Georgia Launched Child Care Feedback Hotline

The DECAL Listens program provides a new 24/7 channel for residents to share child care experiences.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Child Care

Screen-print poster illustration featuring a stylized rotary telephone handset in warm colors, symbolizing a new channel for community child care feedback. — The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning has launched the DECAL Listens hotline, a new initiative to gather public input on child care to guide the allocation of $400 million in federal funding. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you trust that your state government genuinely uses public feedback to improve local services?

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning has introduced the DECAL Listens hotline to gather public input on the state child care system. This initiative will directly influence the distribution of over $400 million in federal funding.

Why it matters

State officials are seeking direct feedback to shape a Child Care Needs Assessment and ensure future financial investments align with family requirements. By collaborating with Child Trends, the department aims to integrate transparent data into its upcoming funding decisions.

Residents can call 888-222-8740 anytime to leave anonymous messages up to two minutes long. This feedback will inform a Child Care Needs Assessment conducted alongside Child Trends.

The players

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning

This state agency is responsible for meeting the needs of Georgia's children and their families through early education programs.

Child Trends

This research organization specializes in studying child development and provides nonpartisan analysis to government agencies.

The details

Callers may access the service 24 hours a day to provide input that Child Trends will independently summarize for the state. Additionally, DECAL and Child Trends are hosting regional road shows in locations including Tifton, Cartersville, Morrow, and Statesboro to gather further community perspectives.

The hotline became available for public use on October 5, 2026.
Regional DECAL road shows occur throughout October 2026.

Culture Shift

This initiative follows a pattern set by federal funding requirements that mandate state-level needs assessments before distributing discretionary child care grants. By institutionalizing direct public input, Georgia is shifting from top-down policy planning toward data-driven community advocacy.

Parents and caregivers in Georgia can now influence state policy by spending two minutes to record their thoughts on current child care accessibility. The input provided via the hotline will directly shape how hundreds of millions of dollars are invested in local facilities and services.

The takeaway

The hotline provides a simple, anonymous way for families to ensure their voices are heard in the state's budget process. Residents should prepare their feedback in advance to effectively communicate their specific needs within the two-minute message limit.