Episode 10 - EXPAND Grants

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the DECAL Download, we're talking about a recent opportunity for Georgia child care providers, educators, families, and other stakeholders to make their voices heard. Every day, child care professionals across our state work tirelessly to support children and families. While this work is incredibly rewarding, it also comes with challenges. To better understand those challenges and identify ways to strengthen our early care and education system, we recently partnered with Child Trends to conduct Georgia’s Child Care Needs Assessment. Joining us to talk about the Needs Assessment is Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner of Quality Innovations and Partnerships, and Shayna Funke, Director of Research Partnerships and Business Supports. Support the show

Send us Fan MailChoosing child care is one of the most important decisions a family makes, and parents deserve clear, accurate information about the programs caring for their children. Recently, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published articles raising serious questions about child safety, state oversight, and Georgia’s Quality Rated child care system. The reporting focused in particular on cases where children were harmed or placed at risk at programs that had earned a Quality Rated star rating. Those stories deserve attention. So does the broader question they raise: How does Georgia actually regulate child care, what does Quality Rated measure, what happens when something goes wrong, and what is DECAL doing to strengthen the system? Joining us to go beyond the headlines is Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner for Child Care Services, and Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner for Quality Innovations and Partnerships, the division that oversees Quality Rated.  Support the show

Send us Fan MailThis week we’re talking about access to child care outside the traditional 9-to-5 workday. Recently DECAL offered hundreds of thousands of dollars in EXPAND Grants for Expanding Parents’ Access to Nontraditional Delivery. These were available to nonprofit organizations, government entities, and child care providers to support offering care during evenings and weekends giving more parents the support they need to work, attend classes, pursue training, and strengthen their family’s economic stability. So how did we do?  Joining us to talk about the EXPAND Grants and their impact on Georgia is Jill Taylor, Director of Community Partnerships and 2Gen Outreach, and Shayna Funke, Director of Research Partnerships and Business Supports, and from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government are Veronica Lopez-Delgado and Brian Simmons.  Support the show

Send us Fan MailOpen Enrollment runs now through November 6, giving DECAL employees an important opportunity to review your benefits and make choices for the year ahead. Even if your current coverage is working well, this is the time to check for plan changes, confirm your information, and make sure your benefits still meet the needs of you and your family. Joining us to explain what employees need to know is Sabrina Henry, DECAL Senior Manager of Human Resources. Support the show

Send us Fan MailEvery October, Georgia celebrates Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month, recognizing the many ways schools, child care programs, families, farmers, and community partners work together to help children build healthy habits early in life. The program introduces young children to fresh, local foods through hands-on food education, gardening experiences, taste testing, and the inclusion of Georgia-grown items in meals and snacks served through programs like CACFP, the National School Lunch Program and Happy Helpings. Joining us to talk about Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month is Monica Griffin, DECAL’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Supervisor, and Kelley Toon, the Academy Nutrition and Support Manager from Georgia Department of Education’s School Nutrition Division. Support the show

Send us Fan MailWhat makes a childcare program truly high quality? For families, quality begins with trust: knowing their children are safe, supervised, nurtured, and learning in an environment that supports healthy development. A recent media inquiry has placed new attention on how quality, safety, accountability, and public investment intersect. Let's get the real story from Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner for Child Care Services, and Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner of Quality Innovations and Partnerships.  Support the show

Send us Fan MailThis week we are at Building Kidz School in Roswell for the official kickoff of Georgia’s Pre-K Week, a statewide celebration of the teachers, families, partners, and young learners who make Georgia’s Pre-K Program such an important part of our communities. We’re joined by Coy Bowles, lead guitarist with Zac Brown Band and children’s author; Malcolm Mitchell, Super Bowl Champ, author, and founder of the Share the Magic Foundation; and Judy Fitzgerald, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children. Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn October, DECAL is hitting the road. In partnership with Child Trends, we will host four regional DECAL Road Shows to bring agency updates, professional learning, resources, and DECAL staff directly to child care providers across Georgia. Each roadshow will include plenary session, breakout learning opportunities, and an Exhibition Hall with representatives from nearly every DECAL division and program area. Joining us to talk about the DECAL Roadshows happening this October is Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner of Quality Initiatives and Partnerships, and Pam Stevens, Deputy Commissioner of Child Care Services. Support the show

Send us Fan MailEach year, Georgia’s Pre-K Week gives state leaders, local officials, community partners, and families a chance to step inside Pre-K classrooms and see firsthand what quality early learning looks like. This year's observance is October 5-9, 2026. Joining us to talk about Georgia Pre-K Week is Judy Fitzgerald, Executive Director with Voices for Georgia’s Children, our longtime partner in Pre-K Week; Amy Browder, Director of Business Operations for Georgia’s Pre-K Program, and Devon Porter, Summer Transition Program and Outreach Manager. Support the show

Send us Fan MailPotty training is one of those big early childhood milestones that can bring excitement, questions, and sometimes a little stress for families and caregivers. Every child develops at their own pace, and success often depends less on a child’s age and more on signs of readiness, consistency, patience, and encouragement. For many families, knowing when to start, how to respond to accidents, and how to keep the process positive can make all the difference. Joining us to talk about potty training is Thea Stevens, Manager of our Infant and Toddler Program here at DECAL; Bridget Ratajczak, our Child and Family Development Outreach Manager, and from Child Care Services, Technical Assistance Consultant Tomekia Hudson. Support the show