and put the keys out of reach -even at home ALWAYS call 911 if you see a child left in a vehicle You can also remember the acronym ACT for: Avoid Heatstroke; Create Reminders; and Take Action. In addition to delivering this important message, I think it is always notable and commendable when government agencies come together for a common cause. This delivers a strong message to the taxpayers of Georgia, who are also our customers. In the future, I look forward to joining other agencies in promoting our common goals for the health and safety of Georgia's children. DECAL Priority: Health & Safety Liability Insurance not required of Georgia Child Care Programs Recent media coverage has served as a reminder to parents and guardians that child care programs in Georgia are not required to carry liability insurance. State law [O.C.G.A. Section 49-5-12(t)] says DECAL will recommend in writing to the owner of any facility operated as a day-care center, family day-care home, group day-care facility, or group day-care home or any child learning center that they should carry liability insurance coverage sufficient to protect the facility's clients. However, if the program does not carry liability insurance it must post notice of that fact in a conspicuous place in the facility and notify in writing the parent or guardian of each child under the care of the facility. Each parent or guardian must acknowledge in writing the receipt of such notice, and a copy of the acknowledgment will be maintained on file at the facility at all times while the child attends the facility and for 12 months after the child's last date of attendance. Failure to do so may subject the owner of the facility to a civil fine of $1,000.00 for each such infraction. Insurance does not insure safety or prevent accidents...it can only help pay the bills in the aftermath of an accident. DECAL focuses on preventing accidents and ensuring health and safety through our policies, regulations, technical assistance and daily interactions with providers that keep children more safe on a day to day basis. Click here for a recent story on the liability insurance issue broadcast in May by WSB-TV (ABC) Channel 2 in Atlanta. DECAL Commissioner Bobby Cagle joined (L-R) U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Mindy Binderman, executive director for GEEARS, Friday at William M. Boyd Elementary School in Atlanta. A panel discussion was presented on early learning and a renewed commitment to the Atlanta Public Schools. Governor Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed also participated. For more on the program, follow this link to a report by Georgia Public Radio. Commissioner, Nutrition Team promote healthy choices in Conyers DECAL Commissioner Bobby Cagle and Nutrition Project Manager Jennifer Popadiuk recently visited La Petite Academy in Conyers to spread the word about healthy eating and lifestyle. Commissioner Cagle is a member of First Lady Sandra Deal's children's cabinet that meets bimonthly to talk about programming and coordinate work of various state agencies and groups. Each month, the cabinet develops a theme and members visit centers around the state to promote awareness. The theme for May was healthy choices. Read more about the visit in this article from The Rockdale Citizen. June Birthdays Best wishes go out to the following DECAL employees who celebrate birthdays this month: 2 - Jimea Stepherson Evans 4 - Aleisha Bridges Golden 7 - Rukiya I. Thomas 10 - Deborah Gunn Toney 12 - Annie M. Blair 14 - Dorothy D. Mitchell 15 - Janice Marie Haker 17 - Laura E. Johnson 20 - Ashia N. Jackson 21 - Margie H. Landers 23 - Janice D. Dye 26 - Miranda Tiane Murphy 28 - Lisa A. Henderson 28 - Trista Oliver Shelton 28 - Bridgette L. Washington 30 - Coty L. Johnson Board of Early Care and Learning Supporting and guiding the mission and vision of Bright from the Start: Board of Early Care and Learning Kay Ford, Savannah First Congressional District Susan Harper, Albany Second Congressional District (Secretary) Kathy Howell, Carrollton Third Congressional District Phil Davis, Stone Mountain Fourth Congressional District Carlene Talton, Decatur Fifth Congressional District Dawnn Henderson, Marietta Sixth Congressional District Sherron Murphy, Lawrenceville Seventh Congressional District Luann Purcell, Ed.D., Warner Robins Eighth Congressional District (Vice Chair) Tammy Lenkeit, Flowery Branch Ninth Congressional District Janice Gallimore, Greensboro Tenth Congressional District Victor Morgan, Cartersville Eleventh Congressional District (Chair) Jerri Kropp, Statesboro Twelfth Congressional District Judy Neal, Stockbridge Thirteenth Congressional District Vacant Fourteenth Congressional District We are committed to nurturing Georgia's youngest children, keeping them safe and healthy, and to enriching their lives. The Faces of DECAL DECAL faces featured in the banner of this issue are (L-R) Laura Johnson, Bianca Staggs, Rob OCallaghan, Christina Mitchell, Marian Brown, Betty Lasseter and Marsha Ruiz-Crosby. DECAL Priority: Quality Yaarab Shrine Circus promotes early reading DECAL partnered with the 2013 Yaarab Shrine Circus and Fair in Marietta this year to promote early reading. The Shriners offered free circus tickets to children who joined the "Red Fez Reading Club," created to encourage increased reading by young children and their families, friends and neighbors. Children who joined the club earned one circus ticket for each book read by or to them outside the classroom, with a maximum of five tickets per child. More than 1,500 readers from 141 facilities read a total of 7,228 books. More than 3,200 tickets were printed from the Red Fez website for the 24 circus performances that spanned 10 days from May 3 - 12. "For 70 years, Atlanta-area Shriners have sponsored the circus to raise money for the Shriners Hospitals for Children, a health care system of 22 hospitals providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs," said DECAL Commissioner Bobby Cagle. "This year, the Shriners wanted to expand these efforts to encourage Georgia's youngest learners and their families to read more books. We were honored to be a part of the biggest Shrine Circus in North America." In photos, Alexis Stark from Grace Kids Daycare in Loganville is shown with her mother at a May 8 performance of the circus. And then there's Lou, a 28-year-old elephant featured in the circus. DECAL Priority: Organizational Excellence DECAL Welcomes New Board Member Sherron L. Murphy of Lawrenceville was recently named to the Board of Early Care and Learning. Governor Deal appointed Murphy to represent the 7th congressional district. "It is a magnificent honor and privilege to be a member of the Board of Early Care and Learning," said Murphy. " I look forward to serving with integrity and passion, further extending my commitment to improving the quality of care and education for Georgia's children and their families." Murphy is a faculty member of Gwinnett Technical College's Early Childhood Care and Education Program. Before joining the Gwinnett Tech faculty, Murphy worked as a GA Pre-K teacher, Bright from the Start Mentor Teacher, Pre-K Site Director, state-approved trainer, and most recently as the Associate Director/Academic Curriculum Coordinator of Gwinnett Tech's Lab School, Hudgens Early Education Center. Murphy is the faculty advisor of Gwinnett Tech's Early Childhood Student Club, committee co-chair for Early Childhood College Student Organizations for the Georgia Association on Young Children (GAYC), an approved trainer for Better Brains for Babies, and a Peer Reviewer for NAEYC Early Childhood Degree Program Accreditation. Murphy is also a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); the National Educators Association (NEA); the Georgia Association on Young Children (GAYC); and the Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA). Murphy earned a bachelor's degree from Clark Atlanta University and a master's degree from New York University. She resides in Lawrenceville. Forward this email This email was sent to stuggle@uga.edu by reg.griffin@decal.ga.gov | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribeTM | Privacy Policy. 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