Georgia Dept ofEarly Care and Learning DECAL By the Numbers 4 ,407 - Licensed child care programs in Georgia 3 ,782 - Licensed child care programs applying for STABLE Round3 2,477- Quality Rated child care programs in Georgia 66,537 - Children enrolled in Georgia's Pre-K Program 29,067 - Social media followers $ 165 million - Distributed by DECAL to licensed child care programs in Georgia impacted byCOVID-19 5,437 - School-age children awarded a SOLVE scholarship to assist with the cost of completing virtual learning from a childcare program Follow DECAL on Social Media New Episodes Every Wednesday DECAL Download Mentioned in AJC Our weekly podcast, DECAL Download, got a nice mention in the Atlanta JournalConstitution's political blog, The Jolt, recently. Here's what they had to say: 'The state Department of Early Care and Leaming reached a milestone this week when the agency's weekly DECAL Download podcast entered its third season. The program, hosted by CommissionerAmy Jacobs and communications guru Reg Griffin, features conversations about the agency's work and interviews with guests like Gov. Brian Kemp." Commissioner's Corner by Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs Dear DECALers, ,... ~ Since beco1n ing conunissioner of DECAL, many states and national organizations have contacted 1ne about ho\v the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning came to be. In these conversations I've always used the word evolved, because DECAL today doesn't look anything like it did when it began. And the reason DECAL today looks different is becaus e we've added or adapted programs and services to meet the changing needs ofGeorgia's children and fa1nilies as one mille1u1ium ended and a new one began. The Office of School Readiness (OSR), the forerunner of DECAL, was created in 1996 primarily to ad1n inister the popular, lottery fun ded Georgia's Pre-K Program, to license child care centers that offered Pre-K, and to adn1inister the Child and Adult Care Food Progra1n (CACFP) for child care progra1ns. By 2004 the agency had grown in personnel, programs, and responsibility to the extent that the Georgia General Asse1nbly created a new departn1ent of state govern1nent, the Georgia Departn1ent of Early Care and Lear ning. And today, we're providing services and ad1ninistering programs that weren't even on our radar in those initial years: CAPS, Quality Rated, Inclusion and Behavior Supports, Infant Toddler Supports, trai:ning and technical assistance, scholarships, incentives, 1n assive federal grants, public service campaigns like LOOK AGAIN. This brings n1e to one of our newest areas of en1phasis: children's mental health. The \veek of May 3-7, DECAL will encourage providers and fa1nilies to celebrate Children's Mental Health. For decades \ve've worked to enhance children's physical, academic, nutritional develop1n ent by supporting high quality early care and education environ1n ents. But we know that children's 1nental health also matters. So, we look fonvard to promoting children's ability to express a range of en1otions and form strong attachn1ents "',jth trusted adults, s o they can learn and thrive in all areas of their lives. I hope you find it exciting to be part ofan organization that is willing to grow and evolve the way OSR/ DECAL has. By adapting and changing...even through difficult economic times and pande1nics...,ve've remained relevant, useful, and beneficial to children, fan1ilies, and the early care and education industry in our state. And if \Ve re1n ain open and willing to change, I predict the DECAL of 2050 "',jll look much different than our depart1nent today. Thank you for your fonvard thinking and flexibility, P.S. Since writing this letter, I've received yet another request from a cons ulting firm working witl1 one of our neighboring states to talk about Georgia's "robust early education syste1n." v\Te can all be proud that other states continue to envy having a departn1ent like DECAL. Children's Mental Health Week ls May3-7, 2021 DECAL is celebrating Children's Mental Health this year by designating May 3 - 7 as Children's Mental Health Week. The earlyyears in a child's life provide a key opportunity to establish safe and secure relationships and support healthy social and emotional development. DECAL is excited to provide a week full of activities for all ages including a list of age-appropriate books promoting mental health, products to create a Calm Comer or Zen Den, and fun giveaways for child care providers from Children's Health Care of Atlanta, Scholastic, and Lakeshore Leaming. DECAL will also offer seven opportunities for Pre-Kand 3's classes to sign up for the Feelings Puppet Show presented by Mental Health America of Georgia. Stay tuned to the DECAL website and social media outlets to learn more about this event and participate in Children's Mental Health Week! Remember, everyone who touches the life ofa child can promote healthy social and emotional development! State Employee Recognition Week (SERW) is May 2-8, 2021 DECAL is celebrating State En1ployees Recognition Week- May 28, 20 21. The purpose of this ,veek is to recognize and celebrate you--our e1nployees and the work you do for the citizens of the State of Georgia. Last year was like no other. You