Presidential debate dives into topics that impact Georgia families
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both attempted to portray their time in office as economically more favorable for voters in Thursday night's debate. Many of the questions asked focused on the economy, pressing each nominee for what they could offer voters.
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Staffing shortages and end of pandemic funding could spell hardship for Georgia childcare centers, families
An all-new survey shows the continued struggle when it comes to childcare in Georgia. According to data released by Quality Care for Children (QCC), staffing shortages and the end of federal Covid-19 funding could mean more difficult decisions in the months ahead for centers, with the impact trickling down to families.
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If you don’t get a Georgia pre-K slot in district lottery, here’s what to do
It’s the time of year when parents of young children are nervously refreshing their email inboxes to see if their child received a prized slot in Georgia’s pre-kindergarten program. Atlanta Public Schools held its pre-K lottery Friday, and early education advocates say those who didn’t get a spot shouldn’t lose hope.
Atlanta Public Schools offers 'boost' to help cover employees' child care costs
ATLANTA — Tuesday marks the start of a new school year for Atlanta Public Schools, but the district also recognizes the need to invest in families long before kids are school-aged through its new program to help employees with childcare costs.
Already struggling child care providers brace for end of federal relief funds
Results of a survey of Georgia child care providers released last week found that most are struggling to fully staff their programs and to meet the growing demand for child care. And the imminent end of COVID-related federal funding that has stabilized many center- and home-based child care programs is expected to exacerbate these challenges.
2023 Provider Pulse Check Survey Indicates Georgia’s Child Care Industry Is Still Recovering from Coronavirus Pandemic and Inflated Economy
ATLANTA – (July 6, 2023) – According to Quality Care for Children’s (QCC) most recent Provider Pulse Check report, most of Georgia’s child care providers are still struggling to fully staff their child care programs and meet parent demand for child care in their communities although Georgia’s economy has largely rebounded since the COVID-19 crisis.
Organization offers help for metro Atlantans searching for summer childcare
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The YMCA Youth and Teen Development Center in Dekalb County is where kids come to learn and play once the learning at school ends. While the after-school programs are busy now, they’re about to get a lot busier. That’s because summer looms. “We had 2,000 registrations in just one week,” said Kim Nelson, the Metro Atlanta YMCA Senior Vice President of Program Development.
To recruit and retain Georgia workers, more investment in child care is crucial
By Guest Columnist ELLYN COCHRAN, president and chief executive officer of Quality Care for Children
As workforce recruitment and retention remain a challenge in our post-pandemic reality, it is clear that ensuring access to quality, affordable child care can be a big part of the solution.
Five years in: A look at DeKalb County's Early Learning Center
The DeKalb County School District became the first in Georgia to offer free preschool for three-and four-year-olds in 2018. The idea was to make sure young students are prepared for kindergarten. The Early Learning Center at Terry Mill is just south of East Lake. The school district funds the three-year-old classrooms.
More than half of kids in Georgia don't eat vegetables daily: How one organization helps expose kids to healthy eating from the start
SCOTTDALE, Ga. — A new report shows that more than half of young children in Georgia are missing out on important nutrition critical for their development.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a state-by-state breakdown showing kids choose sugary drinks over fruits and vegetables. But there are efforts to reverse that trend already underway in metro Atlanta.
Parents push for easier childcare access in Georgia
ATLANTA — Tuesday marks 'Strolling Thunder' at the state capitol, where parents and their little ones will get the ear of lawmakers to talk about the challenges of raising young children in Georgia and hopefully, push for change. That includes raising awareness around teacher pay, improved access to family leave and ongoing issues around childcare, which worsened during the pandemic.
QCC Announces Ellyn Cochran as Its New President and Chief Executive Officer
ATLANTA – (April 18, 2022) – Quality Care for Children (QCC), an Atlanta-based nonprofit working to equip families and child care providers with the knowledge and resources to nurture and educate Georgia’s infants and young children, today named Ellyn Cochran as its new president and CEO effective April 11, 2022.
How do we fix child care in the South? These 5 advocates have thoughts
Before the pandemic, the South was already a place where child-care workers are paid less, even when wages are adjusted for cost of living, than the national average. Many places in the South, particularly rural areas, don’t have enough child-care slots for the number of eligible children.
A child care crisis worsened in the pandemic. Meet the Southerners working to fix it.
During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nancy Sylvester watched with growing concern as child care centers around her own center in Jackson, Miss. closed their doors – for good.