Child Care Certification
Background on Child Care Certification
State law (s. 48.651) requires counties/tribes to certify providers who receive public funding but are exempt from the licensing law. DCF promulgates rules establishing standards for the certification of child care providers and contracts certification functions to local counties and tribes. DCF Milwaukee Early Care Administration administers certification in Milwaukee County. Most counties have made certification available for all family day care providers, whether or not public funding is involved.
Benefits of Child Care Certification
- Provider is able to care for Wisconsin Shares subsidized children
- Provider may participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
- Provider may get parent referrals from Child Care Resource and Referral Agency
Brochures on Child Care Regulations
Your
Guide to Regulated Child Care - Summary of the Child Care Rules -
English- Hmong: Koj Cov Lus Qhia Rau Kev Zov Me Nyuam Muaj Txoj Cai Tswj- Koj cov ntsiab lus ntawm kev zov me nyuam cov cai
- Spanish: Su guia para el cuidado infantil regulado - Su resumen sobre las normas del cuidado infantil
Your Child Care - Is it Legal? - Information that will help you determine whether a child care center must be licensed.
- Hmong: Qhov Zov Me Nyuam Rau Koj - Puas Raws Cai?
- Spanish: Su programa de cuidado infantil - ¿es legal?
Certification related rules and statutes
- DCF 202 - Child Care Certification
- DHS 12 - Caregiver Law (Previously HFS 12)
- Chapter 48 - Children's Code (48.651 and 48.685 pertains to certification)
- Chapter 68 - Municipal Administrative Procedure - appeal process
- Vehicle Safety Alarm Requirements
Caregiver Law - Effective 2/1/10
2009 Wisconsin Act 76 changed the background check process for certified providers. Below are resources with detailed information on the changes:
- Summary of the new law
- List of Serious Offenses
- Short Summary on the Caregiver Law
- Frequently Asked Questions - CBC Requirements for Child Care Centers (includes FAQs pertaining to both certified and licensed programs)
Certification Group Size Estimator
The Group Size Estimator is a tool that will help the user understand when a certified provider’s day care schedule may be in violation of the State of Wisconsin child care certification rules.
Provider Memos (Certification and Licensing)
This page lists memos that have been mailed to providers.
Additional information on Child Care Regulations
Child Care Certification Forms
Forms Repository includes certification forms.
Operation Memos
Subscribe to the Operation Memos List Serve to receive the most recent updates.. An archive of published memos is also available.
Caregiver Law related sites
- Caregiver Manual
- Wisconsin Circuit Court Access
- Crime Information Bureau (DOJ)
- Out-of-State Record Checks (DOJ)
- FBI Checks (DOJ)
YoungStar
- YoungStar Home
-
YoungStar and Wisconsin Shares
webpage
To help parents understand what the YoungStar ratings mean, DCF has developed a Reading the Stars brochure that may be shared with parents. Hard copies are available to counties by contacting YoungStar staff at DCF
Other Child Care Related Links
Wisconsin
- Booster Seat Law (June 1, 2006)
- DHS Bureau of Communicable Diseases
- Carbon Monoxide Related Resources:
- Take Control of Carbon Monoxide in Your Home
- Smoke Alarms - Saves Lives and Property - CO Alarms
- Department of Health Services Information on Carbon Monoxide
National links
- ADA and Child Care
- Allergy and Asthma Network
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Center for Infectious Diseases - Childhood Diseases
- Child Care Law Center
- Kids in Danger
- National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome
- National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC)
- National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care
- National SIDS and Infant Death Support Center