Decidedly DECAL: highlighting the events that shape who we are, 2017 November

Decidedly DECAL
Highlighting the Events That Shape Who We Are





November 2017 - In This Issue By the Numbers Follow DECAL on Social Media Decidedly DECAL Seeking Contributors 2017 Penny Wars Winners SCCP Update New Faces and Places November Birthdays Board of Early Care and Learning Virtual Suggestion Box Commissioner's Corner Georgia's Pre-K Week Division Updates Person on the Street Fall Fun at DECAL A Look Back at the All Staff Meeting New Quality Rated Programs

DECAL
By the Numbers
4,768 - Licensed child care programs in Georgia 5,147 - Completed CCS visits for FY2018 1,423 - Quality Rated child care programs in Georgia 80,333 - Four year olds attending Georgia's Pre-K Program 81,704,575 - Total meals served by Nutrition Services in FY2017
Follow DECAL on Social Media

DECAL on Facebook DECAL on Twitter DECAL on Instagram DECAL on Pinterest DECAL Website
Decidedly DECAL Welcomes Contributors
Got a nose for news?
During the high school-themed All Staff Meeting, we learned that many people on the DECAL team have experience as editors or writers for their high school newspapers or annuals. Don't you miss it? We would love to have you submit articles from your division for Decidedly DECAL and will include your byline and photo with your story. Just get your supervisor's approval and contact Shannon Williams, Communications Coordinator, for more information. Join the team making news at DECAL!
Pre-K and Instructional Supports Dominates in 2017 Penny Wars
Congratulations to Georgia's Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports on winning the 2017 Penny Wars with a final score of 22,179. Finance finished second with a score of 5,427, followed by IT with a score of 4,319, and CAPS with a score of 3,416.
Thanks to everyone who participated in Penny Wars 2017. The real winners are Georgia's youngest learners! We have decided to donate all of the money raised through Penny Wars to our new Georgia Foundation for Early Care + Learning which recently received its non-profit status and can now accept donations to further early childhood education initiatives in Georgia. The Foundation will also be offered as a charity you can support through The Campaign.

Still Time to Donate to The Campaign

Great News! You can now support The Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning through the State Charitable Contributions Program by clicking HERE.

Why invest in Early Education?

Carrie Ashbee

Every $1 you invest into highquality early education results in savings of up to $16 in costs related to criminal justice, welfare, special education and grade retention.
What we do.

The Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning makes strategic investments to improve and expand high-quality early education to help ensure all children in Georgia are prepared to succeed when they enter kindergarten regardless of family income or location.

Support the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning efforts by making a tax-deductible donation that will enhance the lives of Georgia's youngest learners and their families.

DONATE TODAY.

For questions, please contact cashbee@GAearlyED.org or carrie.ashbee@decal.ga.gov.

2017 Spirit of DECAL Winners

Thank you Governor Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal for helping us honor our 2017 Spirit of DECAL Award Winners Keturah Washington, Chad Paul, and Rhonda Gunn. Highlights from the ceremony can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUwoMh2FfXI.
New Faces and Places
Congratulations to the following employees who joined the DECAL team in October:
Finance welcomes Budget Analyst Althea Diahann Curry.
IT welcomes Telecommunications Administrator Alkadir Abdulkadir.
November Birthdays
Best wishes go out to the following DECAL employees who celebrate birthdays this month:
1 - Tammie Baldwin 1 - Alison Benson 1 - Connie Fisher 2 - Robin Currie 3 - Rachel Fowler 4 - Rian Ringsrud 4 - Keturah Washington 6 - Leah Klatzker 6 - Chrische' Walker 8 - Arlene Green 9 - Leslie Truman 10 - Shannon Carroll 10 - Charlie Wilson 11 - Shani Drake 11 - Jill Vandenbos 12 - Tara Davis 12 - Olivia Kyle 13 - Colleen Covey 13 - Andrea McFarland 14 - Jessica Albright 14 - Jessica Grant 14 - Christi Moore 15 - Shenina Broaders 16 - Shyreeta Hicks 16 - Nikiesha Neil 17 - Colette Bolds 17 - George Davis 17 - Brenda Haynesworth 19 - Emily Grosoff 20 - Teresa Cummings 20 - Nicole Rocquemore 22 - Lisa Rambhajan 23 - Mike Chandler 24 - Kymberly Savage 25 - Valerie Blackmon 25 - Alva Huff 25 - Rita Lang 27 - JaKena Huggins 28 - Domonika Johnson 28 - Seydou Kompaore 29 - Donna Pearce 30 - Shayla Lewis
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, Midway First Congressional District
(Secretary)
Susan Harper, Albany Second Congressional District
(Chair)
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
Vacant Seventh Congressional District
Luann Purcell, Ed.D., Warner Robins Eighth Congressional District
Sheri Hooper, Gainesville Ninth Congressional District
Janice Gallimore, Greensboro Tenth Congressional District
Victor Morgan, Cartersville Eleventh Congressional District
Jerri Kropp, Statesboro Twelfth Congressional District
(Vice Chair)
Melissa Boekhaus, MD., Mableton Thirteenth Congressional District Tangela Johnson, Cohutta Fourteenth Congressional District
Watch on POLAR

