COVID-19 INFORMATION
DECAL. Check out DECAL’s COVID-19 webpage for updated FAQs, announcements, and information. If you have specific questions, please reach out to DECAL (childcareservices@decal.ga.gov).
Guidance for Child Care Programs that Remain Open. Visit the CDC’s COVID-19 page.
Get Action Alerts. Subscribe to the GEEARS mailing list for Action Alerts on the latest in public policy affecting early childhood education in Georgia.
Early Childhood Resources During COVID-19. GEEARS has list of resources related to COVID-19 here. These resources address social-emotional health. They were developed in partnership with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, and Emory University.
Report Opening and Closing. Visit DECAL KOALA or Quality Care for Children.
Find Available Early Childhood Care and Education. Call 1-877-ALL-GAKIDS (1-877-255-4254).
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Unemployment Information. Here is guidance from the Georgia Department of Labor on unemployment insurance.
Small Business Administration Loans are available to for-profit and nonprofit businesses.
Child Care Aware Funding Resources
LISC and Verizon are partnering to provide grants of up to $10,000 to businesses and non-profits facing immediate financial pressure because of COVID-19—especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital. The grant can be used for paying rent and utilities, meeting payroll, paying outstanding debt to vendors, and other immediate operational costs.
ADVOCATE
Join a Family Child Care Learning Home COVID-19 Crisis Management Team. Professional Family Child Care Alliance of Georgia COVID-19 Crisis Management Team. If you are interested in being involved, contact Joe Perreault, Executive Committee Chair, at joeperreault@comcast.net.
Contact Congress. Reach out to your Congressmen to tell your story or tweet and tag them.
RESOURCES FOR STAFF AND FAMILIES
Best Practices at Georgia State University. They have a family section and other activities for parents with young children (mostly preschool age) that are free for anyone and are based on GELDS standards.
What Happened to My World? Helping Children Cope with Natural Disaster and Catastrophe. This book by Jim Greenman from Bright Horizons is intended to help parents, and all those who work with families and children, during times of natural disaster. Read the book here
The CDC has Resources for Early Childhood Educators on Disasters. These two sections are helpful: Protecting the Youngest Learners: Caring for Children 0-5 and After an Emergency: Helping Children Cope
The GaPDS has online professional development for BFTS hours. If you need professional development, the Georgia Professional Development System allows searching for online only.