Childcare
Glossary and Terms
Bright From the Start = The Georgia Department of Early Childcare and Learning - website: http://decal.ga.gov/
CAPS = Childcare and Parent Services - website: http://caps.decal.ga.gov/en/
Want to see an example of the approved CAPS Certificate? Click Here....
NAEYC = National Association for the Education of Young Children - website: https://www.naeyc.org/
TSU = Transitional Services Unit
Foster Parent Approved Recommendations
Decatur - Beulah Learning Center
Address: 2901 Wesley Chapel Rd, Decatur, GA 30034
Phone: (404) 288-2494
Decatur - Developing Minds Academy II
Address: 3227 Midway Rd, Decatur, GA 30032
Phone: (404) 284-3810
Decatur - Developing Minds Academy
Address: 1535 Columbia Dr, Decatur, GA 30032
Phone: (404) 698-3469
Stone Mountain - Childtime
Address: 501 Ridge Ave, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Phone: (770) 498-4680
Daycare
Find a daycare - http://decal.ga.gov/ProviderSearch/ChildCare
How is your Daycare rated? - https://www.naeyc.org/accreditation
Who is responsible for the Daycare Process
You receive a child and the Social Worker is assigned to the case
The Social Worker or TSU must complete a form and submit it - It is processed according to the date in which it is submitted from the SW to Ms. Hooks.
Ms. Hooks is the ONLY DFCS worker who processes ALL of DeKalb and Fulton's CAPS paperwork and submits them to CAPS.
Once the email is sent to caps from Ms. Hooks, and she enters the information in the CAPS system, the child may start the chosen daycare that day.
Foster Parents are automatically approved for CAPS regardless of the working situation at the time.
This is an example CAPS Certificate approval letter. Click here to open.
Most daycares, especially the big chains, will not allow a child to attend daycare unless the child is entered into their system. Some will look it up to see if the child is in their system, and will allow the child to enter care without the emailed stamp of approval.
What does it mean for a kid to be in their system?
Every daycare in GA that accepts CAPS has a 4 digit code assigned to them.
This 4 digit code is assigned to the child, and this is how the daycare is able to see the children in their system.
IF YOUR CHILD WAS previously in care or had CAPS - the child may be in the CAPS system, but assigned to a different daycare which is a different four digit code.
This 4 digit code is the lock and key to getting your child assigned to Daycare.
Your child could be in the CAPS system, but if that four digit code does not match your chosen daycare, the daycare cannot see the child and does not know that the child is already approved.
Cases where this can breed confusion - Transfer from another Foster Home or from a home that had CAPS
So what do I do you ask or what do you do?
Follow up with your Social worker. - Don't be afraid to do this. They are busy and sometimes need reminders.
Ask your SW to confirm the form was submitted to Ms. Hooks and on what date and time.
If you have any delay or feel weird about it, get your RD worker to confirm the form completion and submitted date/time to Ms. Hooks. RD will help you get CAPS approved.
If they will CC: you on the email form, even better.
If they are unable to get this processed for you, go to their Supervisors to get it expedited.