For Immediate Release
October 14, 2009
Contact: Erika Monroe-Kane, Department of Children and Families, 608-266-9000
Department of Children and Families Stops Wisconsin Shares Payments to 11 More Child Care Providers
In the last week, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) has stopped Wisconsin Shares payments to 11 more child care providers. These providers were suspended from the Wisconsin Shares program as a result of suspected regulations violations and the providers will be referred to law enforcement. This is the fourth wave of suspensions since the middle of September resulting in DCF suspending a total of 99 providers.
"We are taking action everyday to stop fraud in Wisconsin Shares," stated DCF Secretary Reggie Bicha. "Now more than ever, it is important that taxpayer dollars be used to help low-income parents provide a better life for their families instead of funding the lavish lifestyles of criminals."
These suspensions are a result of new authority given DCF through a change in Wisconsin law. Information about each of the 99 suspended providers is available on the DCF website, www.dcf.wisconsin.gov. DCF has also created a RSS feed to provide updates on Wisconsin Shares suspensions. To subscribe to the feed, visit the DCF's Shares Anti-Fraud Efforts web page at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/program_integrity/default.htm.
As part of the recent budget, DCF can now suspend providers during investigations if fraud is reasonably suspected. In efforts to detect fraud, DCF is developing a system to automatically collect attendance records from child care centers receiving Shares reimbursements. The Department has also created a five person fraud detection and prevention unit that includes two former police officers and contracted with an investigative firm with expertise in public subsidy fraud investigations. In partnership with the Milwaukee District Attorney's office, DCF is co-leading a Child Care Anti-Fraud Task Force which includes representatives from the Milwaukee County Sherriff, the Department of Justice, Milwaukee County, and the FBI.
Parents whose child care provider has been suspended from receiving Wisconsin Shares payments should contact 4C in Milwaukee at 414-562-2676 or outside of Milwaukee at 800-750-5431 to assist in finding a new child care facility. For more information about 4C, visit their Web site at www.4c-milwaukee.org or www.4-c.org.
To report suspicions of fraud, call the DCF child care fraud hotline at 877-302-FRAUD or 877-302-3728 or visit the DCF website at www.dcf.wisconsin.gov to submit tips directly to fraud detection and prevention unit.
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