The Stories Behind the “Asks”

By GEEARS’ Research & Policy Team  

When we craft our policy agenda each year, we choose our priorities based on countless considerations.  

• We champion policies that will affect a wide swath of the state’s birth-five population. Multi-year continuous Medicaid eligibility, for instance, would benefit all of Georgia’s Medicaid-covered children, ages zero to three. Nearly 50% of our state’s young children are covered by Medicaid. 

• We also prioritize policies that improve children’s lives in the present and invest in their future. That’s why we’re pushing for expanded access to Georgia’s wildly successful Pre-K program, such as by implementing a pilot program for three-year-olds. And because early intervention increases the likelihood of success in the K-12 system and long-term self-sufficiency, we are asking for more financial support for Babies Can’t Wait and the Georgia Home Visiting Program.  

• Our policy recommendations are also popular among Georgia voters. A 2023 GEEARS poll found that more than 70% of Georgia voters support using a portion of the state’s budget surplus for early childhood education and health programs.  

• But the biggest influence on our agenda is the people who are impacted by policy decision: Georgia children ages birth through five, their hard-working families, and the professionals who educate and care for them.  

They are the true experts on what their children need the most. That’s why we work so hard to produce another annual tradition—Strolling Thunder—to amplify family voices.  

As part of Strolling Thunder, parents and other stakeholders deliver letters to their elected officials. These messages are filled with touching stories and galvanizing facts. They’re informed by real experiences shaped by today’s tough economy, child care challenges, and pervasive early childhood issues like diaper need.  

As you’ll see, the messages in these letters echo our Policy Agenda and our Agenda echoes the letters. The letters, written from the hearts and experiences of families, are a testament to the importance of our work. Read on for some of the stories behind our collective “asks.”   

Improve Access to Quality Child Care  

One solution to unaffordable or inaccessible child care? Support both working families and early educators by making a meaningful investment in the scholarships provided by Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program.  

“After digging myself in a financial rut attempting to pay daycare costs, I have accumulated so much debt that I am behind on all my bills, even facing foreclosure of my home. I still have to work and travel and we have to rely on my ailing grandmother to watch the children while we both work.  

“I feel early learning is so important for children especially as they develop social skills. My daughter now has separation anxiety from both parents and has some difficulty in social settings as she is no longer familiar with the interacting with other children in a childcare setting. 

“I ask for the expansion of affordable child care through CAPS and an expansion to working parents as well. I can sympathize for low-income families who utilize the CAPS program, because they are truly deserving of it. However, the middle class is struggling during this time where cost of living is rising but salaries and wages aren’t rising as fast.” —A South Fulton mom 

 “While working in schools, I’ve seen my colleagues struggle to pay for their own families’ needs. My co-teacher, a veteran educator who has taught pre-K for over a decade, is considering leaving the field to pursue a job that could pay her enough to provide for her three-year-old daughter. We were talking about what she would do if she won the lottery. She said she would pay for a YMCA membership for her husband and daughter and send her daughter to a school that can accommodate her developmental disability. It made me so sad that this talented woman who can teach multiplication and the water cycle to four-year-olds and instantly calm a tantrum would have to leave teaching to provide for her family’s basic needs.” —An Atlanta early educator 

Strengthen Georgia’s Pre-K 

Georgia’s Lottery-funded Pre-K Program has been wildly successful for our state’s four-year-olds. To expand access, Georgia should consider piloting a “3–K” program for three-year-olds, giving these little ones an even stronger launch into their K-12 years.   

“When I taught elementary school, I knew from the first day which of my students had had the benefit of the Georgia Pre-K program at our school or at a child care center. They were the happiest, and most comfortable at school and ready to learn and meet every challenge they faced. My hope is for every child in Georgia to have access to that type of quality early childhood education. 

“I ask that you advocate this term for greater investment in the CAPS program, for a child tax credit and especially for funding for Pre-K and even 3K for every child in Georgia.  It will make a world of difference for them, their families and their teachers.” —A Fulton County educator 

Ensure Stable Health Coverage for Young Children and Parents 

When babies covered by Medicaid can maintain continuous eligibility from birth through age three, a critical period of development, they don’t risk missing doctor visits, immunizations, and screenings.  

