September 1 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.

August CCC Application Period Closes Tomorrow, September 2

Don’t delay – complete your Round 2 Child Care Counts: Stabilization Payment Program Round 2 application today! You will need to upload documentation (child attendance and staff records) for the August Count Weeks of August 7-20. This application period is August 22 – September 2.

FAQ Update about Staff Included on the Application

Please see the FAQ below for information on removing staff from your application. There are steps that must be taken in the Child Care Counts application if an individual is not on payroll for the count week, or if they are no longer employed at your location.

Failure to accurately update this information in the application will prevent the individual from being added to another facility’s application when appropriate.

NOTE: If you are not applying for the August round, you must still go into your Program B application and remove inactive employees.

How do I remove staff from my application?

To remove staff from your application, you must remove them from the staff list in the application. Follow the steps below to remove staff from your application:

  1. Open the application for Program B
  2. Click the Staff button
  3. Click Details next to the staff name
  4. Click …More in the bottom right of the screen
  5. Click Modify Staff Details
  6. Do either one of the following:
  • Answer No for "Is the individual employed or on payroll anytime between (dates of the Count Week)." This option should be used when the individual is expected to be returning/employed or on payroll during the next Count Week.
  • Check the box next to "Remove this staff from the grant? "This option should be used when the individual is no longer employed at your facility, and you must follow the additional steps below.
  1. Click Modify

If the staff member will be returning during a later Count Week, (for example, after the summer), no further action is needed until the staff member begins work again. At that time, add the person back into the application. 

If the staff member is no longer employed at your facility, you must also enter end dates and modify the Individual Details section in Child Care Provider Portal. Follow the steps below to enter an end date for your staff:

  1. Open the Individuals tab (Note: This is not on the application page.)
  2. Click Details next to the staff name
  3. Click Modify Individual Details
  4. Change the Employment/Residency Status to ‘Inactive’
  5. Enter a date for the Employment/Residency End Date
  6. Click Save

Failure to enter end dates may prevent staff from being added to another facility’s application. 

Note: Providers may not involuntarily furlough (lay off without pay) staff who appear on their center’s application. Child Care Counts Stabilization Payment Program funds for staff may be halted only upon their termination for cause or their voluntary separation from my center.

Child Care Counts Información en español.

WECA Conference Registration Open

Registration is open for Wisconsin Early Childhood Association’s Annual Conference! This year’s event, with the theme “Cultivating Connections,” returns in a virtual format Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. Visit the agenda page on our online event portal to review speaker and session information on keynotes, breakouts, and other sessions. It’s a professional development experience you do not want to miss! Nearly all live sessions and approximately 20 pre-recorded workshops will be available in our on-demand library, which participants will be able to access through the end of 2022.

All of this year’s conference registrants will receive two FREE BOOKS written by our keynote speakers: Kevin Carroll’s book, Rules of the Red Rubber Ball: Find and Sustain Your Life’s Work and Jessica Ralli and Megan Madison’s book, Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race. Register as soon as possible (no later than Sept. 9) to receive your books in advance of the event to enhance your conference experience.

Will you be In the Madison area on the last day of the conference on Saturday, Oct. 1? Consider joining us for Provider Paint Night, a step-by-step paint instruction by Madison rising artist Rodrigo Carapio from 6-9 p.m. There are only 30 spots available for this conference add-on session, so add it to your registration for just $24 to reserve your seat!

Questions? Contact Jen Dittrich, WECA Membership and Training Director at 608-729-1068. Para obtener ayuda con la inscripción en español, comuníquese con Olga al 608-729-1064.

Reminder: DCF is Hiring

DCF/Division of Early Care and Education (DECE) is hiring.

  • Policy and Comms Specialist, in the Secretary’s Office

This project position will serve as a principal program and policy analyst and will consult with and advise leadership regarding the federal American Rescue Plan Act grant currently being implemented by the department. The deadline to apply for this position is September 7.

DCF offers flexibility for predominantly remote work, and staff can report to any of the DCF offices. View all open DCF positions at Wisc.Jobs.