Child Care Foundational Training New Child Care Foundational Trainings Now Available! The new and updated Foundational Child Care Trainings are now available. Many of the previous courses were nearly 20 years old and DCF wants to ensure that: We are providing individuals looking to enter the child care field with the most updated information, and All individuals entering the field are receiving consistent, high-quality trainings with real-time feedback and discussion with instructors and peers. The Child Care Foundational Trainings include the following noncredit trainings: Introduction to the Child Care Profession Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care Fundamentals of Family Child Care Principles of Child Care Certification See the Wisconsin Registry Statewide Training Calendar for the list of agencies currently offering these updated courses. Spring 2025 Train-the-Trainer Events We are excited to announce the Spring 2025 CCFT Train-the-Trainer session will be held in Wisconsin Dells at the Chula Vista Resort, Monday April 28 through Thursday May 1. Registration is now open on the Registry's Statewide Training Calendar. Registration starts at 8:30 daily for each event, with the training starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. Participants will have a one-hour lunch break, with additional short breaks throughout the day. Monday, April 28: Fundamentals for Infant and Toddler Care with Amy Alt Tuesday, April 29: Fundamentals of Family Child Care with Kelly Matthews Wednesday, April 30: Introduction to the Child Care Profession with Terryl Wheelock Thursday, May 1: Skills & Strategies to the Child Care Profession with Terryl Wheelock As a reminder, there are requirements to be a CCFT Trainer. To attend these events, you must be: Tier 3 Trainer status Have a Training Sponsor Organization (TSO) Sign the CCFT TSO and Trainer Agreement Completed the AHT Prevention Train-the-Trainer session to offer Introduction & Infant/Toddler CCFT course Completed the CCFT What You Need to Know webinar Trainer Resources CCFT Trainer Requirements, please check the CCFT Instructor Approval Process WI Registry’s Child Care Foundational Training (CCFT) Instructor Approval Process Tier 3 Trainer Requirements: T-Tap Requirements Chart Registration ends March 28, 2025; secure your spot today! Learn more about starting a licensed child care program. Watch our informational videos and share them with others who may be interested in learning more about the revised Child Care Foundational Trainings. Learn more about CCFTs. We're excited to share the new CCFTs with you! Watch the video. What are the CCFTs? The CCFTs are for anyone looking to enter the child care profession. Watch the video. What do the revisions mean for providers? ECE professionals will be better supported to provide the high-quality learning environments children need to succeed. Watch the video. Why did we revise the CCFTs? The revised training gives you the most up-to-date, evidence-based, and high-quality practices you need to succeed. Watch the video. Find more information in the FAQs below. General Questions Regarding the Child Care Foundational Trainings Who are the Child Care Foundational Trainings meant for? The Child Care Foundational Trainings (CCFT) are for any individuals looking to enter the child care workforce. These entry-level, department-approved noncredit courses will meet any of the educational requirements for certified and licensed child care programs. Are these trainings different from the department-approved noncredit, entry-level trainings? No. The Child Care Foundational Trainings are the department-approved noncredit, entry-level trainings for early childhood care and education professionals. Will I get credit for completing these trainings?No, the foundational trainings are noncredit trainings that meet most of the educational qualifications for certification and licensing. Why did DCF update the trainings?The noncredit foundational trainings were created in 2003-2005, and only one of the four had been updated since then, meaning most of the training materials were almost 20 years old. To ensure that we are providing individuals looking to enter the child care field with the most updated information, we created this CCFT project to revise the training curricula. What are the new delivery methods for Child Care Foundational Trainings?Trainings are offered in blended and face-to-face formats. Face-to-face includes both in-person and virtual platforms, such as Zoom, Skype, Teams, etc. Blended means training time is split between face-to-face and web-based (online) instruction. Will correspondence coursework still be offered?No. Correspondence coursework is no longer be offered as of December 31, 2024. Why has DCF changed the method of delivery for these trainings?DCF wants to ensure all individuals entering the field are receiving consistent, high-quality trainings with real-time feedback and discussion with instructors and peers. Updating delivery methods, including adding a blended option, will meet DCF’s goal while still ensuring trainings are accessible to individuals. Are any of the trainings prerequisites for other trainings?No, trainings are not required to be completed in a specific order. However, DCF recommends the trainings be taken in the following order: What are the hours for each training? Introduction to the Child Care Profession: 50 hours Skills and Strategies for the Early Childhood Education Teacher: 50 hours Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care: 50 hours Fundamentals of Family Child Care: 30 hours Principles of Child Care Certification: 50 hours Why have the hours changed for these trainings?The care and learning opportunities children experience in their first five years are critical for healthy brain development and there is a lot of information providers need to know. As we have worked on this project over the last year, we have realized that we could not fit all of the important information individuals need to build a strong foundation in the ECE field with shorter trainings. Since the revised curricula include Wisconsin Model of Early Learning Standards (WMELS) content, will these foundational trainings give credit towards WMELS training?No. While these trainings provide a good foundation and include many connections to the WMELS, they do not cover all the content and learning objectives from the full 15-20-hour training. To get credit for completing a WMELS training, individuals would need to complete the full 15-20-hour WMELS training or an approved higher education course where all the learning objectives are covered. Will these trainings affect my YoungStar rating?No. YoungStar education requirements for 3, 4, and 5 Star providers are based on an individual’s credit-based education through their Wisconsin Registry Career Level. Will these trainings be offered in languages other than English?Yes. The foundational trainings are available in Spanish and Hmong. However, availability of these trainings depends on multilingual trainer availability to offer these trainings. If I took the old foundational trainings, do I need to retake the revised trainings?No. If you successfully completed the old trainings, you will not be required to retake the revised trainings. Old trainings will still meet regulation requirements if completed before December 31, 2024. How will individuals enroll for the blended courses?Individuals will enroll using the Wisconsin Registry’s online registration system. When events are posted on the statewide training calendar, a student will be able to register right from there. Training Sponsoring Organizations (TSOs) will work with Registry staff to set up their online registration which includes where they want the training fee to be deposited. How often will the foundational trainings be revised?The foundational trainings will be reviewed at least every five years and revisions made where necessary. Trainer-Specific Questions Trainer Qualifications How does a Training Sponsoring Organization (TSO) become an approved CCFT TSO?Each TSO interested in offering the CCFT will need to first become a Wisconsin Registry approved TSO. As the TSO goes through the Wisconsin Registry approval process, the TSO can request to become a CCFT TSO by reviewing and signing a CCFT TSO Agreement.More information about that process can be found on the Wisconsin Registry’s website. What are the requirements to train for these courses? Initial Requirements Ongoing Requirements Work for or contract with a Wisconsin Registry approved CCFT TSO Tier 3 Trainer Endorsement from the Wisconsin Registry Approved AHT trainer, for those interested in teaching the Intro to the Child Care Profession and Infant and Toddler courses Two years of experience in an ECE program working directly with children Complete the Train-the-Trainer events Sign a CCFT Trainer Agreement through the Wisconsin Registry for using the DCF trainings Participate in the Community of Practice and attend at least one event per year. Teach each training for which the trainer is approved at least once every two years. Remain in good standing with DCF* *For trainers who are also child care providers, directors, administrators, or licensees: The trainer and the child care program where they are the provider, director, administrator, and/or licensee must be in good standing with DCF to maintain their CCFT trainer approval. Good standing will be determined by a thorough review of regulatory status, background check compliance, Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy program integrity issues, and any unpaid debt due to DCF. To be considered in “good standing,” providers must not be under CPS investigation or DCF investigation which may lead to revocation, suspension, or denial of a license or certification, or termination from the Wisconsin Shares program. DCF will conduct quarterly “good standing” checks on all trainers who are also providers, directors, administrators, or licensees of a child care program. Can I request an exception for any of the trainer requirements? Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis to meet the needs of a specific training participant population with identified language or geographical barriers who would otherwise be unable to attend a CCFT training. If DCF determines that a situation has resolved and the approved trainer is no longer needed to meet the needs of a specific population, the exception may be withdrawn, and the trainer will be removed from the active trainer list. Further, DCF will only grant exceptions to the following trainer requirements: Tier 3 Trainer Endorsement from the Wisconsin Registry Approved AHT trainer, for those interested in teaching the Intro to the Child Care Profession and Infant and Toddler courses Two years of experience in an ECE program working directly with childrenTo request an exception, please fill out the Child Care Foundational Training Trainer Qualifications Exception Request (DCF F-5769) form and follow the instructions for submitting. Do the Train-the-Trainer events cover all four trainings?Yes, the Train-the-Trainer events will cover all four trainings. Each foundational training will be covered on a separate day, so trainers will be able to determine which events they need to participate in depending on which trainings they want to be approved for. When will the Train-the-Trainer be scheduled for the revised Child Care Foundational Trainings?Train-the-trainer events generally take place in spring and fall each year. As details become available about these events, it is shared on DCF’s Child Care Listserv and the Registry’s listserv. How can I register for the train-the-trainer events?Registration will be sent to qualified trainers who have updated their WI Registry trainer profile to show that they would like to become a CCFT trainer. Individuals who are not qualified trainers are not eligible to attend the CCFT Train-the-Trainer events. Can a trainer be trained and approved for only one training?Yes, trainers will be able to choose which of the four foundational trainings they want to be approved for. This will be included as part of the application through the Wisconsin Registry. Will agencies be granted training approval, or will the individual trainers be granted approval?Both training agencies and