“We applied for medical assistance through Georgia Gateway in April 2023, but our application is still processing, and our youngest children have yet to be granted medical insurance. In the meantime, we have had to pay out of pocket for [my child’s]appointments and therapies while awaiting healthcare coverage. The financial strain of covering these essential services has been significant, yet delaying them is not an option when early intervention is so critical. No family should have to choose between financial stability and getting their child the care they desperately need.” —A McDonough mom 

Invest in Maternal and Child Health 

Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) and the Georgia Home Visiting Program are critical bolsters for the health and mental health of parents and young children. Yet, essential members of the BCW workforce are underpaid and Home Visiting is not currently eligible for Medicaid reimbursement. Investing in these crucial programs will make our state’s babies and families safer and healthier. 

“As we strive to provide the best for our daughter and all children in our community, I urge our state legislators to consider measures that will enhance support for young children and their families through increased access to essential services. Specifically, I call for expanded funding and resources like the Babies Can’t Wait program, which is crucial for children with developmental delays.  

“Access to these services can be life-changing, offering early intervention that significantly improves developmental outcomes. However, to truly meet the needs of eligible families across our state, we must ensure that the workforce for programs like Babies Can’t Wait is robust and adequately resourced. This entails not only recruiting and training additional providers but also retaining them through competitive compensation and professional development opportunities.  

“By strengthening this critical workforce, we can ensure that every child, regardless of their circumstances, receives the early support they need to thrive. Investing in our youngest citizens is an investment in the future of our community, fostering healthier, more resilient families and contributing to a stronger, more equitable society for all.” —A Grovetown dad 

Support the Financial Well-Being of Families 

During these difficult economic times, Georgia must introduce or update programs that help families get by. We advocate for a state child tax credit, a more accessible TANF program, and elimination of the state sales tax on diapers. 

“It felt like an anvil on my chest; here we were preparing for the most joyous chapter in our lives, all while the realities of the rising cost of groceries, an outrageous monthly rate for childcare providers, and looming hospital bills hung over our heads. I still feel guilty about my son’s newborn months being consumed by worry about logistics, finances, and trying to find work.  

“I believe a better reality exists; one in which expecting parents can depend on their community and state leaders to support them in times of need. There are so many opportunities to lighten the load on young families, but I’m asking you to prioritize investing in TANF and consider enacting a state tax credit to help families make ends meet.  

“I dream of a community where parents can be fully present with their families, not split in two as many of us are—physically present, but internally worrying about making ends meet or what will have to be sacrificed until the next pay period.” —An Avondale Estates mom 

Improve Access to Paid Family Leave 

All new parents deserve access to paid family leave to care for a new child. Georgia has helped to increase access by providing six weeks of paid leave to its nearly 300,000 state employees, including public school teachers. We hope that Georgia lawmakers will continue to expand access to this critical support for families in partnership with the private sector. 

“Despite having both a bachelor’s and master’s degree and working as a Clinical Supervisor in social work while pursuing my LCSW, I find myself in a difficult position—one that so many working parents experience. My job does not offer paid maternity leave, which means I will have to take unpaid time off to recover from childbirth and care for my newborn. While I have worked hard to build a stable career, I still do not qualify for state assistance because I “make too much,” yet the reality of lost income for weeks or even months puts a tremendous financial strain on my family. It is disheartening to know that, despite dedicating my career to helping others, I am left without the same level of support when I need it most.  

“Welcoming a child should be a time of joy and connection, not one overshadowed by financial stress and uncertainty. Paid parental leave is not just a benefit—it is a necessity. No parent should have to choose between caring for their newborn and maintaining their livelihood. A statewide paid leave policy would ensure that parents—regardless of their employer—have the time they need to recover from childbirth, bond with their child, and establish a strong foundation for their family without the fear of financial ruin.” —A Lawrenceville mom