February 17 Child Care Provider Updates During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Division of Early Care and Education (DECE) will send updates to everyone who has subscribed to the DCF Child Care listserv. Child Care Counts Deadline February 18 – Only Two Days Left to Apply/Update! Time is running out to apply/update your information for the February Child Care Counts program. The deadline is Friday, February 18 at 11:59 p.m. If you need assistance, please email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov. If you are unable to email, please leave your detailed message at 608-535-3650. Don’t wait until the last minute to request assistance! It may take up to 24 hours to receive a response from the call center. The call center is experiencing high call volumes. We will respond to your question as soon as possible. Email is recommended for a faster response. Please be sure to include your provider ID, location number, and details about your question when calling or emailing. Call center hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. If you applied for the Child Care Counts: Stabilization Payment Program during the January Application/Update Week, you must complete monthly updates to number of children and staff employed during the Application/Update Week, per the Terms and Conditions of the program. If your application(s) status is “Review Needed” this means that you have not completed your update/review. The application status should show as “Submitted” for any applications that have been reviewed and updated as needed during Update Week. Here’s some tips to help you with your new application or updates to your current Child Care Counts information. Is your correct email address in the Provider Portal? DCF may send important Child Care Counts information via email. Check your email address to ensure you have correctly entered it while you are updating your application this week! Review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) including FAQs about YoungStar Quality Incentive payments through Child Care Counts. See our helpful videos and resource guides in the Resources and Guides section to help you complete or update your Child Care Counts Interested in learning more about WEESSN resources? Check “Yes” for the Find out more about WEESSN question in your Child Care Counts DCF will share your contact information with WEESSN and you’ll be contacted in the future. See recent Child Care Provider Updates for details. Spending Tool Use the Spending Tool keep track of how you spend funds received from the Child Care Counts: Stabilization Payment Program. Reminder:Funds received under this program must be spent within 120 days of the date of Payment Letter for the given month. Have questions while updating your application? See our Resources section for videos, application guides, and tools for answers to your questions. Please log-in to your Child Care Provider Portal account immediately and complete your review/update. The update window closes Friday, February 18 at 11:59 p.m. See the Child Care Counts Calendar for future Count and Application Weeks. Child Care Counts Información en español. DCF is Hiring – Bureau of Early Care Regulation Director DCF is recruiting to fill a Bureau of Early Care Regulation (BECR) Director position. DCF offers great benefits for all permanent positions, personal growth opportunities, and work-life balance. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, February 28, 2022. Public Input Requested for the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards Review Process The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), in partnership DCF and DHS, has started a review of the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS). DPI has a transparent and comprehensive process for reviewing and revising the WMELS. The process began with a Notice of Intent to Review and a month-long public comment period which began on January 24, 2022, and ends on March 2, 2022. Public input will be captured via an online Public Input Survey. The State Superintendent’s Academic Standards Review Council will examine the comments received from the Public Input Survey on March 23, 2022; and recommend whether to revise or develop those standards. More information can be found on DPI’s Early Childhood WMELS website. Questions about the WMELS review process can be emailed to earlylearning.standards@dpi.wi.gov. Complete Your Cost of Care Survey Today – Deadline April 30 You recently received a Cost of Care survey from your CCR&R. Please fill out your survey ASAP. The survey deadline is April 30. We need this information to better understand the costs associated with providing child care. Got questions? Contact your local CCR&R. How to Support Children’s Well-Being through COVID-19 Grief From deaths of loved ones to loss of rituals and routines, children and youth have experienced many types of loss during the pandemic. Attending to a young person’s grief helps them heal and become healthier and more resilient moving forward. The Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health announced the publication of a new fact sheet Supporting Child Well-Being through COVID-19 Grief detailing what our parents, schools, communities, and policymakers can do to make a difference. For more information on issues and topics affecting children's mental health in Wisconsin see these fact sheets.
