May 19 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. Updates to COVID-19 Guidance for Child Care Providers The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is revising the COVID-19 guidance for child care programs. DHS recommends all child care programs and providers follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs, which includes comprehensive recommendations for preventing and responding to COVID-19 in child care settings. Updated COVID-19 outbreak guidance specific for Wisconsin child care settings from DHS is forthcoming and will be made available to child care providers throughout the state when it is published. Please continue to contact your local public health agency for COVID-19 related questions. May Child Care Counts Application/Update Period Closes Tomorrow Time is running out to apply/update your information for the May Child Care Counts program. The deadline is Friday, May 20 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. 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 April 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. Be sure to verify all required information and hit “Submit” on the last page of your application. Your application status will change from Review Needed to Submitted once you have completed your updates. 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! Never applied for Child Care Counts? Now is the time to apply in the Child Care Provider Portal so you don’t miss out on funds! Once your initial application is approved, as long as you maintain eligibility, you simply need to complete monthly updates to receive ongoing payments. You will not need to complete the entire application process every month. Contact the Call Center if you have questions. Spending Reminder All Stabilization Payment Program funds must be spent within 120 days of the date of the Payment Letter. January Payments (Payment Letter date 2/11/22) must be spent by 6/11/22. See the Use of Funds section of the Frequently Asked Questions for more information. 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 to help you keep track of how you spent Child Care Counts funds. Other Helpful Tools and Resources See the Temporary Closure Guide to learn how to select the appropriate COVID-19 Temporary Closure reason if your center was closed during the Count Week. How Payments are Determined shows all payment dates and amounts. See the Provider Informational Training Module in the Resources section as your all-in-one guide to Child Care Counts. Child Care Counts Información en español. Reminder: Free Child Care Foundational Training – Coming June 1! DCF and our training instructor partners have listened to your requests for accessible and affordable training and support. In response to the workforce shortage in child care, we are pleased to announce free Child Care Foundational Training beginning June 1, 2022. Individuals who begin one of the courses listed below on or after June 1 will be eligible for this program. The Child Care Foundational Training courses covers the following noncredit trainings delivered in person or in an interactive online or interactive correspondence format: Introduction to the Child Care Profession Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care Fundamentals of Family Child Care Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher See DCF's website for additional information and FAQs, including which training agencies offer these courses and how you can sign up.
