DECAL Announces Two-Generation Innovation Grant Funding Opportunity


Grants Will Help Communities Ensure that Parents and Children Thrive Together

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), in partnership with the University System of Georgia, and the Technical College System of Georgia, recently announced that applications are available for the 2019 Two-Generation Innovation Grant (TGIG) for communities throughout Georgia. The grant funding may be used to pilot or expand community initiatives that connect the early learning, postsecondary, and workforce systems at the local level to deliver benefits to the two generations within a family unit—children and their parents.

The TGIG criteria require communities to implement two-generation (two-gen) strategies that will impact both children’s ability to access high-quality early learning and their parents’ ability to obtain jobs providing family-supporting wages that foster greater economic security.

“Georgia has a top-notch child care system and award-winning post-secondary and workforce-training systems,” said Amy M. Jacobs, DECAL Commissioner. “The Two-Generation Innovation Grants build on our state’s established education infrastructure that successfully connects children with high-quality early learning and the adults in their lives with the opportunity to earn a degree, credential, or workforce certification that leads to a high-paying job. We believe this two-gen approach will lift children and families together to support their economic future as well as Georgia’s.”

The TGIG funding opportunity allows applicants to apply for either a Capacity Building Grant, which has an award ceiling of $15,000, or an Implementation Funding Grant, which has an award ceiling of $35,000. Capacity Building Grants will give recipients the opportunity to explore two-gen policy change and programming in their area and is designed for communities that are just beginning collaborative efforts focused on such strategies and projects. Implementation Funding Grants will be awarded to communities with an established group of partners already effectively collaborating between child care, postsecondary, and workforce systems to advance two-gen policies and programming.

All nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental entities are eligible to apply. Applications are due Nov. 30, 2018, by 5 p.m. Complete eligibility information and application instructions are available at decal.ga.gov/QualityInitiatives/Grants.aspx.

DECAL will host a live technical assistance webinar on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, at 2 p.m. Interested parties may register for the webinar at: attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/956076331015137027. Contact Nia King at nia.king@decal.ga.gov with questions about the 2019 Two-Generation Innovation Grant.

Contact:

Reg Griffin
DECAL Communications Director
404-656-0239
reg.griffin@decal.ga.gov

Bill Valladares
GaFCP Communications Director
404-739-0043
william@gafcp.org

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia’s children and their families. It administers the nationally recognized Georgia’s Pre-K Program, licenses child care centers and home-based child care, administers Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program, federal nutrition programs, and manages Quality Rated, Georgia’s community powered child care rating system.

The department also houses the Head Start State Collaboration Office, distributes federal funding to enhance the quality and availability of child care, and works collaboratively with Georgia child care resource and referral agencies and organizations throughout the state to enhance early care and education.

Georgia Family Connection Partnership (GaFCP) is a public-private partnership created by the State of Georgia and investors from the private sector to assist communities in addressing the serious challenges facing children and families. GaFCP also serves as a resource to state agencies across Georgia that work to improve the conditions of children and families. Georgia KIDS COUNT provides policymakers and citizens with current data they need to make informed decisions regarding priorities, services, and resources that impact Georgia’s children, youth, families, and communities.