individual trainers will need to be approved through the Wisconsin Registry. Are currently approved trainers automatically allowed to train these courses?No. All trainers interested in teaching the foundational trainings will be required to go through the new trainer approval process. What is the time line for a trainer to be marked “inactive?”All time lines for inactivity are calculated from the end date of the most recent training or event. See examples below:Inactivity due to lack of training: A trainer must teach a course within a two-year time span. For example, Trainer X offers Introduction to the Early Child Care Profession, which ends August 6, 2024, and does not offer it again. They will be marked “inactive” on August 7, 2026.Inactivity due to failure to participate in a Community of Practice (CoP): A trainer must participate annually with a CoP event. For example, Trainer Y attends a CoP virtual event on April 7, 2025, but does not participate again. They will be marked “inactive” on April 8, 2026. How can we check a trainer’s active or inactive status?The department and the Wisconsin Registry are evaluating the best option for this type of list; more detail will be available in the future. Over the course of two years of activity, do trainers need to offer all four trainings, or can they specialize in one training?Trainers will need to offer each of the trainings for which they are approved. Trainers will indicate on the Wisconsin Registry’s trainer application which of the four trainings they would like to offer. Are there other ways for trainers to get re-authorized to train these trainings?If a trainer becomes inactive for failing to teach the trainings at least once every two years, for failing to participate in the community of practice, or not renewing their Wisconsin Registry trainer requirements, they will be placed on an inactive list. To become an active trainer again, it depends on the length of time a trainer has been inactive. If a trainer has been inactive for two years or less, they will need to participate in a Community of Practice event to become active again.Example: Trainer A offers the Intro training on March 15, 2025, but does not offer it again. On March 15, 2027, they will be placed on an inactive list for failing to offer the trainings every two years. Trainer A decides in June 2029 that they want to offer the Intro training again. To become active again, they must attend a Community of Practice event prior to teaching the training. If a trainer has been inactive for more than 2 years, they will need to go through the trainer approval process again.Example: Trainer B offers the Infant and Toddler training on June 8, 2026, but does not offer it again for the next two years. On June 8, 2027, Trainer B is placed on an inactive list. In August 2029, Trainer B wants to begin offering the Infant and Toddler training again; to become an active trainer, Trainer B will need to reapply through the Wisconsin Registry to become an approved CCFT trainer, attend a Train-the-Trainer event, and begin participating in the Community of Practice. Community of Practice Questions Will there be four different Communities of Practice?No, there will only be one Community of Practice (CoP) for all four foundational trainings. Once the CoP gets started, the group can provide feedback about the potential for training-specific check-ins between the two large group meetings held each year. Will the Community of Practice be held virtually or in-person?The first CoP will be held in person to encourage networking and collaboration. The format of future CoP meetings will be determined at a later date. Subsidies Is there funding available for the Child Care Foundational Trainings?Yes, funding is available for the revised trainings only. DCF is making subsidies available to Training Sponsoring Organizations (TSOs) that offer the revised trainings. TSOs will charge $50 or less and DCF will subsidize the trainings for those who complete the courses. Please note, TSOs may choose not to participate in the subsidies program and might charge full cost to participants. How will I know whether a training agency is participating in the subsidized training program?Training agencies will only be able to charge up to $50 in order to receive DCF subsidies. If a training agency is charging more than that, they cannot participate. High School Specific Questions Do high school staff who wish to teach these DCF Child Care Foundational Trainings to high school students need to meet the trainer qualifications to do so?Yes, all trainers will need to meet these requirements. If a high school teacher wants to offer these trainings but does not meet the requirements, they could partner with an approved training agency and trainer to offer the trainings to their students. In that scenario, the approved trainer will be the one delivering the materials and responsible for the training. Contact Information Who can we contact to with further questions about the Foundational Trainings? General information on the foundational trainings: DCFDECECCTraining@wisconsin.gov Finding a training: Wisconsin Registry Statewide Training Calendar Assistance with signing up for a training: support@wiregistry.org Concerns about a specific trainer or training event: support@wiregistry.org Technical issues with the current trainings: CCFT Materials Issue Tracker How to become an approved Training Sponsoring Organization (TSO): Wisconsin Registry’s TSO website CCFT Trainer qualifications: DCF’s CCFT website, under Trainer Specific Questions Historical Background In early 2022, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) created a workgroup to review the noncredit Child Care Foundational Trainings (CCFT) with a goal to ensure the content was accurate, relevant, and represented a diverse, equitable, and inclusive lens. In June 2022, DCF and our training organization partners began offering free Child Care Foundational Trainings in response to the workforce shortage in child care. The funding for these free Child Care Foundational Trainings closed May 31, 2023. As of the close of this free program, 9,184 individuals completed the free trainings.
