March 3 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: New Spending Tool Resource! A new Spending Tool Training Video is now available. View this step-by-step Spending Tool training video to learn tips and tricks for organizing and tracking how you spend your Child Care Counts funds. You may download the Spending Tool Excel spreadsheet (see Tools Section on the Child Care Counts webpage) to help you keep track of how you spent Child Care Counts funds. Reminder: Project Growth Applications are Open and Webinars are Available Project Growth is helping Wisconsin businesses, communities, and child care partners add services, find solutions, and innovate through two new grant programs. Partner Up! Grant Program The Partner Up! grant program will provide funding to support partnerships between businesses who purchase slots at existing regulated child care providers, with matched funding from DCF. Learn more and apply for Partner Up! Dream Up! Child Care Supply-Building Grant Program The Dream Up! grants will offer support to 30 communities around the state over the next two years. Through a collaborative community approach, teams will work to evaluate, plan, sustain existing child care, and expand it in areas where there is need. Learn more and apply for Dream Up! Applications will close April 4, 2022 at 5 p.m. CST, with priority consideration given to Partner Up! applications who submit by March 14, 2022. Upcoming and On-Demand Webinars Project Growth Kick-Off Webinar | On-Demand Partner Up! Webinar | Tuesday, March 8 at 12 p.m. (registration full) Dream Up! Webinar | Wednesday, March 9 at 1:30 p.m. Partner Up! Webinar | Thursday, March 10 at 6 p.m. Learn more, register for upcoming sessions, and watch the on-demand webinars. Additional Resources: Help spread the word about Project Growth using our Media Bundle Download the Wisconsin Employer Perceptions of Early Care and Education: 2021 Research Snapshot Access the Business-Child Care Partnership Toolkit Watch the Project Growth Kick-Off webinar recorded on February 28, 2022 Contact wipdg@wisconsin.gov with questions. Reminder: Child Care Counts February Application/Update Period Closed Applications for the February Child Care Counts: Stabilization Payment Program are being reviewed. Providers will be notified of their eligibility for funds by March 11, 2022, via a payment letter uploaded to the Child Care Provider Portal. The next application/update period is March 14-18, 2022. Child Care Counts Información en español. Reminder: Calling all Family Child Care Providers! - Attend an Info Session on WEESSN Tier 1 Services WEESSN (Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network) is here to support you. Our #1 goal is to make the lives of providers in the State of Wisconsin less stressful. If you have not already become a WEESSN member, please join us to learn about WEESSN Tier 1 – gain access to over 1,600 resources for child care including a family child care toolkit, get discounts on purchasing, and so much more. In addition, learn about the Tier 2 program, only available to 75 programs across the state for free – a personal business coach, professional development, access to telehealth, top-notch child care software, all for you! Register for the Info Session March 9, 2022 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. All participants will receive 1 hour Registry credit and be entered into a drawing for a pack of 10 new children’s books! **There will be live Spanish interpretation for this presentation. La sesión será traducida simultáneamente al español** Reminder: 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.