Commissioner's Corner
by Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs
Dear DECAL Team, The main point of my letter this month is short and simple: I want you to know how much I enjoyed being with all of you at our All Staff meeting on October 24th. I left the meeting encouraged and energized by your participation, your engagement, your sense of humor, and your commitment to DECAL and to the children and families of Georgia, and by the connections I was able to make with many of you. I've had an opportunity to quickly review your responses to the survey we sent after the meeting. Based on the comments, many of you left the meeting feeling much like I did. You loved "the energy in the room;" "gathering everyone in one place;" "seeing and hearing from the Governor and First Lady;" "Reg;" "socializing;" "the breakout sessions with the Alliance;" "meeting new people;" and so much more. You were also very straightforward in sharing parts of the day you liked least and topics/items you'd like covered in future staff meetings. I appreciate your honest, forthright opinions in these areas; I assure you they will help us plan differently next year. Of course, as I read the comments from the survey, I couldn't help but smile because activities and parts of the day that some people liked most were the very activities and parts of the day that other people liked least...almost word for word. That confirms a lot of what we talked about during the day. DECAL is one department made up of over 600 unique individuals with different personality styles, life experiences, and temperaments...but we can still all move forward together as a team to accomplish the work the department is called to do. And I submit to you that our differences (e.g., loving the "mirror activity" or hating it) can make us stronger and more real. As we look forward to our national celebration of Thanksgiving later this month, I can honestly say that I am thankful for having a job serving Georgia's children and families with a competent, committed, compassionate group of co-workers like you.
Governor, First Lady Help Celebrate Georgia Pre-K Week
Governor Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal joined Assistant Commissioner for Georgia's Pre-K Program and Instructional Supports Susan Adams and Voices for Georgia's Children Executive Director Dr. Erica Fener Sitkoff for the kickoff of Georgia Pre-K Week at the North Fulton Child Development Center, one of the original pilot sites for Georgia's PreK Program 25 years ago. Hundreds of state and local leaders helped celebrate the 25th birthday of Georgia's Pre-K Program by visiting classrooms across the state and reading to students. Governor Zell Miller launched Georgia's lottery-funded Pre-K program in 1992 as a pilot program serving 750 four-year-old children. Since then, Georgia's Pre-K Program has laid a solid foundation for academic excellence and future success in the lives of approximately 1.6 million children.
Division Updates
System Reform
In December 2016, the DECAL Advisory Committee adopted the following: Quality Rated eligible providers must be star rated by December 31, 2020 to continue to receive Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) funding. Quality Rated bonus packages will not be awarded after December 31, 2020. To be eligible for a bonus package, programs must meet the following guidelines:
1. Participate in Quality Rated by June 30, 2018 2. Receive a one, two, or three star rating by December 31, 2020 3. Have received less than three bonus packages
Legal
The Legal Department is in the process of hiring for the following three positions: Records Unit Document and Archiving Specialist, Policy and Training Specialist, and Criminal Records Check Supervisor.
Human Resources
Open Enrollment deadline is approaching: Annual Open Enrollment (OE) for the 2018 Plan Year of the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) and will end on November 3, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. All eligible employees may select their 2018 health care elections online at www.mySHBPga.adp.com. Training Opportunities: A new training calendar is out for October through December. Remember to copy your supervisor on any class you would like to attend. DECAL University is back: November 17 - Deep Dive into Quality Rated; November 30 - Research and Policy Analysis; and December 7 System Reform promotes access to Quality Rated. Times to be determined.