d emonstrated extraordinary leadership and custo1n er service during the pande1nic, and this celebration provides an excellent opportunity to highlight the achieve1n ents and contributions you've 1nade on a daily basis. Several fun activities have been planned by the E1n ployee Ad,,jsory Committee to tl1ank you for your dedication, hard work and com n1itment to excellence. These virtual events include: DECAL Bingo Pet/Owner l\llatch Ga1n e Flat CALi Employee Kudos And MORE! Recognition -r;:::p_ Georgia Dept ofEarlyCare '---'-. an,.,d., Loea,m., .i,n,..g., Supporting and guiding the mission and vision ofBright.from the Start: Board of Early Care and Learning VACANT First Congressional District Susan Harper, Albany Second Congressional District (Chair) Kathy Howell, Carrollton Third Congressional District (Secretary) Phil Davis, Stone Mountain Fourth Congressional District (Vice Chair) Kristy Beam, Ed.D, Atlanta Fifth Congressional District VACANT Sixth Congressional District Kristin Morrissey, Cumming Seventh Congressional District Luann Purcell, Ed. D., Warner Robins Eighth Congressional District Cristina Washell, Ed.D., Cleveland Ninth Congressional District Theresa Magpuri-Lavell, Ed.D., Milledgeville Tenth Congressional District Jen Bennecke, Atlanta Eleventh Congressional District VACANT Twelfth Congressional District Melissa Boekhaus, M.D., Smyrna Thirteenth Congressional District Debra Brock, Calhoun Fourteenth Congressional District Sign up for DECAL text messages by texting DECAL to 474747 Employee suggestion Progra111 DECAL Conducting Georgia Child Care Market Rate Survey Once again, DECAL and Care Solutions are compiling data on the prices Georgia fa1n ilies are paying for child care and early education. DECAL conducts this type of study every fe,v years to detenn ine an accurate cost of child care in the various regions of Georgia and to help us determine CAPS reilnburse1nent rates. In March, DECAL and Care Solutions e-1nailed n1ore than 6,000 licensed and exe1npt child care progra1ns with a survey. The findings fro1n the survey will help DECAL prepare Georgia's Child Care and Development Fund State Plan as \Veil as a ne,v Economic l!npact Study. "It is critically important to share ,vith the public and with Georgia's policymakers what quality child care actually costs and what a major component the work of the early care and education industry is to our state's economy," said Con1111issioner Amy 1\11. Jacobs. Child care providers can con1plete the survey online or on paper... in English or in Spanish. If a provider has not received theen1ails, they can contact Care Solutions toll-free at 1-800-227-3410 or e-mail GAMRsurvev@caresolutions.com. DECAL hopes to co1nplete the s urvey this month. As an incentive, Care Solutions will enter everyone \Vho completes the survey into a drawi ng fo r one of five $100 gift cards. The last Georgia Child Care Mar ket Rate Survey \Vas con ducted in 2016-2017. The federal Adn1inistration for Children and Families Office of Child Care granted an extension in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CCDF State Plan Public Hearings Go Virtual This Month The Georgia Departn1ent of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) will hold two virtual public hearings this month on the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) State Plan. The p urpose of the CCDF is to increase the availability, affordability, and quality of child care se1vices. The CCDF State Plan describes ho\v Georgia will administer CCDF services from October 1, 2021to Septe1nber 30, 2024, specifically ex.plaining how funds will be used to 1. help lo\v incon1e, working fa1n ilies find and pay for child care; and 2. enha nce the quality and availability of child care in Georgia. Two virtual public hearings \viii be held d uring \vhich tin1e the public can co111ment on the proposed State Plan that was WTitten by DECAL, the lead agency for the CCDF in Georgia. Belo,v are the d ates, times, and links to access th e public hearings. Tue, May 4, 202112:00 Pl\11- 1:30 PM EDT- https: //attendee.gotowebinar.co1n/regi.../46991228950982 94286 Thu, May 6, 2021 TOO PM - 8:30 PM EDT- https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regi.../17890454698636 57486 A draft of the p roposed CCDF State Plan is available for your review at : http:/(\V\vw.decal.ga.gov/BftS/CCDFPlan.aspx - If they public cannot participate in either of the vi1iual hearings, they can still co1nment on the State Plan by subn1itting con1ments to CCDFstateplan@decal.ga.gov. All con11n ents will be revie\ved a nd considered; ho,vever, because of the nu1nber ofcon11nents, DECAL ,viii not respond to co1111nents 1nade at th e public hearings or online. Visit the Virtual Suggestion Bo~ now! Faces ofDECAL DECALfaces featured in the banner ofthis issue are (L-R) Aleisha Golden, Ebony Ford, Marcie Singletary, Catherine Broussard, and Sha1111011 Cu11is. ~ ~r: I! r.: CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK May 3rd - 7th, 2021 #'DECALCMHWeek2021 #LittleKids8igFeelings Georgia Department ofEarly Care and Learning 2 Martin Luther King J r. Drive SE, 754 East To\ver , Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-5957 Contact Us Georgia Dept of Early Care and Learning BRIGHT FROM THE START oammmm