On Friday, December 1st, the Child Care Advocacy Task Force of the Georgia Infant-Toddler Coalition gathered 35 impassioned early childhood advocates from all over the state. (When you watch seven Savannahians spill out of a single van after a wee-hours departure, you know they’re committed!) In a most-of-the-day meeting, these Coalition members connected, strategized for the coming legislative session, outlined policy priorities, and made plans upon plans. They had five hours to work, but the teachers, child care providers, non-profit and community leaders, literacy experts, and healthcare providers know that real change happens by working together over the long haul. The coalition was developed to do just that as members meet regularly to align agendas, develop strategies, and share needs.
Consider this hivemind of visionaries and ideators a microcosm of GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, the organization that convened the Georgia Infant-Toddler Coalition’s current iteration in 2018. Being a convenor is at the core of what GEEARS does. We bring an always growing network of powerful players together so that their diverse talents, skills, and relationships can work collectively on behalf of Georgia’s youngest children, their families, and their educators.
When we look back at the boosts and challenges we faced in 2023, we consider both our organization’s own accomplishments and products—like January’s Readiness Radar reboot and July’s Early Childhood Checkup—and the advances we made because we exhorted our community to do something momentous.
The current unwinding of Medicaid means tens of thousands of Georgia’s children are losing healthcare coverage due to administrative issues with redetermination. And with the September 30th cessation of the federal relief funds that kept countless Georgia child care providers afloat—and with them, the working parents who need stable, high-quality child care…
Read the full article here