Pre-K
During Georgia Pre-K Week 2017, the Governor and First Lady and 128 other state leaders-including 77 Representatives, 23 Senators, 3 Congressmen, 12 members of the Governor's staff, and many state Commissioners-- made 212 visits to Georgia's Pre-K classrooms. Also 450+ centers registered with Voices for Georgia's Children to host their own events with local leaders. Local leaders hosted by these centers included mayors, city council members, local businessmen, firemen, policemen, and members of the Armed Forces.
Child Care Services
Child Care Services began the annual license fee payment season on November 1. CCS training for "Discover, Create, Imagine - Developing Lesson Plans for Young Children" has begun across the state with dates through the end of March 2018. One-day training is offered to all birth through five teachers working in a child care program. It will focus on planning meaningful lessons using the Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS), and teachers will learn how to use the PEACH website to search for developmentally appropriate activities and to develop a lesson plan. Currently, CCS has four vacancies: three in the regions, and a new receptionist position in Atlanta.
Audits and Compliance
Audits is wrapping up the Summer Food Services Program, and the new fiscal year is underway for the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Person on the Street If you could pick a super power, what would it be?
Tikiyha Ancrum, Nutrition Health Educator: If I had a superpower, it would be self-multiplication! Being the mother of four children, which includes a three month old, self-multiplication would come in handy! I know my selection sounds selfish, but I would use my superpower to save humanity, sometimes...
Jasmine Barnes, System Reform Administrative Assistant: If I could pick a super power, I would like to be a SUPER LINGUIST, meaning I would be able to innately speak and write ALL the languages of this world beyond fluently. I would be able to speak ancient languages, alien languages, and even animal languages!
Bridgette Bivins, CAPS Family Support Consultant: My super power would be for money to appear at the snap of my fingers. This power will give me the opportunity to travel all over the world and end hunger and homelessness.
Carol Hartman, Director of Policy and System Reform: Flying would be my super power - so I can avoid all of the traffic commuting to work!
Fall Fun at DECAL
DECALers had lots of opportunities for some fall fun on October 31. It started with a morning journey to the Little Mystery Manor, which raised another $71.67 to benefit The Campaign; and there were frights, sights, tricks and treats along the way provided by our HR team. The three winners drawn from our Fortune Telling Fishbowl were: Beatrice Newton, CAPS Scholarship Administration Specialist Michelle Flymn, Finance Accounts Payable Accountant Deborah Helms, CAPS Quality Assurance and Training Administrator The Employee Advisory Group sponsored a CHILI COOK-OFF, which netted $308 for future State Employee Recognition Week events at DECAL. A total of 10 in-house chefs produced 11 chili entries that were sampled by over 60 employees! The votes determined the following: 1st Place: Barbara Sanders, IT Business Analyst 2nd Place: April Rogers, CCS Director of Enforcement Operations 3rd Place: It's a tie! Alicia Young, GA Pre-K Administrative Assistant,Christie Bearden, Legal Services Supervisor, and Kristi Burk, CAPS Scholarship Administration Specialist Many thanks go out to Avery Jenkins, all of our chefs, EAG committee members, and volunteers throughout the agency who donated time, product, and assistance in making this such a successful and fun epicurean delight!

A Look Back at the 2017 All Staff Meeting

Let Us Hear From You!

The Faces of DECAL
DECAL faces featured in the banner of this issue are (L-R) Benjamin Appling, Valerie Strickland, Rosheda Doe, Jennifer McCreary, Tiffany Conley, Kimberly Davis, and Jackie Shivers.