Wisconsin's Licensed Child Care Programs

The child care licensing program is a component of the services provided by Department of Children and Families. The program is accountable for the statewide licensure of Wisconsin's child care facilities, including family child care, group child care and day camps. The purpose of the program is to promote the health, safety and welfare of children in licensed child care. The Department ensures that licensing requirements are met through on-going inspections of child care facilities.

Under Wisconsin law, no person may provide care and supervision for 4 or more children under the age of 7 for less than 24 hours a day unless that person obtains a license to operate a child care center from the Department.

• Caregiver Background Law
  • Follow-up to BECR Memo 2009-06 issued 1/8/10
    • Return Form - Shares Authorization issued 1/8/10
    • Background Information Disclosure Form
    • Updated Caregiver Background Checks Crimes Table updated 1/4/10
  • Changes to the Caregiver Background Law Memo issued 12/7/09
• Vehicle Safety Alarm Requirements issued 07/2/09
• Vehicle Safety Alarm Information updated 08/09
• Transporting Children Safely Memo
• H1N1 Flu (Swine flu) Information
• Revisions to Day Camp Licensing Rules
• Revisions to Family & Group Child Care Licensing Rules effective 01/01/09
• Child Care Licensing Overview
• Information for Providers
• Information for Parents
• Summary Reports 2008
• Child Care Directories updated 01/10
• Licensing Collaborative Child Care Programs (PFS-4085) (PDF 46 kb)

Last Revised: January 14, 2010