› Group Child Care Find Child Care steps Expression of Interest Preparation for Pre-Licensing Pre-Licensing Process Application Process Next Page: Application Process 75% Complete Completing the Pre-Licensing Process Información en español Completing the pre-licensing process prepares you to tackle every aspect of building a successful group child care program, everything from readying your location and hiring qualified staff to developing clear policies for doing business. Scroll down for a brief overview of the pre-licensing process. Study the Licensing Rule Book for Family Child Care Brush up on the rules of licensing a group child care center by reading the DCF 251 Licensing Rules for Group Child Care Centers with Commentary. Review the Initial Licensing Checklist - Group Child Care Centers to understand the latest requirements and prepare to work with a pre-licensing technical consultant. Prepare and Maintain a Safe Environment Make Sure Your Building Meets Licensing Requirements Ask your municipality about local zoning laws and if you need additional permits to operate your business. If your child care program is not located in a private residence, then it must meet Wisconsin building codes. See administrative code DCF 251.06 (1) for Wisconsin building code details. We recommend using our voluntary building inspection report to document that your building meets requirements. Hoping to make building modifications? Ask your municipality or local zoning authorities about building plan reviews. If your center gets its water from a private well, you will need to request a well inspection and water test. Administrative code DCF 251.06 (6) provides more details about water system requirements. For more information on water tests, visit the Department of Natural Resources website. Find a Safe Business Location The Choose Safe Places Program is a free service that helps child care providers find safe locations for new child care facilities. Complete the Voluntary Property Checklist for Child Care Providers for a free virtual assessment of your child care center's proposed location. The Choose Safe Places Program will look for environmental hazards and e-mail you a report with their findings and recommendations. Get Liability Insurance for Your Business Anyone who operates a regulated child care facility must have liability insurance in case of property damage or bodily injury. Read Wisconsin administrative code DCF 251.04 (2) (g) for more details. If you offer transportation or if animals are accessible to children in care at your child care program's location, you may also need liability coverage for your vehicles or pets. Ensure Your Vehicle is Ready If you are offering transportation, you will need vehicle insurance on the vehicles that will be transporting children in your care. A safety alarm is required for all vehicles owned, leased, or contracted by the center with a seating capacity of six or more passengers. For more information on vehicle safety alarms, including an online training video, read the "Transportation and Vehicles" section on DCF's Child Care Regulation Information for Providers webpage. A vehicle inspection will take place prior to licensure. Outfit Your Program with Useful Supplies and Equipment Not sure what equipment, furnishings, and supplies you will need? Visit the Child Care Information Center's Resource Materials webpage. Explore the Benefits of YoungStar Participation Consider increasing your program's enrollment numbers by serving families who are eligible for financial assistance through the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program. Providers who want to accept Wisconsin Shares subsidy payments must participate in YoungStar, Wisconsin's child care quality rating and improvement system. YoungStar offers free support to providers like, training, coaching, and professional development. Providers who receive 4 or 5 Star ratings on the YoungStar Quality Rating and Improvement System and who care for children enrolled in the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program are also eligible for quality adjustment payments. Develop a Business Model Preparing a Business Plan Make sure your budget includes operation costs, as well as permits and other fees. Preparing a business plan is highly recommended, but it is not a requirement of licensing. Make sure your budget includes operation costs, as well as permits and other fees. Review administrative code DCF 251.06 for physical premises and building requirements to see if you need to make any changes before obtaining a license. Outline Your Program's Policies and Procedures Your program's policies and procedures should be detailed so that both staff and parents know what to expect. Review the Policy Checklist - Group Child Care Centers to get started. Use DCF's Policy Sample - Group Child Care Centers as a template or an example for developing your own document. Consider creating a written contract between your center and the parents you serve. While this is not a requirement for licensing, it is a requirement if your program is going to accept families who use Wisconsin Shares. Make a Staff Orientation Plan Follow the orientation requirements outline in administrative code DCF 251.05 (4) (a) for all employees, volunteers, and substitutes before they start working with children in your care. Make sure emergency backup providers receive the orientation materials listed in administration code CF 251.05 (4) (b). Read administrative code DCF 251.08 (4) (b) to prepare those members of your program who transport children. Manage Staffing and Administration Meet Wisconsin's Educational Requirements Review the minimum educational requirements detailed in administrative code DCF 251.05 (3) to ensure you and your staff are qualified to provide family child care. A certificate from the Wisconsin Registry documenting that the person has met the educational qualifications for the position under sub. (3) is required if the person has worked as a teacher, director, or administrator at the center for at least six months. Visit the Child Care Regulation Information for Providers webpage for training resources. Explore DCF's Child Care Foundational Trainings. These noncredit courses will meet any of the educational requirements for certified and licensed child care programs. Complete All Required Background Checks Any person working with children or living in a residence where family child care is provided must complete a Background Check Request (BCR) form. This is completed as part of the Online Application process, but a paper form is also available. Adults must complete a fingerprint background check. You must receive confirmation of your eligibility before your program license will be granted. Anyone wanting a rehabilitation review must submit an application to begin the process. Applications are found on this website and may also be requested by contacting the Rehabilitation Review Coordinator at 608-422-7041 or DCFMBRehab@wisconsin.gov. Individuals can submit a Background Check Request through the iChildCare Portal before applying for their child care license. Wisconsin's Caregiver Law may require that a person be barred from operating, working, or residing in a regulated child care center because of certain crimes, acts or offenses. Some offenses will allow an individual to request and undergo a rehabilitation review, which allows the caregiver or resident to give evidence that the person is not likely to do what led to the convictions or findings again and clients will be safe under the person's care. Visit the Child Care Background Unit (CBU) webpage or review DCF's Background Check Checklist for more information. Arrange a Physical Exam for Every Provider Physical exams within the past year are required for every person who works directly with the children in your care, except volunteers. The exam ensures your staff are physically able to work with young children and are free from illnesses that could harm a child's health. See Wisconsin administrative code DCF 251.05 (2) (a) 3 for more information on staff exams. Maintain Complete Files for Children and Staff You'll need to maintain written records for every child enrolled in your child care program, including your own children under age 7. Licensees are also required to maintain a file for each provider, employee, volunteer, and substitute working in your child care program. See the Required Items for Group Child Care Centers in Appendix D Resources List in the DCF 251 Licensing Rules for Group Child Care Centers with Commentary manual for a list of required documents. Visit DCF's Child Care Licensing Forms and Publications to download copies of the forms you'll need.
