March 10 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. DCF is Hiring – Bureau of Operations and Planning Information Systems (IS) Business Consultant DCF is recruiting to fill an IS Business Consultant position (Bureau of Operations and Planning). 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 Tuesday, March 22, 2022. March 14-18 is Child Care Counts Application/Update Week The March application/update week is next week, March 14-18. Prepare to update your staff and child records as needed next week. You will be notified of your eligibility for February funds by tomorrow, March 11, 2022, via a payment letter uploaded to the Child Care Provider Portal. See the Child Care Counts Calendar for future Count and Application Weeks. What’s New? 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 You may download the Spending Tool Excel spreadsheet (see Tools Section below) to help you keep track of how you spent Child Care Counts funds. Other Helpful Tools and Resources How Payments are Determined shows the February payment dates and amounts. See the Provider Informational Training Module in the Resources section as your all-in-one guide to Child Care Counts. See the FAQs about YoungStar Quality Incentive payments through Child Care Counts. If you need help or have questions about your Payment Program status, please email DCFDECECOVID19CCPayments@wisconsin.gov or call and leave your detailed questions at 608-535-3650. Check out our recently updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to get answers to your questions. Child Care Counts Información en español. 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 – Priority consideration – closes March 14 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 | Now Available On-Demand Dream Up! Webinar | Wednesday, March 9 at 1:30 p.m. | Will be Available On-Demand Soon Partner Up! Webinar | Thursday, March 10 at 6 p.m. – Spots Open! A Partner Up! webinar will be made available on-demand later this week. Dream Up! Webinar | Monday, March 14 at 9 a.m. – Spots Open! 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.
