Wisconsin Shares Suspension
| Provider Name | Licensed Capacity* | Shares Authorizations* | Most Recent Monthly Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desma Harris | 0 | 7 (December, 2010) | $1,403 (December, 2010) |
*At suspension unless otherwise noted
Rationale for Reasonable Suspicion of Program Violation:
The Department of Children and Families suspended all Wisconsin Shares payments to the provider based on a reasonable suspicion that the provider violated provisions of the Wisconsin Shares program. The suspension was based upon a combination of red flags indicating a likelihood of Shares violations and the following findings from the Department’s investigation including but not limited to: 1) the provider’s failure to provide access to the child care facility during stated hours of operation; 2) the provider’s failure to maintain and submit accurate attendance records as required by the Shares program; and 3) the provider’s failure to comply with the statutes, promulgated rules, or policies of the Wisconsin Shares program.
The Department has been unable to verify the actual care of children by the facility. The Department attempted to visit the facility on 11/8/2010, 11/9/2010, 11/10/2010, and 1/5/2011 and was unsuccessful in gaining access to the facility. The unsuccessful attempt(s) to verify the presence of children attending the facility raises a strong and reasonable suspicion that the provider is billing the Wisconsin Shares program for children who did not actually attend the child care facility. On these dates the provider informed investigators she was closed due to illness, however the provider billed the Shares program for the care of five children.
The provider is certified to provide certified child care for no more than 480 hours per week (capacity 6 children, 5 days/week, open 16hours/day [6x5x16=480). During the following weeks the provider reported providing child care that exceeded 480 hours:
• 6/27/2010 622 hours of attendance billed
• 7/18/2010 518 hours of attendance billed
• 7/25/2010 518 hours of attendance billed
The Department reviewed the provider’s billing records for the identified periods of time above. Contrary to statute and rule, the provider billed the Wisconsin Shares program for more hours of care than authorized to provide according to her child care certification limit of 6 children in care at any one time during certified hours of operation. The provider billed those excessive hours for all of the weeks listed above.
The Department has evidence that the provider billed for more hours than children actually attended, billed for children who were not in attendance, and marked children in attendance on her attendance records when the children were not present.