The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) announced that it has created the Thriving Child Care Business Academy of free online training to help providers enhance their business and financial management skills.

Through the Thriving Child Care Business Academy, owners and administrators can receive training in best business management practices,   much like the training they receive in best early childhood education practices on other platforms.

“Over the past two years, DECAL has distributed $1.6 billion in federal financial supports to help child care providers mitigate the negative business impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs. “We created the Thriving Child Care Business Academy to be an additional industry support that helps providers acquire the knowledge, skills, and tools to become financially self-sustaining as those federal funding programs end.”

All of the academy’s training and resources will be free and open to Georgia child care business owners and administrators. They will be able to access the offerings through the DECAL website beginning in late September 2023. The training will be delivered live, online by approved trainers, covering topics in planning and budgeting; financial accounting and tax preparation; organizational leadership; staff recruitment and retention, enrollment management; and marketing—all tailored to the child care business setting. Participants will be able to register for basic business education presented in large-group virtual trainings, focused instruction on single topics taught in small study groups, and guided in-depth technical assistance delivered through individual coaching.

The training will include topics, information, and examples for both center-based and home-based businesses; and some of the large group trainings will be offered in English and Spanish. Additionally, the academy will include a library of more than 50 bilingual guides on various business and financial topics for downloading and self-study. Participants who successfully complete the live training in large- and small-group settings can earn state-approved training hours. Those who complete a full small-group training series can also earn a stipend.

The training and materials offered through the Academy have been developed by Civitas Strategies, a national management consultancy, the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center at Valdosta State University (UGA SBDC), and the National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance. Training will be led by state-approved trainers from Civitas, UGA SBDC, and Georgia Resource and Referral Agencies.

For more information, visit the Academy website at https://www.decal.ga.gov/Thriving.